NBA Draft 2018: Five perfect first round selections

2. Jaren Jackson Jr. — Atlanta Hawks

It’s going to be relatively easy for the Hawks to fill a need on draft night. After all, Travis Schlenk’s inherited a roster that is largely a blank slate. Outside of last season’s first round pick John Collins, Atlanta has needs at every other position.

Taking a young talent like Jackson Jr. would fit the roster perfectly. Specifically, he’s a great fit to play alongside Collins for years to come. The former Wake Forest product was an excellent rebounder and interior scorer in his rookie season, but he doesn’t protect the rim or shoot 3s with any regularity.

Those happen to be Jackson Jr’s best skills. He posted block numbers at an elite rate with Michigan State. He’s going to have to cut down his foul rate at the NBA level, but it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he doesn’t become a great shot blocker. His defensive strength can perfectly cover up Collin’s deficiencies on that end of the floor.

The same would be true on the offensive end. Jackson Jr’s perimeter shot is a little bit of a push, but you can’t argue the results. It goes in with plenty of frequency. Teams might try to tweak his release a little bit at the next level, but his shot definitely isn’t broken. He projects comfortably as a floor-stretching center.

Unlike some teams on this list, the Hawks can feel pretty comfortable about their ability to draft their ideal player. Jackson Jr. should be available at No. 3 assuming Atlanta elects to stay put.