Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Raptors Host Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. for Draft Workout, per Report
The Toronto Raptors are doing due diligence on Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. ahead of the NBA Draft.
There are plenty of questions surrounding Smith who has reportedly worked out for Toronto, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The 19-year-old was the No. 1 prospect coming out of high school but failed to live up to expectations as a freshman due to a combination of inconsistent play and a nagging knee injury that kept him sidelined for over half the Razorbacks’ season.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pound Smith averaged just 12.5 points on 37.6% shooting with a pedestrian 33.8% three-point stroke. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.7-to-1.6 left a lot to be desired and he his defense was considered lackluster at best, according to Andy Hodges of AllHogs.
How much his injuries impacted those disappointing stats is a difficult question to answer. Smith had widely been expected to go near the top of the draft this year, but he’s now considered to be a mid-to-late lottery pick, tabbed to go somewhere around Toronto’s pick at No. 13.
If Smith can return to the player he was coming out of high school, a versatile scorer who drew Jamal Murray comparisons, according to 247Sports, he’d be a steal at No. 13. But the risk may end up being too much for the Raptors to palate right now.
Further Reading
Sergio Scariolo Now the Clear Favorite to be Raptors' Next Head Coach
Bilal Coulibaly is Generating Buzz as Potential Raptors Draft Pick at No. 13
Nick Nurse Thanks Raptors & Discusses Move to 76ers in Introductory Presser
