Before taking a look at where the hot-take NBA mock drafts have Josh Jackson going, consider a brilliant idea proferred by Andrew Perloff in [a video on SI.com.][1]
The NBA’s integrity took a huge hit with teams tanking left and right to improve their chances of moving up the lottery ranks. Such maneuvers make a mockery of the game and cheat fans who pay money to see teams compete, not to be used as pawns in a dastardly scheme.
Perloff suggests that the lottery expand from 14 to 20 with the bottom three playoff teams in each conference getting ping pong balls. Each of the 20 teams has an equal chance, which completely takes away the incentive to throw games.
“That way everyone is gunning for the postseason,” Perloff said. “You’re going to see no mid-level tanking at all.”
Flawless idea.
Now onto the mock drafts:
[Draftexpress.com][2] and [NBAdraft.net][3] have Jackson going third to the 76ers, behind Washington point guard Markelle Fultz (Celtics) and UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball (Lakers).
[SI.com][4] has Jackson going fourth to the Phoenix Suns, behind Fultz, Ball and Duke’s Jayson Tatum.
ESPN.com’s Chad Ford also has Jackson going fourth to the Suns, behind Fultz, Ball and Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk.
“He’s a versatile two-way wing who is great in the open court, can lock down three positions and plays with an intensity reminiscent of Kevin Durant,” Ford wrote. “His jump shot is shaky, but the Suns have plenty of shooters.”
[Reid Forgrave of CBSsports.com][5] has Jackson going fifth to the Sacramento Kings, behind surprise No. 1 Jayson Tatum of Duke, Ball, Fultz and Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox.
**Three Jayhawks at lottery**
A case easily could be made that Jackson has the least natural ability of the three Jayhawks at the NBA lottery, ranking behind Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins, but if I had to guess which player will have the most productive NBA career, my guess would be Embiid if healthy, Jackson if injuries prevent Embiid from having a long career.
The photo of Wiggins and Jackson together offered an interesting contrast in styles. Wiggins wore a flashy suit that called attention to himself. Jackson was dressed like a man ready to get down to the serious business of winning. Wiggins will score more points in the NBA, but Jackson will do all the things necessary to play winning basketball.
If I were the general manager of whichever team drafts Jackson and the Minnesota Timberwolves called offering Wiggins in exchange for him, I would instantly respond with four words: “No thanks. Anything else?”
[1]: http://www.si.com/nba/video/2017/05/15/fixing-nba-draft-lottery
[2]: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2017/
[3]: http://www.nbadraft.net/2017mock_draft
[4]: http://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/17/nba-mock-draft-lottery-results-celtics-lakers-76ers
[5]: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/mock-draft