8p9s Mock Draft 3.0: Trying to keep up with rumors

Josh Jackson took the third spot in our first two mock drafts because he’s widely believed to be the third best prospect in this class. That said, things are different now thanks to the blockbuster trade between the Sixers and the Assets, I mean Celtics.

The Celtics haven’t had Jackson in for a workout and seem to be put off a bit by some of the character issues that have been floating around. None of that means they absolutely won’t take him, but Duke forward Jayson Tatum seems more likely at this point.

Tatum has the perfect body for an NBA wing. He’s 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, and he has the footwork and offensive versatility to be a go-to scorer in the NBA.

In the modern NBA, Tatum probably functions best as a four on offense, but not necessarily on defense. That means that the small forward he’s paired with would ideally be sturdy enough to guard fours on defense. That could easily be Jaylen Brown someday, even if that day doesn’t come for a couple years.

The Phoenix Suns are still in best player available mode, so they likely won’t pass on Jackson if he’s available, despite the rumors that they’re big fans of De’Aaron Fox.

Jackson’s athleticism is just too intoxicating to ignore. His explosiveness is off the charts, and his two-way potential surpasses everyone else in this class. He can grab a rebound and go coast-to-coast, then lock down the other team’s star on the next possession.

The problem with Jackson is that his shot is in bad shape. While that might not really matter for a couple years, it will seriously impede his ability to become a legit star. The Suns already have a lot of shooting on their team, which should allow Jackson to develop his stroke slowly and surely, keyword should.