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Boston Celtics Reportedly Considering Josh Jackson with No. 1 Overall Pick
June 15, 2017
The Boston Celtics are reportedly considering taking Kansas Jayhawks swingman Josh Jackson with the first pick in the NBA draft.
"We like him a lot," a Celtics source told ESPN.com's Chad Ford on Thursday. "But we like several guys a lot. We've got a week to figure it out."
The same source told Ford the Celtics are "strongly considering" options other than Washington combo guard Markelle Fultz—who has long been considered the favorite to be the draft's top pick.
Furthermore, Ford spoke with a general manager who said Danny Ainge's draft track record suggests Jackson may very well be in play.
"I've picked Danny's brain for years," the general manager said. "Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1."
Jackson has yet to work out for the Celtics, and it's unclear if he plans to do so. On June 12, ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman and Marc J. Spears reported Jackson cancelled a previously scheduled meeting with Boston.
A reason wasn't provided for the cancellation, but Ford cited league sources who speculated Jackson and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, may be angling for a future with the Los Angeles Lakers or Philadelphia 76ers since their depth charts are less crowded.
"We're in dialogue with Boston," Armstrong said, per Ford. "We're very respectful of them. They have the No. 1 pick and can select whoever they choose. We just need to see how things play out over the next week."
In his latest mock draft published Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Fultz to the Celtics at No. 1 and Jackson to the Lakers at No. 2 overall.