Sacramento Kings: 2017 NBA Draft grades
No. 15 — Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Heading into the night, the Kings held an additional lottery selection with the 10th overall pick. However, in a surprising move, the Kings traded that pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the 15th and 20th overall picks, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Sacramento is trading the No. 10 pick to Portland for Nos. 15 and 20 in draft, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2017
So by the time the Kings were on the board at 15, one player certainly made a lot of sense for the Kings to take at that spot. By adding swingman Justin Jackson from the University of North Carolina, the Kings get a solid wing to round out their starting five of the future, which can develop from day one next season.
While Jackson may not have the same kind of upside for a fringe lottery selection due to his age, his well-rounded offensive profile makes him a worthy selection for the Kings, considering their lack of small forward depth.
Like Fox, Jackson faces the same questions over his build and how far he goes in gaining strength will determine whether he will be able to hold his own when matched up against strong, physical forwards.
Overall, there’s plenty to like when it comes to Jackson’s fit with the Kings. Whether he can break through his role playing potential or not, we don’t know yet, but the baseline of talent he brings to Sacramento is enough to be encouraged by what he can bring to the table now and in the future.
Grade: B