2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Josh Jackson?
Final Word
There is a lot to like about Josh Jackson. He is a great scorer who can stay involved even when he does not have the ball. He is a strong defender already and has positional versatility to play at multiple areas on the floor.
More than that, what impresses about him is just his basketball smarts. If a defender strays too far from him or gets sucked into the ball, he has the smarts to cut baseline and go straight to the basket. He is more than an opportune cutter, he is a smart cutter.
Jackson is always involved in the play, even when he does not have the ball. That is even more impressive considering his shooting woes.
Jackson’s shooting is his biggest weakness. He had moments where he was draining shots and stretching the floor with his 3-point shot. It is a positive sign that his shot can continue to develop.
But his free throw shooting is very concerning. It suggests he may not be ready to step out to the 3-point line in the NBA.
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Free throw shooting can improve. So can 3-point shooting. There are plenty of players with Jackson’s physical profile and defensive prowess who did not come into the league with a 3-point shot and grew into at least consistency. That leaves Jackson’s outlook pretty high.
Still, he is a player who comes with plenty of questions. If he cannot shoot, can he play small forward? Will that shot develop? Will his poor free throw shooting create an inefficient mess of a player who can drive but not create?
And a midseason criminal charge has been settled but still hangs over him in this process.
But the overall outlook on Jackson is good. He has always silenced all those doubters about his game in one way or another.
He should come to the NBA ready made to be a defender. And he will find a way to contribute — whether it is crashing the glass, attacking the basket, hitting the occasional 3-pointer or being a dangerous cutter.
Next: 2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Derrick White?
Jackson is too smart of a basketball player and too skilled not to find some role on a NBA team somewhere.