Draft Profile: Justin Jackson

2017 NBA Draft Preview

The Knicks won’t be taking the Carolina product at 8, but could they make a deal to grab the sharpshooting Jackson?

Phil Jackson’s rings. Carmelo Anthony’s Olympic gold medals. Heck, even Lance Thomas’s championship at Duke gets mentioned every time he takes the floor. For new New York, pedigree matters to those in charge.

Justin Jackson — the ACC Player of the Year and North Carolina’s top scorer — led the Tarheels on their quest for redemption. Beating Gonzaga for the national title, the 22-year-old junior finished the season averaging 18 points per game, while shooting 44 percent overall (via RealGM).

Carolina was one of the country’s most unselfish teams. They averaged almost 85 points per game while finishing with the second most assists per game in the nation. This matters because the Knicks are hellbent on not evolving in their offensive scheme. Jackson is coming from a program that has encouraged — no, implored — players to move the ball.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at Justin Jackson’s repertoire.

Offense

Shooting and Scoring

How players plant their feet, how high their release is, and where they land all matter. Zoning in on these details is helpful because shooters tend to fall into one of two categories: they either develop their own signature style or they mimic a style that works.

Jackson’s shooting form was terrible as a freshman and sophomore. The primary reason was due to the fact that he planted his feet out of rhythm. Additionally, he had no clear tendency when it came to releasing shots, especially from 16 feet and beyond.

This season, not only has he corrected the literal mechanics of his shooting, but he’s worked on his propensity to shoot. Against Davidson, Jackson attempted a career high 13 three-pointers from all over the floor.

Rhythm. Quick release. Repetition. There was much of the same in the Final Four match up against Oregon. He’s mastered a motion and it paid off well. You expect to see that level of confidence from a third year player.

Jackson can also score on the move. In fact, the game versus Kentucky was one of the better games I’ve seen from a Carolina team in a while. Because Carolina’s offense emphasizes ball movement, Jackson was often the recipient of easy buckets off screens and as a cutter. Playing with point guards like Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II was instrumental in Jackson’s ability to find the open lane:

Passing

Jackson is a wing who is willing to make the extra pass if there’s no room to get a good shot off. Given the depth Carolina had, options to spread the ball were plentiful. Jackson’s positive pure point rating was 0.54, indicating that he’s going to look to work within an offense rather than solely do his thing.

Athleticism/Conditioning

Some rookies are more athletically gifted than others. Justin Jackson has the type of length that make NBA executives salivate. He measured 6’8.25″ at the combine with a nearly seven foot wingspan. We’ve seen him sprint the floor in transition and he hasn’t missed any time from injury. All positives!

To sum up Jackson’s strengths, he won’t jack up egregiously bad shots and he’ll be comfortable in situations where the bulk of possessions flow through Kristaps Porzingis.

Biggest weakness: While these positives show strong tools that could make Jackson a successful NBA player, there are some holes in his game. Despite the much improved shot selection, Jackson’s glaring deficiency is his inability to create his own shot or play in isolation. I know what you’re thinking — isoKnicks are the worst! This is correct. However, Jackson will be matched up with the league’s elite wings and possibly stretch fours. The majority of them (Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, etc.) thrive as isolation defenders. Justin doesn’t have a quick first step nor does he excel in creating space. He’s not a player that picks up the ball either, so his ball-handling skills will have to undergo the same methodical training that his shooting did.

Defense

Rebounding

This year’s Tarheels were a long, athletic team. Jackson averaging 4.7 rebounds for the season may raise an eyebrow or two. This isn’t a major cause for concern because he’s long enough to be a help defender. Given his experience, his defensive I.Q. could be more refined. But I don’t think he has to be elite defender in order to be effective. Knowing the scheme and committing to his assignment will make enough of an impact in the immediate future. As time goes on and as his physique matures, Jackson will naturally become a more physical defender.

Intensity

What rookies lack in measurable talent, they make up for in our eyes with intangibles. The Knicks have done it with players other teams overlooked: Langston Galloway, Cleanthony Early, and even viejito Prigioni. Justin Jackson isn’t a top lottery pick because he isn’t elite in enough ways. But he plays with a ferocity that guys of his ilk have. That’s a trait Coach Hornacek would be able to pull some greatness out of.

The Panicky Knicks Fan Contingency Plan

With all of the struggles that the Knicks endured, there were glimmers of hope from Willy Hernangómez and Ron Baker on the defensive end. Jackson could just as easily remember that he has a seven foot wingspan and morph into a formidable wing.

Biggest weakness: Pouring through opposing film on Justin, I found a familiar frustration that I had with KP. He hasn’t figured out how to adequately use his size to his advantage. His lateral quickness is impeded by the fact that he doesn’t always bend his knees. This means he’s so slow on switches and fighting through screens. Furthermore, Jackson is pushed completely out of position by players who are shorter but simply stronger than him. This will be exploited a lot when the Knicks decide to play small-ball.

Player Comparisons

Best case scenario: Trevor Ariza

Worst case scenario: Thabo Sefolosha

Coming up with a pro comparison for Justin Jackson’s overall game was difficult because there are elements that likely won’t change. Even still, he’s young enough that his ceiling is that of a long-term role player who could blossom into a solid 30 minute per game guy within three seasons.

Jackson is the perfect hybrid player that would thrive coming off the Knicks’ bench. While Jackson has boosted his three-point shooting, it’s still his mid-range game that is his strong suit. He finished his Carolina career at 53 percent inside the arc. For comparison, as a pro, Trevor Ariza’s career two-point field-goal percentage is 48 percent.

Scouting Report: Dennis Smith, Jr.

No one would say Ariza is an outstanding defender. He’s established himself as a good one by developing instincts around the perimeter. He can cut off the baseline as well. With Justin Jackson’s length, one can hope that he’ll adopt some of the prowess that made Sefolosha valuable in Oklahoma City.

Final Thoughts

Justin Jackson will be in front of Knicks’ brass on June 13. As he’s preparing, the Knicks are reportedly in talks to acquire an additional first round pick via a deal with Portland.

Assuming Justin Jackson shows a favorable leap in his ball-handling skills and lateral movement during his workout, drafting him with the late pick acquired from Portland would be great.

However, per ESPN’s Ian Begley, such a deal might include Moe Harkless. To have Harkless and then use the late pick on Jackson is repetitive at SF, especially since Lance Thomas is on the books for a few more years. Neither Jackson nor Harkless are big enough to play four, so I’m not sure I’d be on board for that move.

Jackson’s workout, coupled with the agency workouts from now until then, will likely influence which way the pendulum swings on trade talks between the Knicks and Portland. But out of the class of small forwards, Jackson is one of three that I think is a perfect fit for the Triangle and good insurance if Thomas finds himself on the DL next season.

— James Woodruff, staff writer

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Draft Profile: Justin Jackson was originally published in The Knicks Wall on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.