Nolan Smith, a 6-foot-3 guard from Duke University, is generating a lot of buzz in the NBA draft world. Smith has been projected to be selected in the late first round or early second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. However, some experts are now predicting that Smith could be a surprise selection in Mock Draft 3.0.
Mock Draft 3.0 is a mock draft conducted by ESPN’s NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony. Givony has been known to make some surprising picks in the past, and many believe that Smith could be one of them. Smith has been playing extremely well this season, averaging 17.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He has also been shooting the ball extremely well, shooting 47.7% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range.
Smith is an experienced player who has been playing in the NCAA for four years and has been a leader on the court for Duke. He is an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions and is a great playmaker on offense. He also has a good basketball IQ and is a great teammate. All of these qualities make him an attractive prospect for teams looking for a guard in the draft.
The biggest question surrounding Smith is whether or not he will be able to make the transition to the NBA game. He is undersized for his position and will need to prove that he can compete against bigger and stronger players in the NBA. He will also need to show that he can be a reliable shooter from beyond the arc, as this is an area of his game that needs improvement.
Despite these questions, Smith has all the tools to be successful in the NBA. He has a high basketball IQ, is an excellent defender, and can be a playmaker on offense. If he can prove that he can make the transition to the NBA game, then he could be a surprise selection in Mock Draft 3.0. It will be interesting to see if Givony takes a chance on Smith and selects him in the draft.