Rockets will grant Jabari Smith Jr.'s wish this season with all-important role

As the Houston Rockets made the blockbuster move to acquire Kevin Durant this offseason, the departures of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks ensured a larger role for many of the team's younger players this season.

However, the most important leap might come from Jabari Smith Jr. who, after three seasons as a starter for the Rockets, is now poised to contribute even more heavily to the team's offensive scheme.

Last season, Smith averaged 12.2 points, seven rebounds and 1.1 assists. However, while his stats took a dip due to the injury he suffered near the start of the season, he should be expected to take a massive leap in both his output and his offensive role this season.

Jabari Smith Jr. could become one of the Rockets' most important players on offense this season

In his singular season at Auburn, Smith was an absolute offensive force, averaging 16.9 points and shooting 42% from 3-point range as a Freshman.

Yet, since he entered the NBA with Houston, he has largely played a defensive and rebounding role in tandem with phenom Alperen Sengun, taking on a modest offensive role as he has acclimated to the league and what his team's scheme has demanded of him.

However, with the addition of Durant this offseason, the Rockets' outlook on offense has transformed entirely. As one of the most efficient and reliable scorers of this generation, Durant's presence as a threat both on the perimeter and in the mid-range will provide a host of new opportunities to Houston's other offensive pieces, including Smith.

While Sengun is amply capable of dominating the paint and using his graceful footwork to score around opposing centers, Smith presents a bit more of a mid-range threat as well. Last season, he shot 44.2% on his attempts from between three and 10 feet away from the basket, and he knocked down an improved 50% of his attempts from between 10 and 16 feet.

Granted, Durant is a highly efficient mid-range scorer, and, thus, it is unlikely that the Rockets will depend on Smith to make this his offensive game.

Yet, given Durant's playmaking abilities (he still averaged 4.2 assists last season on a stumbling Phoenix Suns team), there should now be a number of easier opportunities both away from and at the rim for Smith to capitalize upon.

Moreover, as the extent of Steven Adams' and Clint Capela's availability remains in question, Smith could be relied upon to help form the massive frontcourt lineups that the team loves to go to, keeping his minutes steady as he heads into his fourth season in the league.

While it will take some development in Smith's game, and especially his aggression on offense, it would not be surprising in the least if his role continues to increase this season as the rotation shakes out.