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http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9...inside-glimpse
Tyler Smith will work out with Spurs this Sunday.
Tyler Smith - Tennessee Volunteers
Position: SF
Height: 6' 7"
Weight: 210 lbs
Birthday: 09/04/1986
(22 Years Old)
DraftExpress
nbadraft.net
ESPN
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9...inside-glimpse
Tyler Smith will work out with Spurs this Sunday.
Poor man's James White(!). No thanks.
I agree! He's not that good!
I don't watch college basketball. A couple of times I did....he played poorly.....I guess from what you said, I'm kinda convinced.
From what I've seen, and admittedly not as much as I've seen others, he's a pretty versatile player that does a lot well, but nothing great. Basically a really good "glue-guy" with the potential to be more.
I'm suprised to see that his draft stock has fallen to the point that him being available in the 2nd rd. is a possibility, (he was thought to be a lottery pick going into the season) but if that's the case?
The Spurs could do a lot worse.
That matches well with the DX profile and what I've thought of Tyler. Last year, I would have been pretty happy with him late in the first round, but clearly his stock has dropped since then. Really, what you read about him makes him seem a bit like Hairston - the all-around guy who does a lot of things, but doesn't have it entirely together on the offensive end. He may be redundant if the Spurs have intentions of signing Hairston again, but yeah, I don't think he's a bad pick at 37.
Tyler has a lot of point-forward-type instincts to him. Somewhat similar to a Diaw. Defintely more of a playmaker than a scorer. Sticking in the league usually requires that you do at least one thing very well, so the onus is on Smith to find what that one thing is going to be. I do like his toughness and BBIQ, so in that, he would certainly fit the Spurs' mold.
Hairston is more in the Bonzi-mold. An undersized wing (height-wise) but plays not only bigger than his size would indicate, but actually with somewhat the mentality of a "big".
Hairston's mentality and basketball character already has him a leg-up on the likes of a Bonzi but his work-ethic, and ability to make the most of his next opportunity, will decide whether he can reach the level Bonzi was able to get to when he was at his best.
Bonzi might have been a knucklehead, but he was a damn good player for a stretch there.
If Tyler does have some point-forward in him, that would certainly work in his favor. Might actually be a blend of Williams and Hairston - point-forward capabilities, but with the lateral quickness and physicality to be a decent defender at the position. The lack of range on his jumper will definitely be his biggest hindrance.
I'll be interested in seeing how his athleticism translates at the NBA-level defensively. If he's capable of guarding the elite-level athletes on the perimeter he'll have, at the least, a solid career.
Jeff Green is another player I see some similarites in his game to, so maybe he can suprise me the way Green did with his athleticism at the next level. Granted, he doesn't quite have Green's measurables and his ceiling probably isn't quite as high, but I'm looking forward in seeing how his game translates.
Pearl says Smith doing well at NBA workouts
By Mike Griffith
Tennessee’s Tyler Smith has been on top of his game in his workouts, according to UT coach Bruce Pearl.
“I’ve seen a maturity in Tyler over the past three or four weeks as it relates to him getting himself ready,’’ Pearl said. “He’s playing his best basketball right now.’’
Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior projected to play small forward at the NBA level, worked out for the San Antonio Spurs last weekend and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Smith is scheduled to work out with the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls later this week.
The evaluation concludes with a combine-like event in Chicago on May 27-30, and Smith is expected to announce whether he’ll return for his senior season at UT soon thereafter.
“This is the opportunity of his lifetime,’’ Pearl said. “It’s a win-win situation for him, and he has clearly stepped it up.
“Based on what we’ve heard, he has to work his way up from (projections) the middle of the second round.’’
Smith has until June 15 to withdraw from the NBA draft, which takes place on June 25.
Statistics indicate that approximately half of the players selected in the second round of past NBA drafts sign contracts.
Only first-round picks sign guaranteed contracts, hence Smith’s approach that he needs to be projected to be selected “comfortably’’ in the first round.
Smith has said he’s not sure if playing in Europe would be the best thing for his family at this point of his career, as he has a toddler son to support and spend time with.
Projections: DraftExpress.com, on Monday, projected Smith would be selected with the 43rd overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat.
The website projects 13 small forwards selected in the two rounds, five of them in the first round. Smith would be the 12th small forward taken if the projections are correct.
The NBAdraft.net website, in its most recent projections on May 11 does not have Smith among the 60 players and 16 small forwards expected to be chosen.
NBADraft.net projects Smith to be the 27th overall player and eighth small forward taken in the 2010 draft. J.P. Prince, who is overcoming shoulder surgery, is projected to go No. 52 overall in 2010, 12th among shooting guards.
It depends who's left on the board but if he's available at 37 he wouldn't be a bad pick at all. I like that he's good at a lot of things instead of just specializing in one thing. I see no reason he couldn't improve his shot over the summer.
If he stays in the draft, Smith seems to be a damn strong candidate for #37.
I'd rather have Casspi, Green or Young...but if they are all gone you could be right. If he has just had a bit of a down year this year after being seen as a first round prospect at the beginning of the season, then he could wind up a diamond in the rough pick.
it was a bit disappointing how he measured, but in combination with his athleticism he would still be a good option for a SF.
he looks pretty similar to Caron Butler in terms of size and athleticism and a poor man's Butler might also be the best case scenario for Smith. (which would still make him a nice option for a 2nd round pick).
or maybe a poor man's John Salmons? he also didn't have a good shot coming into the league.
Last edited by mountainballer; 05-31-2009 at 05:52 PM.
I go to Tennessee, and I just don't think he's a good fit for the Spurs. Quite frankly, I really don't think he's even good.
His game is like a PF, but his size is more like a SF. He's good at creating his own shots within the paint, but he cannot hit outside shots. Also, he doesn't play good defense. I'll pass.
6'6? that to me is long 3 we are lookin for....
Yes, he is long. However, he doesn't play like Ariza. He moves slower and has not outside game.
Overseas a possibility?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html
Last edited by Blackjack; 06-03-2009 at 12:57 PM.
he hurt his stock staying another year. i remember draft boards had him around late teens early 20's last year.
Yes, possibly. However, the odds were not with him. That's why he stayed another year. Bruce Pearl told him that if he was not guaranteed to be in the first round to stay another year, and he did.
He should go back to UT for another year.
Person of interest: Tyler Smith
By Jeff McDonald
One of the Spurs' priorities for this offseason is to get younger on the wing, especially at the small forward position. The top three small forwards in their rotation at the end of the season -- Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka -- are all on the north side of 30 years old.
That has to make a prospect like Tyler Smith, who came to San Antonio for a pre-draft audition last month, seem awfully enticing.
Smith entered his junior season at Tennessee last season as a prospect ready to explode. Instead, he enjoyed a season that was good but not great -- which might work out for the Spurs.
Had Smith taken The Leap last season, he probably wouldn't have been on the draft board by the time the Spurs were on the clock in the second round.
There is much to like about Smith as a second-round flier. At 6-foot-7 with a long wingspan, Smith has the prototypical NBA body for a small forward. He is an explosive slasher, projecting as a Trevor Ariza-type in terms of both body and style.
Smith wasn't much of a perimeter shooter in college -- so don't expect him to be launching those Bowen-patented corner 3-pointers, at least not at first. He is also only an average defender, but has the potential to improve in that area.
He won't be an NBA star, but with some improvements to his game, Smith could be a solid role player. The Spurs could do worse at the 37th pick.
The real question about whether or not the spurs decide to draft this guy or any other wing relies on how confident they are with Hairston and Williams? I mean, does anyone see any realistic options that would fit better than these 2? Its slim pickings this draft with the majority of the talent residing in the Guard positions.
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