NBA Draft: Is Zhaire Smith a first round gamble worth taking for the Bucks?

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 19: Zhaire Smith poses for a head shot at the Body Image station for the Medical Evaluation portion of the 2018 NBA Combine powered by Under Armour on May 19, 2018 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 19: Zhaire Smith poses for a head shot at the Body Image station for the Medical Evaluation portion of the 2018 NBA Combine powered by Under Armour on May 19, 2018 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Weaknesses

For all of the standout athleticism and measureables he possesses as well as eye-popping highlights that Smith is prone to rattle off on a consistent basis, many aspects of his game remain a work in progress.

The bulk of those concerns lies on the offensive end, most notably starting with his developing jumper. Despite the high efficiency he displayed during his lone year on the college level, Smith is not seen as much of a threat from beyond the arc, seeing that he only took a whopping 40 attempts from downtown for the season.

Along those same lines, much has been made about Smith’s mechanics and how they’ll likely need to be reshaped or massaged once he gets down to work with NBA coaching and development staffs.

Secondly, Smith’s ball handling and overall shot creation, whether that’s for himself or for others, is very rudimentary at this stage in his development and where it relates to the position he will likely assume on the next level.

Lastly, there is some question over just how much Smith’s outlier athleticism will translate or shine on the pros and how much it will differentiate when going up against fellow elite athletes in the league.