What is Josh Jackson’s hypothetical trade value already

He hasn’t played a game in the NBA, yet Josh Jackson has already reached a level that only one other player on the Suns’ roster currently holds: he is untouchable.

When the NBA world was blindsided by the news that Kyrie Irving was demanding a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Phoenix Suns were almost instantly attached as a possible suitor. Within minutes rumors abound circulated regarding who Phoenix might include in a package for the superstar point guard.

Except for a few outsiders who really don’t seem to have any clue about how to make a trade in the NBA, it was believed, and generally confirmed, that there was not a chance in you-know-what that Devin Booker would be included in a trade for Kyrie – whether stand alone or part of a package.

With the knowledge that Booker wasn’t to be involved, Josh Jackson’s name soon became the focal point. Reports were that Jackson was the centerpiece of who the Cavaliers wanted in return from Phoenix, although the Suns quickly leaked out that Josh Jackson was not available.

While there are very few game-changing players in the league available – or even potentially available – in trade this offseason, the Suns now essentially have two players on their roster that are by all intents and purposes untouchable in most plausible trade scenarios.

Pretty cool, huh?

Granted Kyrie Irving is not a top-ten player in the league, and statistically not that  much of an improvement over Eric Bledsoe. But at least he carries with him a level of league-respected stardom and commercial gravitas that the Suns’ roster currently lacks.

The opportunity to acquire a player of that caliber does not come around everyday.

While making Devin Booker untouchable makes sense (he did drop 70 points in a game once), Josh Jackson has yet to play anything but a handful of Summer League games, against rosters that are hardly of NBA quality.

Granted he has a lot of hype surrounding his two-way play and is probably the first prospect to drafted in the top-five with the expectation of making an immediate impact since Walter Davis. But to be made practically untouchable this early? That’s quite impressive.

So is Josh Jackson now at the same level as Devin Booker, or still a step or two behind him? (As I discuss this, let’s place all players in a non-contract vacuum. Just think of talent for talent.)

Of course if the Golden State Warriors offered Steph Curry or Kevin Durant for either player the Suns make the trade. But if they offered Klay Thompson would Phoenix accept him for one player, but not the other?

Paul George and Jimmy Butler were both connected to Phoenix at times this offseason. Would the Suns have accepted a one-for-one with Josh Jackson and not Devin Booker? Or are they both off limits in such a trade?

It’s hard to imagine that the Spurs would accept a trade of either Booker or Jackson for Kawhi Leonard, although they would accept either for LaMarcus Aldridge in a second. The Suns would like to pair Kawhi with either current Sun, but would laughingly reject a similar trade for Aldridge.

The Suns wouldn’t trade Booker for Porzingis, but would they trade Jackson for him? Obviously Phoenix would love to have those three together, but if a one-for-one was offered, would that not be acceptable?

How about Giannis Antetokounmpo? Personally I would accept trading Jackson, but once again, Booker? I’m still pretty confident I don’t want him moved in that trade.

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Karl-Anthony Towns or Anthony Davis would be acceptable in acquiring for even Booker let alone Jackson. But would Wiggins or Cousins be acceptable? In all sencerity, I say no.

There are plenty of players that the Suns wouldn’t move either player for, but while there could be several stars who a trade of Jackson would potentially be acceptable, the list of one-for-ones involving Booker is significantly smaller.

There is a chance that Jackson could end up equally as untouchable as Booker as early as sometime this coming season, although odds are it may take an additional year or two before his list might shrink.

Do Valley of the Suns fans agree with these names? Are there any players that are mentioned for Jackson that you would not accept a trade for?