2018 NBA Mock Draft: Promises, promises

Help me solve this riddle, won’t you?

“Jaren Jackson Jr., had a monster workout for Suns on Sunday, and continues to be the long-term prospect those outside Top 4 are working to move up and select in draft.”

Those are the words of NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, and they seem to indicate a sort of psychic power on the part of 26 NBA teams. How is it that, however impressive Jackson’s workout in Phoenix was, teams outside the top four in the draft would know that?

Certainly, the Suns would not have broadcast (literally or figuratively) their guy’s 1-on-none workout to the rest of the league, no matter how badly they might want to trade down and acquire long-term assets for the first pick. Wojnarowski also mentions that offers to move into the top four are expected to be “increasingly aggressive” as a result of Jackson’s promising Phoenix workout.

Jackson has also worked out for Dallas and Atlanta, picking third and fifth respectively. Could one of those workouts not have swayed the league like his display in Phoenix?

This rumor, which set the internet ablaze this week, is seemingly an attempt on the part of Jackson’s agent or representatives from a team in the top four to inflate his value and/or drive up the asking price in potential trades.

He’s also the second-best player in this draft. If the Kings don’t want Luka Doncic, then Jackson should be their pick.