This isn’t the first time he’s been in trouble. Add in the fact that he hasn’t lived up to being the fourth pick. The Phoenix Suns should move on.
The Phoenix Suns are in the news again, in a negative spotlight, or at least one of their young players is. They are trying to get back to being respected and back to a winner. A move needs to be made and it involves moving on.
If you haven’t heard the news already, it all starts with Josh Jackson attending a music festival in Florida this past weekend.
No problem with that, right?
Phoenix Suns
Well, as Andy Slater of 640 the Hurricane in Miami first reported, he attempted to enter a VIP area multiple times without a pass. That led to him being talked to by law enforcement and handcuffed. Somehow, he managed to run away – while in handcuffs – before being detained.
He was ultimately arrested on a felony charge of escape with a misdemeanor for resisting an officer’s arrest without violence per police records.
He posted a $1,000 bond on Saturday and was assigned a hearing date of June 10.
Welp!
Let’s go back a little bit, just to February of this season.
Jackson was supposed to sign autographs at a Fry’s grocery store but never showed up. Respect to James Jones, who showed up to not just explain to fans that he wasn’t coming but apologize and buy fans a few beers. Supposedly, he had a good reason to miss the event but he was fined $20,000 for the episode.
Go back even further, to his college days.
While at Kansas, he pled not guilty to misdemeanor property damage after being charged for allegedly kicking a door and tail light of a car driven by a women’s basketball player after a verbal altercation.
Before entering the NBA, he agreed to enter a diversion program that said he would attend an anger management class in order to settle that count of criminal property damage.
He was also hit with a traffic violation during college that led to a one-game suspension, when he backed into a parked car on campus and left the scene without leaving his information. He was cited for “duty upon striking an unattended vehicle, inattentive driving and improper backing.”
All this by his second year in the league. Maybe, just maybe, a team has some more patience (though I think the Suns have been too patient) for a solid player or a star. However, although he’s shown signs, he’s been far from consistent and there’s been a lot more bad play than good.
After averaging 13.1 points and 4.6 rebounds his rookie year, those numbers went down to 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds this past season. He’s shot just 42 percent from the field and struggled to step up on a consistent basis, under any of his head coaches so far.
Remember when Jay Triano benched Jackson for what he cited as basketball reasons, with Josh focusing on scoring and not defense (his calling card in college) and Triano admitting he’d constantly have to push Jackson to study the game more?
Under Igor Kokoskov, his turnover rate only got worse from his rookie year, and his rim-attacking and decision making stayed so bad it was simply shocking.
Despite being an amazing athlete, he shoots 47 percent at the rim, 10 percent worse than the league average. He ranks in the bottom-40 among all qualified players for NET rating, true shooting percentage and turnover ratio though he was 86th in usage percentage.
The Suns need to decide if they can salvage Jackson the player or if it’s time to cut ties. With the drafting of Mikal Bridges one year ago, he was shown he was replaceable. With the trade for Kelly Oubre Jr, his competition became even stronger and his days numbered.
With as commanding of a presence that new head coach Monty Williams can be, he could reach Josh. However, he holds high morals and is very professional so would he want to deal with him? Is James Jones tired of cleaning up after him? Do you blame him if he is? I don’t.
Remember when the Suns were rumored to shut down trade talks for star Kyrie Irving because it would have meant dealing Jackson? Yeah, those days are long gone. (Redo, please?)
With Booker as Batman, Jackson was expected to be Robin, a perfect complement next to the face of the franchise on the wing. Now, Phoenix badly needs a point guard. Kyrie definitely would have solved that problem.
With all that Jackson has done off the court over the years next to the little he’s done on the court and the fact that the wing is a place the Suns are actually stocked at right now, the decision has become pretty easy for the front office.
He has two years left on his rookie deal and there are likely teams out there that would take the chance as it wouldn’t cost too high a price to get him. However, he still has some value right now. The Suns need to trade him while they can still get something in return. Kick him to the curb.