NBA Rookie Rankings: 5 guys under the most pressure

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 14: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings reacts during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 14, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 4: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during The All-Girls Symposium Presented by Nike on February 4, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Unlike everyone else on this list, Jackson’s team has zero hopes of making the postseason. The Grizzlies do, however, want to win games so they can convey their first-round pick to Boston this season. If that’s going to happen, Jackson needs to emerge as the team’s best player.

The team’s decision to trade Marc Gasol opens up a huge opportunity for Jackson to become the team’s No. 2 option on offense. Mike Conley is still going to get his share of shots, but there’s no reason Jackson shouldn’t pick up the touches Gasol left behind.

The real question is what Jackson can do with those opportunities. He’s an excellent rim runner and has shown flashes of being a dangerous 3-point shooter, but he’s struggled in between those areas. If he wants to become an All-Star caliber player, he needs to find a way to make defenders respect him in the mid-range.

Jackson also needs to find a way to stay on the floor more consistently. Playing next to Jonas Valanciunas isn’t going to offer him the same sort of defensive protection that Gasol did. It’ll be up to Jackson to pick and choose when he wants to contest shots at the rim. Jackson’s got a world of potential, but he needs to transfer a healthy portion of it into production down the stretch.

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