Keeping It Heel
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2017 NBA Draft: Justin Jackson’s fit with the Sacramento Kings

By Alec Lasley

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justin Jackson (North Carolina) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number fifteen overall pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justin Jackson (North Carolina) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number fifteen overall pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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After being selected 15th overall by the Sacramento Kings, Justin Jackson looks to be part of the organizational turnaround.

It’s no secret that the Kings have been a terrible organization, with no real direction, for the past couple of years.

They were good enough with DeMarcus Cousins to slide to the back end of the Draft Lottery, but not good enough to make the playoffs.

Trading Cousins, and starting new, was the best move to make. With the leadership of Dave Joerger, and after a great draft, the Kings look to be on the right track.

So how exactly will Tar Heel star Justin Jackson fit in?

First off, the Kings are awfully short on bodies in the backcourt and wing. With Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, and Tyreke Evans all free agents, Rudy Gay declining his player option – becoming a free agent as well – Langston Galloway still deciding on his player option, and Ben McLemore’s future with the team being unclear, Jackson will slide into a spot with a lot of playing time.

Currently, the only wings on the roster are Malachi Richardson, Garrett Temple, and Buddy Hield, none of which are listed as small forwards.

Additionally, Jackson has a great ability that you can’t teach; he can score. And score in many ways.

One of those ways is his old man’s floater. Not seen much around the league anymore, Jackson has the ability to shoot over anyone with his go-to floater.

Last year he shot 41percent on his 75 floater attempts according to Synergy Sports. For someone whose body isn’t filled out yet, only 201 pounds, using a floater allows him to get his shots off without taking contact.

It’s also well known how much of an improved shooter Jackson is. Increasing his three-point shooting 10 percent, up to 39 percent his junior year, Jackson’s development of his deep ball has just increased his offensive ability.

DraftExpress does a great job of showcasing just how Justin Jackson has emerged as a lethal deep ball threat off of screens. This will be a big help for the Kings as they were just an average team, ranked 15th in the league, in scoring off of screens.

Related Story: Kennedy Meeks Signs with Toronto Raptors

Jackson will be someone that the Kings rely on immediately and his ability to score is something not easy to find. He will be a major piece of the Kings moving forward, and prove to be part of the changing culture in Sacramento.

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