Nolan Smith

Strengths

Right-handed... Smith's stock is really on the rise after a terrific 2010 NCAA tournament. He is a 6'3" combo guard, offering very good athleticism and quickness... Earlier in his Duke playing days, Smith was limited to a complementary role and made a living slashing through the lane. 2010 was his breakout season in all accounts. He doubled his scoring and nearly doubled his assists average, while shooting well, especially from mid-range. Albeit streaky, he is a solid mid-range player, and an improving 3-point shooter, hitting almost 40% of his shots from behind the arc his junior season... Play him for his jumper and Smith has a long, quick first step to get by you and to the rim. His combination of skills make him lethal in the mid-range game. He is difficult to contain off the dribble, but also has the ability to pull-up or step-back for a jump shot... Although he split time with Jon Scheyer and will most likely split time with Kyrie Irving at the point guard spot, Smith is a good creator with the ball in his hands. He has a very advanced and crafty handle, rarely turning the ball over... With his length and lateral quickness, Smith has the ability to develop into a defensive stopper.... He exploded for a career-high 29 points, including 4 3s against defensive Baylor in the NCAA tournament in 2010...

Weaknesses

Smith is a bit of a tweener, stuck in the role of a scoring guard, in the body of a point guard. He stands at about 6'3", not exactly the ideal size for an NBA guard. Having the ball in his hands more in his senior season would greatly benefit the quick, crafty and offensively minded Smith. He will be able to not only create for others, but also himself. He will need to continue to work on his perimeter game and outside shooting which complemented his developed slashing game this past season...