2021 NBA Mock Draft — 24. Isaiah Jackson, Houston Rockets
Having used two picks on the perimeter, Houston uses its third and final first-round pick to acquire help in the frontcourt. Kelly Olynyk can leave in free agency, which would leave a sizable hole in the Rockets’ rotation. Enter Isaiah Jackson, one of the draft’s standout athletes and a potential backup to Christian Wood.
Jackson can run and jump with the best of them. At 6-foot-10, he moves in long, sweeping strides, with great explosiveness at the rim. He’s a lob threat and a shot-blocker, with upside to improve on both ends as his fundamentals develop and he gains a greater feel for the game. At 19 years old, Jackson is raw, but has plenty of room to grow. Houston can spare the patience.
This would mark a pretty successful draft for Houston, addressing needs with Cooper and Jackson, while getting a franchise cornerstone in Green. If the Cunningham speculation somehow comes to fruition, then even better. If the Rockets do trade this pick — to Detroit or elsewhere — then Jackson is still a name to watch. He won’t drop much further than this, and there aren’t many good bigs in the first-round conversation.
BIG BOARD RANKING: 32