Warriors acquire Trayce Jackson-Davis from Wizards

[KevinMcreynolds]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

[EvanZ]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

I hope they don't want him to quit playing basketball.

[CDM_Stats]

I dont think we'll see him much, if at all, at PF..

I wonder if that could change in the post Big 3 years, if we get a center who can play more on the perimeter.

Maybe, but that future is so murky that its almost not worth planning for at this point. First thing that has to happen is TJD needs to show he's even part of our present

[tarantism]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

For all of the calls for PBJ to be a stretch 5 for this team...it would be generous to call him bad as a defensive 5 during his rookie season. Far too slow to switch out to perimeter guys, to frail to guard the post and a poor decision maker / slow to react in drop. Despite his ability to make shots, he has a long way to go before he is playable in any extended minutes or in a playoff setting.

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[ShootersShoot]

4 assists per game is not easy to get in college, especially for a big. That tells me that he has his eyes open and he's smart.

The Draymond comparisons are unfair, but... I can dream a little.

This was exactly my thinking as well. Playmaking stats generally translate to the nba from college. 4apg is VERY impressive for a big.

[tarantism]

4 assists per game is not easy to get in college, especially for a big. That tells me that he has his eyes open and he's smart.

The Draymond comparisons are unfair, but... I can dream a little.

This was exactly my thinking as well. Playmaking stats generally translate to the nba from college. 4apg is VERY impressive for a big.

You can sort of see the vision here, pairing him with another young guard who is good in off ball movement and deep range shot creation.

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[ChuckDurn]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

The thing I noticed was how PBJ completely lacked any intensity. I never saw him move at faster than a jog, whether it was on offense or defense. He just was incredibly passive, which was stunning to me. While we obviously only saw very little of him overall, to me it was noticeable how casual he was about everything. I don’t know if that’s how he also showed in practice, but if it was, they might have concluded that he was talented but didn’t have the “fight” or hustle that they need from a guy.

[Onus]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

The thing I noticed was how PBJ completely lacked any intensity. I never saw him move at faster than a jog, whether it was on offense or defense. He just was incredibly passive, which was stunning to me. While we obviously only saw very little of him overall, to me it was noticeable how casual he was about everything. I don’t know if that’s how he also showed in practice, but if it was, they might have concluded that he was talented but didn’t have the “fight” or hustle that they need from a guy.

I saw no fight or dog in him. Seemed very passive whenever he was on the court. How is he supposed to be a 4 and fight for rebounds with that type of attitude. I think it's harder to coach fight or intensity than it is to help fix someone's jump shot.

PBJ was like a less athletic daivs bertans.Literally one of the worst athletes to ever do the nba combine.

[GSWFan1994]

Sam Vecenie's essay on TJD. Ranked him #39 on his big board.

Spoiler:

BACKGROUND

Parents are Dale Davis and Karla Jackson. Father, Dale, is a former NBA player most notable for his time with the Indiana Pacers. Dale played over 1,200 career games in the NBA, starting nearly 1,000, as a tough 6-foot-11 center who focused largely on defensive play and rebounding. Trayce was raised, though, largely by Karla and stepfather, Raymond. Raymond played college football at Washington State and played professionally outside of the NFL for a couple of years. He’s now a chief of police in Indiana. Trayce’s brother is Tayven Jackson, a quarterback for Tennessee. Trayce also has a sister, Caida Davis, that played college basketball at Wagner.

Trayce started to emerge as a good prospect in high school, going from 6-foot-3 when he was around 13 years old to 6-foot-8 by the time he was playing high school basketball. Really emerged following his sophomore season as a legitimate high-major recruit. Then, during his junior high school season, he reached borderline four/five-star status. Went to Center Grove High School in Indiana. He continued that ascent during the summer between his junior and senior seasons, dominated his senior high school season, and ultimately was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2019. He also won the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year Award, with the selection committee noting his volunteer work in high school at the Wheeler Mission Center, a social services organization that helps homeless people in Indiana.

Jackson-Davis was invited to the McDonald’s All-American game and was seen as a top-30 consensus player in his recruiting class. He had offers from around the country, but it came down to Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA. He ultimately chose to stay home and attend Indiana in the fall of his senior season. As a freshman, he was an immediate starter for Archie Miller and made third-team All-Big Ten that season while also being named to the All-Freshman team.

Became the team’s primary offensive option as a sophomore and took another leap and was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. He also received a few third-team All-American honors. Miller was fired in between his sophomore and junior seasons, but Jackson-Davis decided to return to play for new coach Mike Woodson.

During his junior season, Jackson-Davis led Indiana back to the NCAA Tournament while getting even better as an overall player. The counting numbers stayed the same, but he emerged as a stronger defensive player and passer under Woodson. The individual accolades weren’t quite as strong, but his performance was better. He brought it all together as a senior. Jackson-Davis was one of the most productive players in the country, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game while dishing out four assists. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named first-team All-Defense in the Big Ten and a consensus first-team All-American. He led Indiana to a terrific season and a No. 4 seed before the Hoosiers were eliminated by Miami in the NCAA Tournament. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.

STRENGTHS

Jackson-Davis is a great vertical athlete for the big position. Legitimate leaper without a running start. Has real pop. Also has good hands. Catches everything in his range, both above and below his waist. Ridiculous one-handed catch radius above his head. Very strong hands that allow him to maintain possession of the ball in traffic. Runs the floor well. Beats his man down the court. Really good motor. Consistently plays hard and makes himself available on offense. Tries to be in the right spots on defense. Given all those things, he is a good rebounder who can be counted on to end possessions.

This won’t exactly translate wildly well to the next level, but it’s important to start with Jackson-Davis’ best skill: He’s a terrific post scorer. His handle and footspeed are very strong. Loves quick spin moves and drop steps from the left side of the court going baseline. He has excellent feel for how a defender is playing him. Also possesses great contact balance, allowing him to maintain his position after he catches and to finish through contact. Effective out of face-up situations. Wants to get back to his left but is effective when he does so.

Offensively, Jackson-Davis took a huge leap as a pick-and-roll big as a senior. He’s a capable finisher, having hit 68.9 percent at the rim as a junior and 63.1 percent of his shots at the rim in the half court as a senior. He gets off the ground quickly with that leaping pop, allowing him to beat rim protectors to the basket. Constant threat to catch a lob. But also doesn’t have to dunk everything.

Like the way he’ll use the basket to protect the ball. Moreover, he can really put the ball on the deck and finish. He’s a comfortable ballhandler in the midrange area. Has a face-up game. Effective in dribble handoffs. Just very comfortable with the ball. Additionally, I really like the developments he made as a senior as a playmaker and passer. Straight up can lead the break now and make reads at high speed. Very good from the middle of the floor, which could translate well to short-roll situations.

Makes quick reads and quick decisions when called for to find cutters but can also patiently let things develop to find kickouts after defenders rotate. Again, just straight up is a playmaker for his teammates now. Good at putting the ball on the floor once to draw defenders toward him, then kicking out. This is the most translatable situation he’ll be placed into. He averaged four assists per game as a senior and is a genuine playmaker from the middle of the court. I buy him as a pick-and-roll center.

I think Jackson-Davis is, overall, a plus defender. He’s constantly available as a weakside rim protector. Made All-Defense in the Big Ten multiple seasons, largely based off high block numbers. Finished second in block rate in the Big Ten as a junior and as a senior. Rotates well and stays in position there. Extremely active and tries to contest everything. Tries to swat everything away. Leaping ability helps compensate for his lack of size. Does a good job of using his physical strength to hold his ground.

Jackson-Davis has turned into a solid team defender too. Good positionally in pick-and-roll coverage. Indiana mostly ran a drop, and he’s good at being active within the gap. Good at baiting guards to try to go around him, then swatting them. Can play closer to the level too. Think he does a fairly good job of sticking with wings in space when isolated against them. He slides his feet well and sticks in front and is good at using his chest to absorb contact with his 240-pound frame. I have some defensive concerns, but I think Jackson-Davis is a smart defender with some mobility who has upside.

WEAKNESSES

Jackson-Davis is undersized for the center position. He’s 6-foot-8 1/4 without shoes and doesn’t have elite length. Has just an 8-foot-10 standing reach. Despite his power and athleticism, can occasionally get powered through by bigger opponents. Had issues, for instance, with Oumar Ballo at Arizona pinning him high up the court and establishing position. Very real chance Jackson-Davis could struggle with NBA-level size and length from centers on defense as a primary post defender and may not get quite as much out of his rebounding. Think that his size and length will profile better at the four spot than the five. That makes him much more of a tweener than some of the other bigs in the class.

Offensively, Jackson-Davis is effective but limited. Particularly, he is extremely left hand dominant as a finisher. Wants to try to get back to the left with everything. Indiana largely keeps him on the left side of the floor because of it. Almost always going to drive left or try to create a lane to drive left. Loves the Euro step into a lefty finish. Tries to get the ball into his left hand to make passes every time even off a live dribble. Even when driving from the right side of the floor, attempts inside-hand finishes. Needs to improve his right hand. Has to be more comfortable using it.

The dream of Jackson-Davis extending his range is not all that likely to occur. Despite continued reports throughout his career of it being an offseason emphasis, Jackson-Davis took just three 3-pointers in his collegiate career, making none. He also never hit at least 70 percent from the foul line, which really acts as our only possible indicator of his potential touch from outside of 10 feet.

He made just three of his 12 attempts outside of 12 feet as a junior, four of his 23 attempts outside of 12 feet as a sophomore and three of his eight attempts outside of 12 feet as a freshman. As a senior, he was his least effective in this regard, making zero of his six attempts outside of 12 feet. There just isn’t really anything you can point to on tape that says he can shoot, which will limit his role offensively.

SUMMARY

Jackson-Davis is one of the most productive players leaving college basketball, one of the many bigs to dominate college hoops. But he is a bit undersized while also having a relatively concerning lack of length and skill set to slide down positionally.

Jackson-Davis will require the right fit and the right team situation to make it work. I think he’d be best in a ball-movement heavy scheme with a point guard who often gets trapped, allowing him to utilize his passing and playmaking ability regularly.

The Golden State Warriors come to mind as the perfect team for Jackson-Davis. Maybe he could be a fascinating long-term replacement for Kevon Looney? But it needs to be a team like that. And you’d hope they’re willing to run versatile ball screen coverages, given Jackson-Davis mobility and ability to help from the weak side.

I have him as an intriguing second-round pick who could work his way into becoming a good rotational big because of how improved his skill level has become over the last two years, even without the jumper.

[EvanZ]

Vecenie had Podz 46 lol

[clyde21]

i had TJD #26 and Podz #27 in my final bb

so I am fine with overall value we did in this class, decent schematic fits too.

[Twinkie defense]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

Sounds like it was just swapping out one developmental big in PBJ, for another, TJD (who is more polished), and saving some money in the process - like Poole for CP3 swap, another example of doubling down on the present while saving money in the future.

At least there is one direction now, instead of trying to serve two timelines.

[GSWFan1994]

Vecenie had Podz 46 lol

I think it was 42, no? But yes, pretty low.

[TB]

I imagine they saw something with PBJs defense and rebounding that was a red flag. We hardly saw him, he played random garbage time and stood in the corner on every possession. He might have major issues we never saw.

Either that, or they’re trying to free up every penny they can to resign Draymond.

The thing I noticed was how PBJ completely lacked any intensity. I never saw him move at faster than a jog, whether it was on offense or defense. He just was incredibly passive, which was stunning to me. While we obviously only saw very little of him overall, to me it was noticeable how casual he was about everything. I don’t know if that’s how he also showed in practice, but if it was, they might have concluded that he was talented but didn’t have the “fight” or hustle that they need from a guy.

I saw no fight or dog in him. Seemed very passive whenever he was on the court. How is he supposed to be a 4 and fight for rebounds with that type of attitude. I think it's harder to coach fight or intensity than it is to help fix someone's jump shot.

PBJ was like a less athletic daivs bertans.Literally one of the worst athletes to ever do the nba combine.

Yup this was always my number 1 concern with PBJ. The absolute opposite of having a dawg mentality. Brandan Wright like.

[CS707]

It's nice reading about his hands ability to finish close to the rim. Fumbling point-blank passes has been a problem for us inside.

[TB]

Mike Woodson was on the radio talking about Trayce and you can tell he thinks very highly of him, not just at Indiana but his prospects in the NBA. And I mean, he'd know NBA talent, considering how much he has coached in the NBA as well. Interestingly, the player in the NBA he compared him to was Sabonis.

[DaHef]

I know he's a talking head and a big Indiana follower, but if you get a chance to check out today's podcast from Damon Bruce, he dedicated the first 20 minutes of today's show to TJD listing his accomplishments at Indiana. It's pretty impressive to listen to him talk about this consensus first team all American from a big time program.

[CDM_Stats]

Mike Woodson was on the radio talking about Trayce and you can tell he thinks very highly of him, not just at Indiana but his prospects in the NBA. And I mean, he'd know NBA talent, considering how much he has coached in the NBA as well. Interestingly, the player in the NBA he compared him to was Sabonis.

I've seen that twice today.. I'm not sure I buy it but I certainly dont mind the comp, especially since TJD's a much headier defender IMO

[watch1958]

I hope when they work with him on shooting, it isn’t just 3. I would be happy with a solid 15 footer to start.

[Onus]

Mike Woodson was on the radio talking about Trayce and you can tell he thinks very highly of him, not just at Indiana but his prospects in the NBA. And I mean, he'd know NBA talent, considering how much he has coached in the NBA as well. Interestingly, the player in the NBA he compared him to was Sabonis.

I've seen that twice today.. I'm not sure I buy it but I certainly dont mind the comp, especially since TJD's a much headier defender IMO

The reason i see mini sabonis is the very dominant left hand and use of it. The bully ball post ups. Possibility of running offense through him as a high post hub. The good rebounding and good hands. Obviously that’s high end though.