Jason Smith excited for opportunity to help Wizards’ young core

Jason Smith, who agreed to a three-year, $16 million deal with the Washington Wizards last week, is looking forward to helping his new team’s young, talented core wherever he can.

The 30-year-old center will likely back up Marcin Gortat and newly acquired Ian Mahinmi next season, bolstering a frontcourt that also added power forward Andrew Nicholson this summer.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity joining this team. We have a tested core of young guys that have gone deep into the playoffs, to the second round, and we’d like to get back there this year,” Smith said in a conference call on Monday. “Obviously, last year had some injuries but with the addition of myself, Ian, Andrew Nicholson, Trey Burke — I mean it’s looking like it’s going to be a great year for us.”

The 7-foot, 240-pound veteran, who averaged 7.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.5 minutes a game for the Orlando Magic last year, knows where his strengths lie.

Smith is a known pick-and-pop specialist, adds valuable size on the defensive end, and has spent a lot of this summer working on his three-point shot.

“For me personally, my role on the team is going to be a pick-and-pop shooter, a big guy who can play two-way offense and defense,” Smith said. “This summer has been really pivotal for me trying to shoot threes at a more consistent rate. I think I’ve done that really well but you can never really tell until you go out there and play five-on-five.”

But Smith said he knows the role he plays for the Wizards next year is ultimately up to new head coach Scott Brooks.

“I think this coaching staff knows what I can do,” Smith said. “Everybody’s coming into a new system here having a new head coach so it’s going to be a learning curve, but as long as everybody buys in, we’ll be fine.”

Selected 20th in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft, Smith has played nine seasons in the league with Philadelphia, New Orleans, New York and Orlando.