Los Angeles Lakers: 4 reasons to select Josh Jackson No. 2 overall

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Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) reacts during the second half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Position Versatility

In today’s NBA, versatility is key. Just check out some of the lineups that were used in the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. The game is very perimeter oriented right now, so having a player such as Jackson fits that mold perfectly.

Many people will point out that the Lakers used the second overall pick on a small forward last year when they selected Brandon Ingram. The Lakers tried to add some versatility to Ingram’s game, as they tried him out at point guard early in the season. Jackson already comes well equipped for positionless basketball given his skill set and versatility.

At Kansas, Jackson played a lot of power forward. He isn’t afraid to mix it up inside, as he averaged 7.4 rebounds per game. While his primary position is small forward, he can play power forward but should also be able to handle shooting guard as well.

Jackson has the athleticism to stick with players on the perimeter. Given his size, he could be a lockdown defender for the Lakers on the wing with a real chance to defend three or four positions. That is something the Lakers currently lack on their roster, as they don’t have many defensive minded players at their disposal.

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