2017 NBA Mock Draft: What if the Lakers don’t take Lonzo Ball?

The Philadelphia 76ers will be the obvious winner should the Los Angeles Lakers pass on Lonzo Ball, but the Phoenix Suns are a close second as it locks them into Kansas freshman Josh Jackson, a wing prospect who rates as the best player available and also fills a position of need for the franchise.

Jackson has upside as a wing creator because of his passing ability both out of isolations and out of the pick-and-roll. However, he needs to improve as a scorer from those positions in order to have a more well-rounded offensive game. Jackson’s handle can be a bit loose and his finishing can lack creativity, but the potential is there for him to be a top end secondary option.

The other part of Jackson’s game that continues to need work is his jump shot. His shooting mechanics are out of whack and despite shooting well from behind the 3-point arc this season over 90 attempts, he doesn’t project to be an above averaged shooter in the NBA. The impact of that can be minimized if he maximizes the number of possessions where he is the creator, but it’ll be imperative to developing his overall game.

Jackson’s defense combines decent length, athleticism and a competitiveness that few players in the draft can match. He can protect the rim a bit from the week side and has good instincts when it comes to jumping passing lanes.

Learn more about Josh Jackson at The Step Back.