FanPost

Why the Suns Should Draft Josh Jackson

From a player personnel standpoint the only move the Suns should be worried about making this offseason is drafting Josh Jackson. The Suns are clearly a flawed team as their record shows, but Jackson is the perfect fit for the Suns. I say it should be their only worry because unless Blake Griffin feels like coming to Phoenix no real free agent should be signed to block anyone’s growth.

Jackson is a long athletic wing defender who may be able to develop into a lock down defender on the perimeter. Jackson is 6’8" with a near 6’10" wingspan. Not that is some unheard-of freak of nature type length, but it is more than enough. PJ Tucker is the only one on this team who can defend and he should be traded in the next two weeks, if he is somehow not, they definitely will not resign him. Bledsoe can play defense but his offensive load takes away from what he does on the opposite end. The game in the NBA now is based on perimeter play, and as much as we all love Booker he will never turn into a plus defender or maybe even an average one.

Jackson helps in the areas the Suns lack. He hustles his butt off. He is an intense player who will dive on the floor for a loose ball and scrap down low for a much-needed rebound. Jackson is an extremely capable offensive rebounder as shown by his board late against Kentucky which pretty much won Kansas the game. He has quick feet and can move laterally with ease. Many players on the roster such as Brandon Knight and TJ Warren are unable to stay in front of guys. Jackson also is a good help defender and comes through on the weak side. Plus, he also closes out, something the Suns haven’t done all season! (Sarcasm, obviously, they have but doesn’t seem like they do it often.) Jackson is averaging 1.7 blocks a game and 1.2 steal per game. He is aggressive on defense but does commit too many dumb fouls which can lead to him having sit, so he will fight right in with everyone else on the roster.

Since I have been a Suns have I have literally never seen a Phoenix Suns team with above average defense. The 7 seconds or less Suns were always underrated defensively and were never lower than 20 in defensive efficiency, but they were also no higher than 16 which was in 2006-07 (Also known as the best Suns team ever which was robbed of their chance at a title.) With Jackson the Suns can have a wing with size who can defend and work towards an above average defense.

Jackson’s main flaw is on offense. His shot is a bit broke but not beyond repair. Mechanically it is all wrong. Jackson is shooting 50 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from behind the arc, but a majority of his shots come from inside. Only 62 of his attempts all year have been from three-point land. However, like I said before it is still fixable. 54 percent is his current clip from the free throw line, which must improve. If his shot never improves, we all remember Shawn Marion and how atrocious that was. Still, the Matrix shot 33 percent from three for his career. One outta three ain’t bad.

Even if Jackson never comes around on the offensive end he is still worth the high draft pick. The reason why I said do not worry about signing free agents is because I believe in the current core. Booker, Bender, Chriss, and Warren should be enough on the future to get this team to the playoffs. Adding Jackson to a core of guys who are score first players like Booker, Warren, and Chriss lets the offensive revolve around them while Jackson leads on defense.

One problem here is Bledsoe. Bled’s trade value will never be higher, and while I love the guy I am not sure he will still be in his prime when the team is ready to be a consistent postseason contender. He has already shown less willingness to attack the hole. Which leads to the question. If the Suns were to get the first pick what do they do? Fultz and Ball both seem like locks of prospects even though both may have some question marks around them. If you get that high selection McDonough and company need to seriously gauge Bledsoe’s market and trade him if the right package comes around. Again, that is based on your belief of how much longer Bledsoe can keep going and if you like Ball or Fultz.

Another worry with drafting Jackson, like Bledsoe situation, is not on him either, is the coaching staff. As much as I like the prospects on the roster I just do not believe Watson and his staff can develop those guys and put them in the right position to succeed. I Did not like the hire when it happened and nothing has been done to persuade me otherwise. Which in turn makes me wonder if they should go with Fultz or Ball who seem to have higher superstar potential regardless of coaching.

That being said, Jackson is what this team needs. He doesn’t get the team over the hump in year one but as a unit he would improve the skill set so much that a Booker, Warren, Jackson, Bender, Chriss, and if you want to throw Len in there you can, team should be a playoff team easy in a year or two with whoever the point guard is. Jackson’s floor is Andre Igoudala and if he ever turns into a polished offensive player maybe he turns into a top 15 player who is similar to Kawhi Leonard. With all that said the front office will probably pick a point guard because they have shown they have a bit of a guard fetish.