NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Portland Trail Blazers

Apr 24, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) and guard Damian Lillard (0) talk during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) works around Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina

The Portland Trail Blazers are desperate for a wing player that can relieve some pressure off of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Evan Turner is a functional starter at best and Allen Crabbe can be streaky. With three picks in the first round, the Blazers should try to find their future at small forward.

That’s where 6-foot-8 Justin Jackson comes into the picture. After a disappointing pre-draft last year for Jackson, he went back to school to improve his skills and get drafted higher. In the process, Jackson was also able to add a National Championship at UNC.

The ACC Player of the Year averaged 22.9 points per game, while shooting 51 percent from two-point range and 37 percent from outside the arc. He’s capable of hitting the 3-point shot and has no fear of taking them — he averaged nearly seven attempts a game. Jackson came up big in the NCAA Tournament as well, leading his team to the title over Gonzaga.

He’s not a superior athlete, but has good instincts and a high basketball IQ to put himself in the right spots. Jackson can be an ideal fit for the Blazers in a starting small forward position or a small-ball power forward position.

Similar to Markkanen, Jackson can provide a scoring threat and also consistent shooting to provide some space for Lillard and McCollum. It would be a major upgrade over Turner and Crabbe and the Blazers could land him in the ‘teens where they have two draft picks.

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