NBA: Regrading every first round pick from the 2018 NBA Draft

NBA: Re-grading every first round pick from the 2018 NBA Draft

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (C) poses with NBA Draft Prospects Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III, Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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NBA draft Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

2018 NBA draft: Re-grading Pick Number 4. Jaren Jackson Jr.: B-

Jaren Jackson Jr. came out of the gates in his first season and looked like he could be the early steal of the draft. He was a gifted shooter from outside with an interior game that portended the growth of the modern big man. Injuries have limited his effectiveness since then but the potential is still abundantly clear.

Jackson’s rebounding numbers are lower than you would hope, but some of that can be attributed to playing a long Jonas Valanciunas. However, his overall stat line in his second season is still tantalizing: 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 assists per game on shooting splits of .469/.394/.747. His statistical drop-off this season was to be expected given that he only played 11 regular-season games due to a knee injury.

Next season will be huge for his future. The Memphis Grizzlies returned to the playoffs this season in large part without him being a part of their improvement. Given a full offseason of health Jackson should be more than capable of taking the leap alongside Ja Morant and boosting the Grizzlies into perennial playoff contention once again. The missing opportunity to take Trae Young hurts less in hindsight given the lottery luck a year later that brought Morant to Memphis.

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