OKC Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Josh Jackson

With six days until the 2017 NBA Draft, speculation and rumors surrounding Josh Jackson are reaching a peak.

Maybe it’s the fact Josh Jackson is the best small forward in the 2017 NBA Draft Class. Or maybe its the dearth of small forwards available at all. But Josh Jackson sure as heck is a very intriguing prospect. So much so, that now rumors are surfacing he could have moved past both Lonzo Ball and the Celtics are considering selecting him first overall.

Before we get too entrenched in this thought process though, this feels like the typical last minute posturing that goes on prior to draft night. Celtics GM, Danny Ainge is known for pulling stunts like this. The truth is Ainge is probably planting these seeds in an effort to get teams to pick up the phone to offer trades in exchange for the top draft pick and access to a transformational talent in Markelle Fultz.

None of this diminishes the talent of Josh Jackson, who is a stud in his own right. But to suggest the Celtics would select him over Fultz makes almost no sense. First of all, Jackson represents a player much of the same ilk as Boston’s 2016 rookie Jaylen Brown.  Let’s just assume this is jockeying by Ainge with hopes the Bulls (Jimmy Butler), Jazz (Gordon Hayward) or Pacers (Paul George) might bite on the carrot he’s dangling to nab a proven star in exchange for the top draft pick.

Specifics:

Height:6’8″

Weight:  203lbs

Wingspan: 6’9.75″

Position: Small Forward

Age:  20 years, 3 months

Statline: 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.1 blocks

College: Kansas (freshman)

Home Town: Southfield, Michigan

Current rankings:

Please note, rankings come from versions as of time of writing. However, not all  mock drafts provide second round ranks or updates. Due to this if rankings change after posting it’s likely due to updates and a shift in the rankings.

DraftExpress: 3rd overall prospect

NBA DraftNet: 2nd

Scott Howard-Cooper nba.com: 3rd

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 3rd

CBS Sports: 5th

Basketball Insiders: 3rd

Hoops Hype: 3rd

Jeremy Woo SI.com, The Crossover: 4th

Skills:

Josh Jackson is a top notch energetic athlete with unlimited potential. In the current era of the NBA, someone of Jackson’s ilk who can guard multiple positions, be slotted into various roles and has the potential to excel on both sides of the hardwood is a highly desirable asset.

Jackson’s defensive chops are already well above average. His freak athleticism is a contributing factor, but there is so much more to Jackson’s defense. He can defend the perimeter due to his speed, lateral quickness and fluidity. Yet, he’s equally capable of defending interior defense based on his quick hands, high basketball I.Q and don’t discount the sheer tenacity and grit he plays with

The area of his game which trails is offense though he’s no slouch here either. Jackson will be ideally suited to play in a high octane offense where his speed can lead to transition buckets. Clearly his physical assets and gritty mindset allow for solid interior scoring. And while his touch from the field hasn’t been his forte he demonstrated consistent improvement as the season progressed.  Some point to a few issues with his mechanics, but they don’t appear to be something NBA staffs couldn’t tweak. Moreover, his work ethic points to his willingness to iron out those aspect of his game to add offensive versatility. Arguably, the true bonus of Jackson’s offense is his passing which will afford his NBA club immediate tangible benefits.

Though listed as a small forward there is definitely reason to believe Jackson could slot in at the power forward, especially once he naturally adds size and strength.

Weaknesses:

Definitely his offense needs work and particularly his shot mechanics. Again, these are fixable issues and will require Jackson to develop new habits. Elsewhere he’s better on catch and shoot situations than in driving and creating for himself. Again, his speed and tenacity will make him scary in transition.

His free throw shooting is a major issue which once again ties back into his shot mechanics and form. He shot a horrific 56.6 percent from the charity stripe this past season. Due to his penchant for playing through and inviting contact he’ll need to shore up his free throw form as a priority this summer.

Additionally, while he exudes great passing skills when he tries to switch into the playmaking role he is less successful. His tendency is to force the situation which can result in turnovers or unsuccessful offensive sets.

Another issue is while Jackson is a top notch defender his reach and wing span are average. Certainly he offsets this with his overall tenacity and IQ,, but he’ll fare much better once he adds some weight and strength to his frame to complement his speed and aggression.

Speaking of aggression there is also the off court issues. Currently Jackson is pegged to go to Philly. But, they just got rid of one malcontent with off court issues in Nerlens Noel so how open will they be to add another player with character issues?

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Honors and awards:

Bix XII Freshman of the Year, 2017

2017 Big XII All Rookie Team

Big XII All-Conference 1st Team, 2017

McDonald’s All-American Participant, 2016

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer provided a ceiling comparison for each of his prospects. O’Connor’s list pegs Jackson’s ceiling as Tracy McGrady, Andre Iguodala, Aaron Gordon

Let’s be clear this is pretty major company to be compared to. On the top side if Josh Jackson’s career comes close to emulating TMac we’re talking an All-Star, Hall of Famer and super star path. Even measuring up with the likes of Iggy is impressive and suggests Jackson has a solid defensive future in line.

The fit:

If Sam Presti has any rabbits hidden in that magic hat of his, Josh Jackson sure provides a good reason to pull one out. Problem is obtaining Jackson would undoubtedly require giving up assets in return. Factor in when it comes to prospects versus existing assets the draftee hasn’t proven anything yet. Although there are no guarantee, Jackson has impressed and sure seems like the real deal. Ultimately, as much as Jackson would fit the definition of a prototypical OKC player, the top teams are unlikely to be willing to concede his talent for what Presti could offer in return. Especially if it’s the Sixers who  get to scoop him up since he fits their existing needs to a tee.