Phoenix Suns 2018 offseason plans Part 2: Trades

Josh Jackson

I say that Josh Jackson is a potential untouchable, but I could forsee a Jackson trade under one circumstance: a bonafied superstar is acquired – specifically Kawhi Leonard.

With Leonard’s injury this past season being of tremendous concern, and the seemingly nuclear wasteland left in it’s wake, Leonard, once one of the NBA’s crown superstar jewels, has some tarnish in need of cleaning up. And should he be made available, his prior exorbitant cost could be somewhat lessened as the injury and now attitude concerns would provide teams with at least a little  fear that they might trade away young core pieces for someone who won’t provide the impact that they were expecting of him – and could potentially tear the franchise apart if things don’t go to his liking.

That being said, while he will be 27-years-old at the start of the season, if healthy and dedicated, he could easily be the same superstar two-way player he was in 2016-17 for the next seven to eight seasons, making the trade of any young player worth the cost of acquisition.

Hence, Josh Jackson’s name comes up.

While Jackson projects to potentially be the next  Kawhi Leonard, a star two-way player who scores a ton on offense and locks up the best player on defense, he is not there yet, and there is certainly no guarantee that he ever really gets anywhere close.

However, if San Antonio called and begrudgingly offered Leonard for Josh Jackson straight up, or with minimal other pieces in a trade package, the opportunity to acquire a solidified superstar to pair up with Devin Booker will be incredibly difficult to turn down.

Not saying that McDonough would jump at that trade offer, but he most certainly would think about it.