The Philadelphia 76ers will have the third pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. With guards Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball likely off the board with the first two picks, the next best player available is forward Josh Jackson out of Kansas.
Josh Jackson might very well be the best player in this year’s draft outside of Markelle Fultz. Fultz is a tremendous point guard and has amazing upside. Jackson didn’t quite put up the numbers Fultz did in college, but his ceiling and potential to be great might be the most intriguing in this draft class. His fit with the Philadelphia 76ers is better than most people believe.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
As a freshman at Kansas, Josh Jackson averaged 16.3 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game and 3 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from three. Jackson has an ideal frame for the NBA. At 6’8, 207 lbs, he still needs to add on muscle and weight.
Jackson is the best defender in this draft and it’s not even close. He has a desire and drive to play defense, which is an incredible quality you that can not be taught. He is an instant game-changer on the defensive side of the ball. In college, he averaged 1.7 steals per game and 1.1 blocks per game, while also showcasing elite ability to defend the perimeter and inside.
Overall, Jackson’s motor and work ethic is unmatched. Still a very raw prospect, he will need to improve his outside shooting consistency and ball-handling. His ability to explode off the catch and finish above the rim isn’t a concern at all.
Jackson’s Fit
Josh Jackson would be a great fit with the Philadelphia 76ers. If the 76ers elected to select Jackson with their third pick, the team will have potential to be top 3 in the NBA defensively for years to come. A potential front court of Jackson, Robert Covington/Dario Saric and Joel Embiid is ridiculous. Also, Ben Simmons is expected to play guard for the Sixers next year. The problem with Simmons defending opposing quicker guards could be solved as well, as Jackson could take on that responsibility. This would allow Simmons to move inside and defend bigger players more naturally.
MUST READ: Top 10 Sixers Players Entering the Offseason
On the offensive side of the ball, Jackson still has room to improve. He is excellent at playing off the ball and cutting to the open spot. Jackson has sneaky playmaking ability, and explosiveness off the catch. His first step is hard to guard, as well as his ability to finish around the basket and above the rim. Jackson has shown occasional flashes of knocking down the three, as he shot it at 38 percent during college. If he is able to become consistent with that shot, Jackson will be hard to defend and a really solid offensive player in the NBA.
Next: TSS NBA Draft Big Board 2017
Wrap Up
The Philadelphia 76ers need to draft Josh Jackson. Jackson is an intriguing player that can make the 76ers a great defensive team. With all the talk about great two-way players like Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler in today’s NBA, Jackson would fit great into the league as that kind of player. At very least, Jackson has potential to be a longtime starter and secondary contributor to a 76ers team with a bright future.