2016 NBA Mock Draft: Drafting For Need

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

9 of 31

Jan 9, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) dunks in front of Pittsburgh Panthers forward Sheldon Jeter (21) and forward Michael Young (2) in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Pittsburgh won 86-82. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Sacramento Kings: Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Position: Point Guard
Age: 21 (9/7/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’1″, 194 pounds, 6’4.75″
Slash Line: .451/.331/.813
Season Averages: 36.0 MPG, 15.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.5 3PM

The Sacramento Kings have a franchise player in big man DeMarcus Cousins, and a potential rim protector in Willie Cauley-Stein. Rudy Gay is an excellent complementary scorer, and Darren Collison is as solid a backup point guard as you’ll find in the NBA.

Demetrius Jackson may be a bit of a reach, but with Rajon Rondo approaching unrestricted free agency, there’s nothing Sacramento needs more than a point guard who can lead the team into the future.

Rondo may re-sign, and Collison is a quality enough player to start and hold his own for the Kings. There are rumors that Collison could be traded, however, and there’s no guaranteeing that Rondo will come back next season.

Thus, selecting Jackson at No. 8 to help the Kings compete in a point guard driven league.

Jackson is still refining his skills as a point guard, but he could be the game-changing contributor who Sacramento is searching for. He’s an explosive leaper with the foot speed, lateral quickness, muscular frame, and paralyzing first step to athletically overwhelm the opposition.

Jackson is still developing, but he shined in clutch moments and has the potential to be an impact player on both ends of the floor.

Next: Toronto Raptors

Home/NBA Draft