NBA Draft 2017: Boston Celtics Interested To Take Josh Jackson At No. 1
NBA draft rumors are taking the spotlight now that the NBA Finals are over. Josh Jackson has emerged as a top option for the Boston Celtics to draft at No. 1, reports say.
Senior ESPN writer Chad Ford reported that the Celtics and team president Danny Ainge are looking to draft Kansas small forward Josh Jackson, according to the Washington Post. According to an NBA general manager, Jackson is the right type of player for the Celtics to draft.
The GM told Ford, “Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor… From all my conversations with them, I’m convinced they’ll take Jackson No. 1.”
Jackson is competitive and would contribute to winning, Masslive.com added. The publication noted that the Celtics previously tried to trade players with similar characteristics as Josh, such as Justine Winslow. They also drafted Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, and Jaylen Brown. With that, it is likely that Ainge would go ahead with Jackson.
However, amidst this NBA draft rumors, Jackson reportedly canceled a workout with the Boston Celtics this week. There are speculations that the player is looking to book with the Philadelphia 76ers or the Los Angeles Lakers. According to reports, one team has promised to pick Josh in the top three. The 76ers would likely pick him at No. 3, while Lakers could have him as their second pick. This week, Jackson went to a workout with the Lakers, which fuels rumors that he’s a preferred target for the Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are also considering Lonzo Ball at No. 2.
Meanwhile, Markelle Fultz remains to be the frontrunning draft option. His length, strength, and athleticism provide him a high defensive ceiling, according to CBS Sports. In addition, if Boston Celtics ended up drafting him, he is likely to have a higher trade value than Jackson. However, Jackson would be a supremely athletic wing, a versatile defender, and a player who can score.
#Celtics Looks like Markell's Fultz is working out with other teams…including the #Lakers pic.twitter.com/BmYH9N7V7c
— Ev Singleton (@EvGuyBoston) June 15, 2017
Fultz could also land with the Lakers. He also worked out with the NBA team this week and met with the team’s top brass. The Celtics have also hosted Markelle. Fultz expressed that he wants to be at No. 1, but he said he would be happy whether he got into the Lakers or the Celtics, according to NBA.com.
[Featured Image by Orlin Wagner/AP Images]
