NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Watch: Jalen Smith

Fit with the Bucks

I think it goes without saying that there’s plenty of skills and attributes that Smith possesses that would catch the Bucks’ attention as they weigh their options with what to do for the 20th overall pick this draft.

The combination of Smith’s floor spacing, shooting and rim protection have basically stood as prerequisites for Bucks big men under head coach Mike Budenholzer. And how the Bucks have constructed their defensive scheme, with the big men solely used to protect the paint, would be the best avenue for how Smith’s defensive prowess could translate to the NBA.

With a stocked frontcourt between the Lopez brothers, even as Robin’s decision on his $5 player option looms, Smith can be afforded a long runway to continue to develop his game and most importantly, get accustomed to the Bucks’ physical development under the watchful eye of the team’s strength and conditioning staff.

That isn’t to say that Smith can’t fill occasional minutes on the NBA level upon the jump, but the focus would be a long-term one with potential assignment up to Oshkosh with the Wisconsin Herd in store in the short-term.

The big question as it relates to Smith and any big men prospects as it relates to the Bucks is whether they’d be best suited to use one of their few remaining draft assets on a center that won’t serve an immediate role for them.

While their fliers on players such as Dragan Bender and Christian Wood didn’t result in either one sticking in Milwaukee long-term, the Bucks’ front office has consistently shown to find nice developmental projects that fit the basic outline for how they want centers to operate in Budenholzer’s system.

Smith clearly overlaps with many of those tenets and the overall role he’ll likely play in the NBA and the Bucks will be forced to address their center depth at some point over the next 12 months. But there could easily be a position they feel is worth addressing than the 5-spot during this draft.