Mike Trudell: Jackson thinks it could be “really special” playing with Ingram. Noted how GSW+CLE didn’t play centers in “winning time.” Versatility a key.
What about Jaylen...Josh?
Except Jackson is not versatile...at all.
He on defense he can only cover SG and SF, on offense he can only play SF, he's an average ball handler, his got a hideous jump shot, and has major red flags due to legitimately concerning off court issues.
Jackson to me like like a defensive role player at worst, average starter at best. He is my Brandon Ingram of this year's draft - massively overhyped guy who will probably be a massive bust.
If take Fultz, Tatum and even Ball over him. I'm not looking for complimentary player with a top 3 pick - im looking for star of bust. And I dont feel Jackson has star potential. He's just to much of a tweener physically, while at the same time raw and lacking in elite skills.
NBADraft.net:
One of the main things that jumps out at you is JJ's versatility on both sides of the ball
DraftExpress:
Outlook: Super versatile wing player.
Chad Ford:
Jackson is probably the best fit for Phoenix in the draft. He's a versatile two-way wing who is great in the open court,
CBS Sports: Josh Jackson is the best two-way player in this year’s draft. As tall as Draymond Green (6’8″) and as athletic as Andrew Wiggins, Jackson can go into any system without disrupting the offense. (Kawhi Leonard came into the NBA as a similar prospect on both offense and defense.) His versatility on offense, mixed with his ability to guard multiple positions, would make him as a great fit anywhere.
Of course, we're all entitled to our opinions.
Sounds like the same type of people who cited "versatility" when taking overhyping my aforementioned prospects like Winslow amd Gordon, not to mention Ingram, Bender and even Wiggins (who is a talented scorer who can do little else).
Ive said it once, im say it again - every single year just about, there's almost always a massively hyped guy in the top 3 who every mock draft is obsessed about, who end up being a complete nobody.
People NOW are saying things like Gordom and Winslow are nowhere near the prospects Jackson is, etc....all while ignoring the fact that many mock drafts has both of those guys going to 3 or 4 in their drafts and were gushing about their "versatility".
How many are saying Ingram was BY FAR the best prospect in the draft, and the second coming off Kevin Durant? It was obvious from day one that he was never that guy.
Jackson is being overrated so badly it makes my eyes hurt just reading half the garbage people are writing.
I love that quote for example - "as tall as Draymond Green and as athletic as Andrew Wiggins". Do these geniuses saying this not actually do their research to see that Andrew Wiggins already IS as tall as Draymond Green?! As are half the wings in the NBA. Draymond Green is a massively undersized PF and has been successful in spite of (not because of) that height.
Difference is that Green has the length and physical strength / power to play the PF spot and even stretches at center, while Jackson is built like a stick figure and has the same wingspan as Rajon Rondo and Marcus Smart - versus Wiggins who has the wingspan of Lebron (in the 7'0" range).
On top of that Jackson lacks the handles and its too turnover prone with the ball to play SG against NBA defence, his shooting form is totally broken (~55% FT), he lacks the length and strength to play PF and lacks the frame to likely ever be able to build up enough to do so, he lacks Nba 3Pt range.
He's basically an athletic wing who can defend on the perimeter at a high level and score off drives and lobs and in transition, and that's pretty much it. And despite that raw nature, he's not especially young either (20 in college) by rookie standards.
I mean look - nobody truly KNOWS what any prospect will grow up to become. Every year there are guys who are drafted top 3 who end up role players, and guys who are drafted out of the lottery who end up great staters or stars. So I may well be wrong, and Jackson might come out and Al silence me from day one.
But I doubt it. I've seen way too many players of his type (athletic, defensive minded combo-forwards) who have come through the draft hyped like crazy, and ultimately amounted to nothing. And most of those guys didn't have Jackson's lack of physical strength, his mediocre wingspan, or his off-court concerns. I dont see any one talent or skill in this kid that screams "future star". I see a kid who can run and jump and defend, and who I expect will struggle to do much beyond that when he finds himself facing NBA size and skill.