Lakers select Kentucky's Jackson for Wizards, reportedly trade him to Pacers
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Kentucky power forward Isaiah Jackson with the No. 22 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Jackson was reportedly set to join the Washington Wizards as part of a blockbuster deal centered around Russell Westbrook. However, the Wizards are reportedly rerouting the Wildcats standout to the Indiana Pacers for Aaron Holiday and the No. 31 pick, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Jackson averaged 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in just under 21 minutes per game this past season. The 6-foot-10 big man was particularly strong later in the year, a stretch that featured an 18-point, 11-board double-double (with two blocks) in a win over Auburn.
Making the SEC's All-Defensive team as a 19-year-old freshman is promising, but the big question is how well Jackson's offensive game can scale.
He only attempted a pair of 3-pointers all season, with both coming in Kentucky's first three games. Still, 70% accuracy on free throws suggests he's not a lost cause as a shooter. Whether or not he develops a long-range game, though, he'll need to learn how to contribute in half-court offenses, as opposing bigs will have a size advantage in the paint.
Bio
Position: PF
School: Kentucky
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 206 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-5
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Exceptional athleticism; easy to envision as a lob threat in transition
- Strong defensive presence at the rim; leverages wingspan with aplomb
- Solid on the glass; ranked first among SEC freshmen with 17.3% rebounding rate, according to Basketball Reference
Weaknesses
- Overaggressive block-hunting can lead to foul trouble or easy second-chance scoring opportunities for opponents
- Needs to beef up to finish in traffic, handle centers in the post
- Shooting range remains a project