Report: Josh Jackson Has Received an NBA Draft Promise

According to one report, Josh Jackson has already received a promise in regards to where he’ll be picked in the 2017 NBA Draft. Could the Philadelphia 76ers be the team who made that promise?

With the 2017 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, rumors and smokescreens are heating up and bleeding together. With countless reports and a myriad of different options, it’s always difficult to get a read on where certain players — and certain teams — stand. One player, though, may have already received notice of where he’ll get drafted from one of the teams early in the lottery: Josh Jackson.

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports on 98.7, Jackson “has been promised.” He goes on to mention the fact that he has already worked out in front of the Los Angeles Lakers’ brass, while “it could be Philly” as well. He thinks it’s the Lakers.

Regardless of which team it is, this news could have massive ramifications in regards to shaping the lottery come draft night. If it is indeed the Lakers, Jackson could bring a massive shock to most current projections. Lonzo Ball has been the prohibitive favorite to end up in Los Angeles throughout the pre-draft process. Dropping him past second overall could drastically shift the direction of the teams that follow.

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The Philadelphia 76ers would then have Ball fall right into their lap, creating an intriguing situation in the midst of what would likely be Bryan Colangelo’s most difficult decision yet as the Sixers’ general manager. Ball comes with an irritating support structure, something Bryan’s father and Sixers advisor Jerry Colangelo has noted in the past. With LaVar Ball overhyping Lonzo’s expectations, there’s a chance that his off-court distractions could be a negative too detrimental to overlook.

His fit on the court, though, is undeniable. Likely the most intelligent player entering the league in recent years, Ball’s basketball I.Q. is enough to instantly boost the Sixers’ efficiency on the floor. He’s another spot-up shooter to work off of Ben Simmons, while his prowess as both a secondary passer and a slasher should translate to a successful coexistence — a common misconception give the faulty narratives that have been established elsewhere.

Ball opens up the floor in transition while making the type of heady passes needed to keep the ball in constant motion offensively. Brett Brown’s offense was predicated heavily on player movement and unselfishness last season, something that didn’t always manifest given the lack of talent outside of Joel Embiid. Bringing in somebody with Ball’s innate ability to better those around him could be a massive step towards improving that.

Related Story: The Potential of Lonzo Ball

If the Sixers are the team that has given Jackson a promise, though, the ramifications could be less severe. Largely a consensus in the immediate hours after the lottery, Jackson has remained a heavy favorite for Philadelphia at three when operating under the assumption that Markelle Fultz and Ball are the first two names off the board.

A versatile defender with a strong frame and excellent size at 6-8, Jackson has the positional malleability to cover one through four defensively — a massive asset for a Sixers team that boasts one of the league’s best defensive cores. He lacks the consistent jumper needed to help rectify the Sixers’ spacing issues, but his playmaking wits and overall athletic tools are enough to see past the early concerns.

His ceiling could, in theory, be the highest in this year’s class.

Jackson would likely find the majority of his offensive production in transition or while operating as a slasher in the halfcourt setup, where his bounciness around the rim and explosiveness when gunning down the lane makes him extremely difficult to contain. His passing touch is also on full display when he’s driving towards the hoop, as he’s fully capable of dropping a quick wraparound to the cutting big or kicking it out to an open shooter on the outside.

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In a league that promotes versatility, Jackson has the tools needed to thrive. If the Sixers have already given Jackson their word, there’s a solid chance that they’re making the right decision.