Josh Jackson

It all depends where he gets drafted. 

If he ends up on a team loaded with wing talent like Boston or a team with established wing prospects like the Heat or Suns or Mavs, then he’ll get lost in the shuffle. But if he ends up in Philly or New Orleans (long shot), then he could thrive. 

I still think his ceiling is pretty high, and perhaps that would be more evident if he was playing in a system like Kentucky or UCLA.

 Josh Jackson is like Michael Kidd Gilchrist, but with a better jumpshot. He can impact the game without scoring.

Josh Jackson is not selfish at all. And unlike Ariza, Jackson actually has handles.

 He is already an infinitely better ball handler and passer than Ariza, and a much better athlete. Even if he doesnt improve his jumpshot much he will be incredibly valuable in modern offenses where position gersatility is at a premium and he can cover 1-3 on defense, and small ball 4s once he puts kn some muscle. Offensively he might not be able to shoot it well, but his playmaking is something you cant teach- shooting is. Trevor Ariza is nothing like him outside of being a plus defender and athlete at the 3.

 Yo kindofblue, you read my mind dawg!

I came here to say he reminds me of Winslow, I was not surprised by him as I was by Smith jr, Lonzo, Fulltz within 2-3 games into the season, right off the bat, and nothing has changed since.

He doesn’t seem to be able to create!… Is my main concern. Yes he has nice handles, but in the half court his dribbling looks too mechanic and sluggish. At the hoop he does a good job but lacks the creativity to get there. His jumpshot and mechanics are nice, but his off the dribble game is poor.

When Wiggins was at Kansas he had that stepback J from the bow. And a nasty spin smove he would abuse in the halfcourt. (SIDE NOTE: I was comparing with my friends Derozan and Wiggins at the begginging of the season and the more I watch from them the more I convince myself. *continued in another thread*). Like Gilchrist at UK, Josh Jackson cannot do those moves in the halfcourt, however, a case can be made that both have better vision and handles coast to coast in a fastbreak over Wiggins, but Wiggins was more creative in the halfcourt.

 Wanna see him on Phoenix so bad. They dont need the scoring padsing always comes at a premium and the athletisism and defensive versatility matches thier identity well. He would really compliment thier core of Bledsoe, Booker, Chriss, Len and Bender.

At the VERY worst, he’s Andre Iguodala from his Denver & Philly years. I still see Toronto T-Mac whenever I watch him.

Whether or not he’s a main scoring option, I’m starting to lean more towards no. But the guy impacts games in multiple ways and contributes to wins. Unselfish playmaker, can rebound, can finish, can defend. I think he’s the most ready player in the class and will have less growing pains that the other guys projected to go in the top 5.

 What makes you say he’s selfish?  He seems like a willing passer and a team player when I watch him.  

If he works hard on improving his jump shot and sharpening up his offensive game, I really believe he can be  a very similar player to Jimmy Butler.

 I have Ariza on my fantasy team. He makes a lot of threes.  I dont think Jackson will be used like Ariza. I dont think his game will translate to what Butler or Leonard’s is.  He is not a Loul Deng either. I think his usage and impact in the league will be something like Igoudala or Richard Jefferson. Jackson has a nice all around game but as we have seen with Iggy, he is best served as the teams third/fourth option on offense while stopping thw other teams best player on D.  The thing that worries me the most with Jackson is how he is finishing at the rim in college. His last move is to jump towards the net and then try to get his shot of.  This move never works in the NBA. Jimmy Butler is able to find the rim when he gets to it. Plus more of a ball handler.  But really that is the guy Jackson needs to mirror.  

 Well you’re way off.  Jackson can’t shoot like Ariza but can slash way better.  And he’s almost unselfish to a fault.

He’s always reminded me of a more aggressive Iguodola.  But he really knows how to score without being able to shoot and is really effective operating with his back in the post against guards.  He uses elite quickness  and the backboard from 15 feet in a way reminiscent of Wade. 

All in all I think he’ll translate to a player like Gerard Wallace was in Charlotte.   He has way more tools on offense then MkG had

 I was also in the camp that JJ was a little overrated and I thought he would struggle at times this year. But after having watched a few KU games this year, I think you and I were both wrong. I think he’s a fantastic young player. His jumper already improved quite a bit from when I saw him at the Hoops Summit. From all reports, he has a great work ethic and head on his shoulders. I’m starting to think he’ll be more of Paul George than Trevor Ariza.