How To Fix A Yard Without Grass

Moss remains green all year long, thrives in the shade and grows well in virtually any soil. Providing a soft carpet, moss is a low maintenance option if you're looking for alternatives to grass lawns that don't take much work or effort after planting. It requires no mowing, weeding, watering, fertilization or pest prevention – simply sit back and watch it grow.

Begin mowing as soon as the grass is 50 percent higher than the desired height. For example, mow tall fescue back to 3 inches when it reaches 4.5 inches. The frequency of mowing is governed by the amount of growth, which depends on temperature, fertility, moisture conditions, the season, and the natural growth rate of the grass.

The suggested height of cut is given in Tables 1a, 1b, and 1c. The homeowner should cut often enough that less than one-third of the total leaf surface is removed. To reduce the danger of spreading disease and injuring the turf, mow when the soil and plants are dry. If clippings are heavy enough to hold the grass down or shade it, catch them or rake and remove them. Allow them to fall into the turf where they will decay and release nutrients. This may reduce the need for fertilizer by 20 to 30 percent.

Several varieties of yarrow can be used as a dense, traffic-tolerant lawn alternative. Dwarf yarrows are often the best choice for those who want something that looks and acts more like a traditional lawn. Flowering varieties are also a popular choice, since they add more color to your yard. While yarrow is not drought tolerant, it only requires about half of the water needed to keep a natural grass lawn healthy, so it is a water-saving lawn replacement. To create a lawn that can withstand a lot of traffic, mow your yarrow regularly for a denser ground cover. Oregano is another herb ground cover option that can be used to replace a natural grass lawn.

This attractive choice brings a delightful fragrance to your yard and can handle light-to-moderate foot traffic, depending on the variety you choose. Creeping oregano is a fast grower that only gets about three inches tall, which makes it among the best choices of oregano varieties to use as living ground covers. Alternatively, you can always plant a separate crop in a container or in your herb garden for household use. Weeds love bare patches, so if you don't act quickly, they will. Spring's cool, wet weather is conducive to growing many types of turfgrass. Start by digging up the damaged section, plus 6 inches of surrounding, healthy lawn, cutting about 2 inches deep.

Then level the soil and add a small amount of soil amendment, such as a plant-based compost, and starter fertilizer. If you're using seed, cover it lightly with straw and keep the ground moist until germination. For sod, which is about 10 times more expensive than seed but tends to work better, cut a section to fit, press it into place, and water frequently until it takes root. Carpetgrass is a slow- and low-growing, medium-green, coarsely textured lawngrass.

It produces a low maintenance, general purpose turf. Carpetgrass resembles St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass and is often mistaken for centipedegrass but has broader leaves. It grows well in full sun to moderate shade and performs well in wet, shaded, acid soils where other lawngrasses may not grow. It grows best in full sunlight and does not tolerate cold, drought, salt, or traffic. Carpetgrass requires only 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, and needs to be mowed only infrequently at 1.5 inches.

Centipedegrass is a slow growing, apple-green, coarsely leaved turfgrass that is best used as a low maintenance, general purpose turf. It does not tolerate traffic, compaction, high soil pH, high soil phosphorus, excessive thatch, drought, or heavy shade. It is also sensitive to many commonly used herbicides. Tall fescue is best adapted to the mountains and piedmont but can be successfully maintained on the heavy silt loams in the coastal plain.

It is a reliable performer and easily started from seed. It is the best grass to plant if you want a year-round green lawn. It will not perform well in full sun in the coastal plain, especially if the soil is sandy. It can be seeded by itself or mixed with Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, or both, particularly where shade is a concern. Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass, so damaged or bare areas will need to be re-seeded.

It exhibits good disease resistance, drought tolerance, and cold tolerance; tolerates moderate traffic; and persists with minimum care. Several improved tall fescue cultivars have been developed that are more shade tolerant, denser, and finer textured than Kentucky 31, a commonly used older cultivar. These characteristics become more evident as the turf matures and the maintenance level increases.

Use native trees, shrubs and ground covers or native grasses and wildflowers that are already well-adapted to the environment in your region. They will require less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, less watering and less maintenance. Birds and wildlife will benefit from the berries and seeds of native plants.

Non-nativespecies can be interspersed to add variety and color. The biggest downside is that most ornamental grasses are only for looks, so this lawn alternative will not work in areas where you actually want to use your lawn. Annual ryegrass is used only when a temporary turf cover is needed.

It is never recommended for permanent lawn mixtures because it dies in late spring, when temperatures approach 80ºF or higher. It is sometimes found in inexpensive commercial seed mixtures but should be avoided. Annual ryegrass is a problem weed in tall fescue because it cannot be selectively removed from the stand. Because annual ryegrass is an annual, it must be re-seeded each fall. Annual ryegrass has been used by some homeowners to provide winter color for bermudagrass lawns.

It is never recommended for overseeding other warm-season grasses. Clover is a great choice for people who want the look of a natural grass lawn, don't mind a bit of mowing and are not concerned about a lot of traffic. This pretty ground cover requires little water and stays green all summer without the need for chemical fertilizers. It is an inexpensive option that looks great and can stand up to some traffic.

If you are replacing your lawn to save money on your water bill and lower your home's environmental impact, then you really cannot go wrong with xeriscaping. This type of low-water landscaping is popular in Southern California and can be seen throughout the Southwestern United States. Island flowerbeds are good choices for people who either want to reduce their lawn size or replace their grass completely.

For reducing lawn size, this type of flowerbed allows you to remove as much or as little as you want of your natural grass lawn. That area can then be planted with low-water, low-maintenance plants that add texture and color to your yard. To replace your lawn completely, you can pair and island flowerbed with another of the options on this list, such as artificial grass, mulch or gravel.

Once you remove your lawn and choose the play structures to install, you can use mulch or artificial grass as a ground cover beneath the play equipment. Fine fescues include creeping red, chewings, and hard fescue. The name is derived from the very finely textured leaves, which are almost as fine as pine needles. They are best adapted to the mountains but can be grown in the piedmont. They may not persist in sunny locations exposed to high temperature extremes, excessive soil moisture or humidity, or heavy traffic.

What kid doesn't like chasing after butterflies in their own backyard? This ground cover can tolerate drought and flooding and works well in warm temperate regions, plus it is hearty enough for the wear and tear of child's play. Creeping thymes are low-maintenance ground cover plants that can even be harvested for culinary or medicinal purposes, depending on the variety you choose. It can be used in light traffic areas or around stepping stones, which allows its fragrance and tiny flowers to add character to walkways. Be sure you choose a variety of thyme that is appropriate for the size of the area you need to cover, since there are both slow- and fast-growing varieties.

If you plan to harvest it for culinary or medicinal purposes, it is best to use this lawn alternative away from areas that are used for parking, walking or pet restroom areas. To prevent drying of planting material, keep the top 1.5 inches of the soil moist. This may require light watering two or three times a day for 7 to 21 days.

Bluegrass takes 7 to 14 days longer to germinate than other cool-season grasses. As the seedlings grow and root, water less often but for longer periods. For mixtures containing bluegrass, do not make the mistake of decreasing water as soon as the seedlings appear. Continue watering until the bluegrass seedlings emerge.

After the third mowing, water to a depth of 6 to 8 inches about once a week or when needed. After alternatives to grass that will require little mowing? Then a turf or seed mix that includes creeping fescue is the answer.

Forming a close-knit turf, the leaves grow at a much slower rate than other grasses, such as ryegrass, reducing the need for mowing. Suited to most light soils through to heavy clay, this grass can take time to put down roots and establish but it forms a dense covering and is hardwearing. Before you start renovating your lawn, it's important to step back and see the big picture. Taking a moment to figure out what the problem is could help you avoid similar problems after you've replanted.

For example, if grubs are the problem, you'll need to treat for them first. Or you could consider adding landscaping features like a fire pit wherever grass struggles to grow. That will have the added benefit of cutting down the amount of mowing you need to do. Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, carpetgrass, and bahiagrass are classified as warm-season perennial grasses. All except bahiagrass are mostly recommended for lawns in the piedmont and coastal plain of North Carolina.

They grow best in the summer, go dormant in the fall at the first heavy frost, turn brown, and then green up slowly the following spring. For this reason, they usually perform better the farther east and south you go in those regions. Warm-season grasses are best planted in late spring and early summer. Warm-season grasses are usually seeded or planted as a single variety rather than in blends and mixtures. As with most cool-season grasses, it is best to broaden the genetic base by planting a blend of two to three cultivars rather than seeding a single cultivar.

It is also common for Kentucky bluegrass to be seeded in combination with tall fescue. The tall fescue enhances drought and heat tolerance, whereas the Kentucky bluegrass provides finer texture and greater recuperative potential. Generally, Kentucky bluegrass grows better than tall fescue in moderate shade. When mixed with tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass tends to dominate where the soil is limed and the turf is adequately fertilized and mowed fairly short.

It's time to consider an attractive, low-maintenance alternative by replacing your lawn with ground cover plants that don't require any mowing at all. Once these plants take hold, they can be irrigated much less frequently than lawns—maybe once every six weeks if it hasn't rained. While lawns offer a pastoral space for picnicking and playing outdoors, they also require a lot of maintenance.

Between keeping up with the weeds and the water bill, many homeowners look for alternative solutions. The best solutions look beautiful and offer alternatives to the summertime regimen of plant, water and mow. While an established native or new landscape can be beautiful and eventually save you time and money, it's not easy. Spreading the job out over a few years can save your budget and your back. It may take a few years to really rid your property of turf and to establish your new plants.

You will always need to weed your gardens, prune trees and shrubs, divide crowded plantings, and move or remove overgrown plants. Slow-growth, drought-resistant grass species save water, fertilizer, and time. Your local cooperative extension can help you find species that are right for your climate, soil, and lifestyle. Tall fescue is a low-maintenance alternative in the Northeast that can withstand heavy foot traffic, good for homes with active kids. Zoysia and seashore paspalum are easygoing newcomers in the South, while buffalo grass is popular west of the Mississippi. Lightly water the newly seeded, sodded, or plugged areas daily for at least 2 weeks to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Once the grass seedlings develop and start to fill in, gradually increase the amount of water the lawn receives so the top two inches of soil is kept moist. After the grass reaches mowing height, it's best to water deeply once or twice a week to encourage the grass roots to grow deep in the soil. If you have a St. Augustine lawn, you'll want to sod or plug your bare spots instead of seeding them. First, purchase a few pieces of sod or enough plugs to cover your bare spots from your local garden center. Lay the sod pieces directly on top of the prepared soil and tamp down gently with your foot, or plant plugs in a checkerboard pattern, spaced 12 inches apart.

How To Fix A Backyard Without Grass Your mental picture probably summons up a perfect lush, green carpet. But turning that cultural status symbol into reality means an endless cycle of mowing, weeding, regular watering, and heavy doses of fertilizer and pesticides. Irrigating with precious water and applying those chemicals are not only hard work; they're hard on the environment.

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2020 Nba Draft 1St Pick

Wiseman entered college as the No. 1 recruit in the class and has long been identified as a possible top overall draft pick. He has great size and length for a center, and has shown incredible end-to-end speed running the open floor. His game is going to be protecting the rim on defense, catching lobs, and getting putbacks on offense. Wiseman should be a good player, but his limited versatility makes him feel like an underwhelming No. 2 overall pick. He isn't a polished shooter or passer on offense and defensively lacks lateral quickness and quick jumping ability. Despite having a relatively narrow skill set, Wiseman should be ready to handle minutes as a rookie just based on his elite frame and ability to run the floor.

We would have Onyeka Okongwu as the top big man prospect, but Wiseman certainly should have a long and productive career even if it doesn't feel like he has all that much upside. By all indications, the Wolves did everything they could to trade this pick but couldn't find a team that wanted it. Edwards has otherworldly athletic explosiveness, but he isn't a polished decision-maker on either end.

That shows up defensively and also in his subpar scoring efficiency, where he finished with 51.7 percent true shooting. Having two other takeover scorers next to him should ease Edwards' transition into the NBA, but the Wolves should be thinking long-term with his development. He needs to improve his focus and effort defensively and force his way to the rim more consistently instead of settling for jumpers. Edwards still has a high long-term upside with his raw athleticism and shot-making ability, but he has a long way to go before he's a winning player in the NBA. Azubuike is a massive center at 7-foot, 270 pounds with a reported 7'6 wingspan.

'Dok' was the most dominant physical presence in college basketball this season as a senior at Kansas, getting buckets at will as an inside scorer and improving his defense in the middle. For as good as Azubuike was in college, it feels like his game doesn't fit the modern NBA. Teams will target him in pick-and-rolls and force him to defend in space.

Despite the C grade here, Azubuike is huge and strong and has soft touch close to the rim, so there is some upside here for Utah. Maxey is a perfect fit in Philadelphia as an aggressive guard who shines attacking the rim and playing physical point of attack defense with a 6'6 wingspan. While he didn't shoot the ball as well as expected in college, he was a great free throw shooter who should improve from three-point range in time. For now, Maxey's touch on floaters and his ability to contort his body for tough finishes at the rim will be a nice addition next to Ben Simmons' oversized playmaking at the four. Maxey deserved to be a lottery pick, but he found a great home on the Sixers. Chicago's decision to take Williams will stand as one of the most fascinating evaluations in this draft, both in the short and long-term, and this is a major swing on upside, but also a measured one.

Williams was viewed by teams as a potential lottery pick dating back to the spring, and as the entire NBA pored over game film and assessed the draft over the course of the year. The youngest college player in the draft, Williams quietly came into play as Chicago's likely choice over the past couple days. This is Arturas Karnisovas' first selection at the helm in Chicago, and it should stand as a memorable one, one way or another.

The Blazers have had a hole at the small forward position for seemingly forever. While Gary Trent Jr. and Carmelo Anthony played admirably during the bubble, the team needs a player that's bigger than Trent and younger and more defensively-capable than Melo. Saddiq Bey out of Villanova seems like an obvious fit here at no. 16 for Portland. He's a good defender and has good size (6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan).

And despite having an unorthodox looking shot, he shot an impressive 45.1 percent from three on 5.6 three-point attempts per game as a sophomore with Villanova last season. Whether the Hornets trade for Russell Westbrook or not (which would be quite ill-advised), they'll want to pick the prospect with the most upside at no. 3 regardless. So while Onyeka Okongwu has been linked to Charlotte here, the right choice is the ultra-talented, ultra-risky LaMelo Ball.

Despite his shaky shot selection and allergy to playing defense, Ball is the only player in this draft with elite playmaking abilities. And, at 6-foot-7, he could be a potential nightmare of a mismatch for opposing guards once he learns the NBA game. The Pistons end the first round with a wing after already landing a point guard and a big . Bey is a 6'8 swingman who hit 45 percent of his three-pointers and showed surprising skill in the pick-and-roll and in transition.

The shooting should translate, but there are legitimate questions about how versatile his skill set can be beyond that. Bey had a sound defensive reputation in college, but he'll have to prove he can stick with faster NBA players, or he'll be forced to move up the four. This isn't the most exciting pick, but Bey's shooting would help any team, especially one that just drafted Killian Hayes to set the table.

Anthony is a 6'2 guard whose off-the-dribble shooting ability should be a major addition in Orlando. A consensus top-five recruit entering college, Anthony had a trying freshman season at North Carolina that included a torn meniscus. While he couldn't carry a flawed supporting cast to success, Anthony's game might translate better in the pros. Anthony likely doesn't project as a full-time lead engine because his passing chops are unpolished, and he was underwhelming attacking the rim on drives.

Instead, Anthony can play off Markelle Fultz's ball handling and focus on darting around the three-point line, ripping shots, and attacking closeouts. It feels like this pick fills a big need for the Magic and also gives the organization a player who has more upside than he showed in college. Toppin was widely expected to be off the board by No. 8, and the Knicks are reportedly thrilled to have him fall. As a redshirt sophomore, Toppin was the most dominant player in college basketball and an incredible finisher at the rim who also made major strides with his jump shot.

He could be awesome offensively, provided New York can find a way to replicate the pristine four-out spacing Toppin played within at Dayton. Toppin can't anchor the defense at center and he doesn't have the quickness to defend new-age fours. The Knicks will need a team of determined defenders around him, but his offensive ceiling is so high that this seems like a perfectly fine pick even if New York had a bigger need at guard. Maxey could end up as one of the better value picks in this draft, falling out of the teens to a nice, cushy landing spot in Philadelphia. Some scouts viewed him as a talent with lottery-level upside, and the Sixers will hope he's the next Kentucky product to take a major leap at the NBA level.

He'll have time to learn how to fit in and should benefit from landing in a competitive situation immediately. Maxey will begin as a role player for Philly, but could be an outstanding bench piece and potential starter in time. As a freshman at Florida State last season, Patrick Williams' numbers weren't eye-popping -- he was just a high-level role player who did a lot of things well without much fanfare. But scouts I've talked to rave about him and his NBA potential because of his size (6-8), wingspan (6-11) and defensive playmaking potential.

The second Seminole selected on the night, Vassell was one of the most improved players in all of college basketball last year, spearheading Florida State to its first ACC regular-season title. Vassell will fit in nicely with San Antonio's disciplined system, bringing length at 6-7 and potential to be a defensive stopper on the wing. McDaniels couldn't live up to his high school hype as a five-star recruit at Washington. The skinny 6'10 wing struggled to score efficiently with 51.5 percent true shooting and finished the season with 100 turnovers to 65 assists. There were better bets at this point in the first round, but the Wolves are obviously weighing pre-college sample more heavily than what happened in college for both McDaniels and No. 1 pick Edwards. McDaniels has some upside because of his size and scoring instincts, but we thought there were better players on the board.

If this draft class lacks an obvious star like Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic, it does have a collection of talented players who fit into larger trends taking over the league. LaMelo Ball has excellent size for a lead playmaker with advanced ball handling and passing ability. Anthony Edwards has every physical attribute, but suffered from inconsistency at both ends. Onyeka Okongwu might not be the first big man draft, but he feels like the most complete front court prospect in the draft as a potential defensive anchor who is efficient in his offensive chances. A player some had pegged for the lottery, Hampton took a bit of a tumble here on draft night, and it's one that, quietly, was somewhat predictable. He took a risk playing in New Zealand this season, and his stock dropped after his play in the NBL raised questions about his feel and shooting ability.

But he's a high-octane athlete and another interesting pickup for the Nuggets, who have had recent success taking upside swings on players like Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol. Stewart is a player many teams have grown to love, and for whom the Pistons were willing to pay up, sending a future first-rounder and second-rounder to the Rockets in exchange for the chance to draft him here. Stewart is a rugged, tough center who knows exactly what his strengths are, and he eventually rose in the draft, with at least one other team angling to move up and select him, I'm told.

Detroit will hope he's a culture-setting piece for them, and his willingness to do the small things should help make the rest of his team better. He's more of a floor pick than an upside swing, but the Pistons ended up picking three times in the first round, and get their man here. But the Celtics have talent on the wing and don't need him to play much right away, and have to view him as a potentially special shooter once healthy. This has the potential to be a strong pick for Boston, presuming he returns to full health.

It is not an understatement to call the Knicks' love of Toppin one of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA. As of Wednesday morning, New York was attempting to move up in the draft, and rival teams were widely speculating that Toppin was their target. As it turns out, he was available to them at their pick, and will step in immediately as one of the faces of their team. Toppin was the best player in college basketball last season, and while he's 22 years old—ancient for a lottery pick—his unique, late-blooming trajectory has produced some optimism that he'll deliver on his promise. Toppin has defensive concerns that the Knicks will have to work around.

But the presence of several bigs on their roster should not be viewed as a serious issue, as R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and now Toppin are their only essential pieces of the future. Toppin should be in the mix for Rookie of the Year if he hits the ground running. The Hawks' selection of Okongwu here is a commitment to shoring up their defense long-term behind Trae Young.

Several teams attempted to trade up for him, but Atlanta's comfort drafting ultimately won out and made him the choice here. Per sources, Okongwu is dealing with a toe injury that could cause him to miss a small amount of time to start the season, but that was a non-issue for teams as far as the medical piece was concerned. Atlanta's recent trade for Clint Capela suggests Okongwu will come off the bench to start the season, or that the Hawks may move on from Capela. But Okongwu was the most NBA-ready defender among the available bigs in this draft, and gives the Hawks a young piece at the position they needed most long-term.

Okoro is actually a nice fit with the Cavs' core, which currently consists of three score-first guards and has little defensive backbone, and should be able to log minutes for them on the wing next season. If his jump shot improves, his upside is substantial, but for a lot of teams, the if was a bit too much to take the leap. This pick makes sense for the Cavs now that they've made it, but was not what many were expecting. Assuming the Thunder decide to rebuild this offseason, Theo Maledon would be a good value pick at no. 25 as he was once viewed as a high lottery pick before he injured his shoulder last fall. Maledon is a decent-sized point guard (6-foot-4 with a rangy wingspan) who can play on or off the ball on offense and projects to be a solid defender in the NBA. Hailing from the same town in France as Tony Parker, Maledon definitely has some of the same nice touch from mid-range and around the rim as Parker once did.

He'd give the Thunder another big, savvy guard to play next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for years to come. This is the point in the draft where good teams like the Mavericks start to draft for fit over upside. The one thing a team with Luka Doncic can never get enough of is floor spacing. Enter Aaron Nesmith - a scintillating shooter out of Vanderbilt. Looking at Nesmith's three-point percentage last season (52.2 percent on over eight attempts per game!!) will make you do a double-take, maybe even a triple-take.

Nesmith is considered one of the best three-point shooters in the draft. He hit 52 percent of his threes as a sophomore for Vanderbilt through the first 14 games before suffering a season-ending stress fracture in his foot. After hitting only 33.7 percent of his threes as a freshman, it's fair to wonder where Nesmith's shooting would have come in over a full season.

The bigger issue is his lack of off-the-dribble game and how he struggles to beat the defense as a passer. Nesmith is a long wing (6'10 wingspan) with a signature skill, but it doesn't feel like there's much versatility in his game. Hayes is a great value at No. 7 for Detroit and fills the team's biggest need. The 6'5 French point guard can make every read on the floor and showed major improvement as a spot-up shooter in his first year in the German league. While Hayes isn't an explosive athlete going to the rim, he knows how to change speeds and keep defenses off balance. He's also a wonderful defender who makes sharp, instinctual rotations and should have the body to eventually check three positions.

His catch-and-shoot ability isn't quite as good as his pull-up shooting, so fixing his spot-up mechanics will be key. Hayes is also very left-hand dominant at this point, so he'll need to develop his right hand. For all the questions about his athleticism and shooting, Hayes projects to have a positive impact on both offense and defense and still has plenty of room to grow as one of the younger prospects in this draft. Detroit just found the point guard it has been looking for. The first real shock of the draft is Chicago picking Williams at No. 4.

The youngest American born player in the draft, Williams didn't start a game for Florida State but flashed rim protection and spot-up shooting potential at the four. Williams will get most of his offense on catch-and-shoots from the corner, attacking closeouts, and flashing a little dribble pull-up game. Defensively, he isn't quite quick enough to have elite versatility, but he's a force walling up at the rim. He likely won't provide the type of volume scoring teams look for with a top-five pick, but he gives new Chicago VP Arturas Karnisovas a bunch of different avenues to continue building the team going forward. McDaniels is a nice buy-low opportunity for the Timberwolves, who were thought to have him in the mix at No. 17, and were able to navigate backward and still get him here.

McDaniels has often been a mystifying player, but teams are always intrigued by players his size who have perimeter skill and shot-blocking instincts. This is a pure upside swing for the Wolves with their final first-round selection, but a justifiable one for sure. The Pistons picked up this pick in a three-team dealt that sent Luke Kennard to the Clippers and Landry Shamet to the Nets—one that is worth unpacking as it pertains to next season's title race. Most teams expected him to land in the range, and while his upside is not massive, he's a productive, consistent two-way player with three-point range who can play either forward spot at his size. Detroit placed a high premium on character and reliability with their draft, landing Hayes and Isaiah Stewart in addition to Bey here.

Safe to say, this has shaped up as a solid first draft class for Pistons GM Troy Weaver. New Orleans adds to a strong collection of young talent with Lewis, whose ability to play on and off the ball should enable him to mesh effectively with Lonzo Ball when they share the floor. Lewis may be the fastest player in the draft, and fits neatly with the Pelicans' identity as an uptempo team built around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Lewis' size may be an issue on defense situationally, but he has no pronounced hole in his game otherwise, and won't have to bite off more than he can chew in terms of minutes next season. He was considered in play in the 8-10 range, and the Pelicans will be happy to have him here. The Suns delivered the first massive surprise of the draft for the second year in a row, grabbing Smith, a player who many felt was ticketed for the teens or early 20s. There were certainly teams who were optimistic about his long-term future—Smith is a talented shooter for his size and also a capable shot-blocker, a combination of traits that are always in demand. But his physical stiffness and limited mobility was concerning for a number of scouts, and he rated as a late first-rounder on my personal board.