My memory is extremely clear about rondo in his rookie season. Extremely clear. Rondo showed huge flashes from day 1 of what he would eventually become. His only weakness was shooting.
Smart on the other hand looks like a bust. I get a COMPLETELY different feeling about him. And yes, the Marcus banks comparisons are about right. The guy isn't a pg and he isn't a shooting guard. And I'm sorry, it's okay to come in to the nba and refine your game. But when we're talking about learning skills that a guy doesn't have in the nba, it just is not happening.
I know people don't want to hear. And I hear over and over again how it's too early to make proclamations. But I call BS on that. I can't make a proclamation that James young will never be a pg this soon as well. Is it too early to do that? Of course not.
So in smart, we have a guy that does one thing well. Play defense. He's average or below average in every other part of his game, whether we're talking pg or sg. He doesn't drive to the basket because he can't do it consistently. And we saw in summer league that he has trouble finishing. In summer league!
So ask me how I really feel about smart.
I remember Rondo's rookie season vividly as well, he was as you say... a very inconsistent shooter, prone to a spectacular pass, and energetic on D. It was clear he would be a solid NBA player at worst, and the thought of pairing him with the Big 3 and Perk, in my mind at least, seemed like it wasn't a big jump.
Smart is built entirely differently, physically and as a basketball player. He's not quite as good a rebounder, probably a better defender, and drives with the intention of scoring (when he does) more than Rondo did. He's not nearly as good at penetrating off the dribble as Rondo was and is.
The one reason we should "wait and see" on Smart is because of his injuries and his new position as a PG. Rondo had been a floor general since his days at Oak Hill, and played a similar role while in Kentucky. Smart has been asked to be an alpha dog, a jack of all trades, and when you are physically stronger than the vast majority of your opponents often that leads to underdeveloped skills in a certain regard.
Not to mention, and I think this point holds just as strong, Smart has been injured on two separate occasions. He looks different than he did even at the beginning of the year and is not in great shape. Let's give him 15 more games before casting judgment.
You are right to say he's not going to be the classic PG Rondo was/is, but it's becoming clear that's not necessarily conducive to creating a successful team in today's NBA.