Josh Jackson has been a name that is trending upward in the past weeks as an extremely athletic and gifted 6’8″ player out of the University of Kansas who projects to be an elite defender who can guard multiple positions and the potential to be a 20 point per game scorer down the line.
The feeling for many NBA scouts and personnel members until the past few weeks or so was that Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball were the clear No. 1 and No. 2 talents in this draft with a slight drop-off with the next tier of players including Josh Jackson, DeAaron Fox and Jayson Tatum.
That sentiment has shifted now as Lonzo Ball seems to be sliding down the Lakers draft board (if you choose to believe that) and Josh Jackson has had multiple workouts with the Lakers and a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jackson, meanwhile, has also canceled a workout with the Boston Celtics who are picking at No. 1 and has refused to workout with the Phoenix Suns at No. 4.
Here is what Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Reporter John Gambodoro said about the situation:
Josh Jackson has been promised – has worked out for Lakers in LA. Has not worked out for Phoenix yet. It could be Philly but likely Lakers.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 12, 2017
While it could be true that Jackson has a promise to be taken at No. 2 or No. 3, the fact that Lonzo Ball and DeAaron Fox are being brought in for a second workout with the Lakers makes it no certainty that they are already decided on Jackson at No. 2, and while Jackson could definitely be the pick for Philly at No.3, they clearly need and have shown an interest in drafting a point guard like DeAaron Fox.
My guess, the Lakers end up taking Ball and the 76ers decide to trade back for a team dying to move up and grab Jackson or Fox at No. 3.
