With rumors swirling about the Celtics trading the first pick, we take a look at the player they’d likely take if not Markelle Fultz.
Danny Ainge can’t stay away from trades it seems. There were reports circling all over the place on Friday that the Celtics and Sixers were having serious trade discussions regarding the first pick in the draft.
In this case, Boston would pass on Markelle Fultz to swap picks with Philadelphia and receive multiple future first rounders as well. The Celtics were reportedly interested in Kansas star Josh Jackson over Fultz anyway, so Ainge could acquire max cap space and future assets while getting the player he wanted anyway.
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Due to the likelihood of the Celtics making Jackson their next draft pick, we should take a look at what he could bring to the team if the deal actually happens. I for one hope that Boston keeps the pick and takes Fultz, but Jackson has many qualities that could help the Celtics win a championship in the near future.
NBA Ready
Jackson is one of the more NBA ready prospects on the board. Fultz of course is probably the most polished, but Jackson will be able to play a considerable amount of minutes right away for the contending Celtics.
He has a high basketball IQ, and has the physicality to compete with NBA players right now. His defensive prowess, which we’ll get to, will help him carve out a role in Brad Steven’s rotation. This will then allow him to develop the rest of his game, which will mostly be on the offensive end.
Jackson will be in a similar situation to rookie wing Jaylen Brown in terms of skill set and projected production. Both players have had the physicality to hold their own so that they could then develop their offense through meaningful minutes.
Defense
Jackson is the best defender in this year’s draft hands down. He has great size and foot speed that allows him guard up to four positions. The Celtics are always looking for more versatile defenders, and Jackson would join Brown, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Marcus Smart as players that guard more than tow positions.
At 6’8″, Jackson could be the answer to Boston’s LeBron James problem. James has terrorized Celtics defenders for years since Paul Pierce was traded. Crowder doesn’t have the foot speed to keep up with James going to the basket, and the Celtics weren’t able to switch anyone onto him that was going to get consistent stops. Brown showed potential of being able to stop James, but James took advantage of his inexperience.
Brown may very well become the Celtics’ LeBron stopper, but Cleveland will be able to run pick and rolls to switch Brown off to get a slower big guarding James. Having Jackson on the floor will allow the Celtics to go small, and be able to switch multiple defenders on James that will have a good chance of stifling him. Jackson has also shown an ability to fight through screens and recover effectively, which will allow him to stick to James to avoid switches.
James isn’t the only issue. If the Celtics hope to win the championship in the next few years, Golden State will most likely be there with Kevin Durant and their foursome of superstars. Having more elite defenders like Jackson will allow the Celtics to match up well with the Warriors in spots that they don’t right now.
Potential
Due to Jackson’s athleticism and defensive abilities, Jackson could become a terrific two way player if he develops his offensive game. Jackson showed that he can become a go-to scorer averaging 16 points per game, but he struggled with an inconsistent jump shot throughout his freshmen season.
His mechanics aren’t pretty, and he’d likely need to change his stroke once he gets into the NBA, but that’s the only thing holding Jackson back on the offensive end. He has a quick first step and great leaping ability that would allow him to be a really good scorer.
However, college defenders would sag off of him due to his poor jumper, and it would be difficult for Jackson to create off the dribble. While we don’t know if Jackson will develop a consistent shooting stroke, he has the highest potential of any draft prospect this year because of his already elite defensive abilities.
Winning Pedigree
Jackson built himself a reputation through high school as a flat out winner, and it’s easy to see that in watching the tape of his freshmen season at Kansas. He has a high basketball IQ as said before, where he knows exactly where to be on the floor, and has a knack for cutting to the basket and disrupting passing lanes.
Similar to Smart, he makes “Winning Plays” on the floor but diving for loose balls, taking charges, or hustling back to block a fast break lay up. This is an attribute that the Celtics have built their team around, and Jackson would fit right in with that type of attitude and hustle.
Jackson is also an underrated passer at his position. He finds success driving through traffic and either dumping to bigs around the rim or kicking to shooters across the court. Jackson could at one point become a primary ball handler for the Celtics once he builds up trust with Stevens.
Next: Danny Ainge Making a Splash or Playing it Safe?
While Fultz is the best choice in my opinion for the Celtics on draft night, Jackson would be a good move depending on the other assets Boston receives from the Sixers. He is already a great defender that could be a key cog in Boston’s small lineups by playing the small ball power forward. Celtics fans would find a way to love him as they have for players like Brown and Smart. We’ll just have to wait and see what Ainge does before or on draft night.