Three reasons to love the draft for the Phoenix Suns

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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns speaks with Steve Ballmer, Owner of the LA Clippers, during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Phoenix Suns didn’t trade Josh Jackson

This one might also sound like a total no-brainer, but think about it: it took the Miami Heat’s unprotected first round pick just to move up six spots in the draft. T.J. Warren wasn’t enough to trade up to number three or four in the draft to possibly select Luka Doncic. It would have cost Josh Jackson and more, something that for many Suns fans was far to much to bear.

Sure, many of us would have absolutely loved to have seen the Suns pull off a trade that would have netted Phoenix Doncic, Marvin Bagley III, Mohamed Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, or any number of other players that fans had their eyes on after selecting Deandre Ayton first overall, but to lose Josh Jackson, a player who truly did seem to develop right before our eyes only three months into his NBA career, would have been extremely difficult to see happen.

In regards to several players on the Suns, I have long thought that I would rather watch them fail here than succeed elsewhere. Granted, I have generally focused that opinion on Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, but the exact same can be said about Josh Jackson.

Over his final 39 games – of which he started 22 – Jackson averaged 17.2 points, and 5.6 boards, while actually upping his 3-point average to 27.9%.

Next: Three reasons not to like the draft for the Phoenix Suns very much

It is only fair to imagine that he will be able to average a similar stat line to that over the entire course of his second season (most – if not all – of which will be as a starter), and will only continue to get better from there.

While fans were enamored with many of the names on the aforementioned list (and certainly the Suns were as well, no doubt), to add Ayton and Bridges, while keeping Josh Jackson, is a win for the Phoenix Suns, and reason to be in love with this draft.

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