Justin Jackson could be an interesting fit with the Atlanta Hawks if he is available with the 19th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Atlanta Hawks have a crucial offseason coming up.
Two of the most important aspects of the offseason will be the NBA Draft and the restricted free agency of Tim Hardaway Jr. But those two things could wind up being connected.
The Hawks hold the 19th selection in the 2017 Draft and one name that might make sense in that spot is North Carolina’s Justin Jackson. Jackson is a 6-foot-8 small forward that knows how to score in a variety of ways.
Last season, his junior year at UNC, Jackson averaged 18.2 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting and 37.0 percent shooting from three-point range. His ability to knock down mid-range jumpers, three-pointers, and attack the basket made him one of the best players in the country this past season. Jackson was named the ACC Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-American for the national champion Tar Heels.
Jackson’s scoring ability will make him a potentially valuable piece at the NBA level and that is also what Hardaway does well for the Hawks.
Hardaway broke out for the Hawks this past year. He averaged a career-high 14.5 points per game and displayed explosive scoring ability, particularly in the second half of the season. He emerged as a guy that could either start or serve as the scoring sixth man for Atlanta. There were also times where Hardaway looked like Atlanta’s best player this past season.
But now that he will be a restricted free agent, it is decision time for the Hawks organization. Hardaway struggled mightily in the postseason, as he shot just 32.9 percent from the floor. That performance in the first round highlighted the inconsistency that Hardaway has had in stretches of his young career.
And if he is so streaky, is that a man that you want to pay a lot of money to?
The Hawks already pay Kent Bazemore too much on the wing and might want to save some cash for a rainy day. If the Hawks drafted Jackson, that would ease the pain of losing Hardaway and provide some financial relief.
Jackson will not be as explosive as Hardaway was this season but he has the potential to be a good scorer in the NBA and a solid starting small forward. Even though the Hawks have Taurean Prince, this would give the team a good depth piece that brings a pure scorer’s mentality on the wing like the team does not really have outside of Hardaway.
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Losing Hardway would, in the immediate future, be a step back for Atlanta’s progress. But Jackson could provide an exciting forward combination with Prince for several years. Not to mention the fact that he would be a much cheaper option than THJ, allowing the franchise to further build other aspects of the roster.