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NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Luke Norris

Jan 20, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A view of the floor before the game against the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A view of the floor before the game against the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) controls the ball at the net during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas

Josh Jackson, the 20-year-old freshman from Kansas, has the same body type as Jayson Tatum but he’s just a bit more explosive and is arguably the best forward in the entire draft. The Lakers are short on playmakers and Jackson is certainly that.

At 6-foot-8 and 203 pounds, Jackson is extremely quick, much more so than Tatum, and should be able to contribute immediately. He’s fantastic in the paint, shooting close to 70 percent at the rim, but can also run the floor and will be absolutely dynamic on the fast break. I certainly wouldn’t put him in the same class as Kevin Durant just yet but he’s very smooth off the dribble and his speed will be an advantage. As for his jumper, I can’t quite say the same. He has a low release point and isn’t always consistent but he did shoot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. A big problem is his 56 percent mark from the foul line. He’s unlikely to be a high-volume spot-up shooter and is certainly much better off the dribble.

Jackson isn’t the greatest defender in the world but he does have potential. He’ll be able to keep up with a large portion of the guards at the next level and some of the small forwards as well but he’s not going to do well in a power matchup. While he will hopefully fill out a bit over the next few years, he’s not overly strong and is going to get banged around for a while. He does get into foul trouble sometimes by trying to do too much and he’ll have to reel it in some if he ends up with the Lakers but the upside is that he does care about defense and that’s not a bad thing.

Jackson has had some trouble off the court that may make the Lakers nervous. Last December, an incident involving Jackson and a teammate’s girlfriend got him in some trouble as he allegedly threw a drink at her in a bar when she tried to leave. Witnesses said that Jackson kicked her car repeatedly, which caused damage to it and Jackson was subsequently charged with one count of misdemeanor property damage. Jackson was then suspended for Kansas’ first game in the Big 12 tournament after he told the team that he had hit a parked car and campus and did not report it.

Hopefully, this isn’t a pattern for Jackson and the Lakers do need to investigate that possibility. But if we’re going strictly on talent, Josh Jackson is the real deal.

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