GoodBehavior wrote:Jaren Jackson Jr - Undeniable DPOY potential, but can he anchor a defense w/o Gasol/Conley? Not a great rebounder despite his size at the 4, and isn't particular strong (serious reservation he can play the 5 like Draymond). Can he be the elite defensive presence w/o fouling? Good defender but if he can't rebound and get stronger to battle with bigger front court, I don't see the DPOY awards coming his way.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is very strong for a player of his age, and he'll be one of the stronger players in the NBA with his body. I see strength as a plus attribute for him – definitely not a question mark at all. And combined with his length and rim protection, he'll be more than fine playing the 5. Much more natural 5 than Draymond and probably his best position in a couple years.
You won't see many players of his age being this good on defense. He's already a clear plus defender already, and that's as a one-and-done Rookie (one of the youngest players in the league). If there's one young player without question marks as to being a very good defender, it's JJJ imo. He's definitely not flawless and working on his weaknesses will determine his ceiling – but if he's a question mark then literally any teenager ever is.
At the moment, he has to work on rebounding, not fouling and defending the perimeter effectively against lead guards. Fouling is a serious issue for him but it's an issue for most young defensive bigs in the league – he'll definitely improve in this regard, as basically all bigs do. And if only by virtue of experience, picking his contests more wisely and getting the benefit of the doubt more often. We'll see how his individual rebounding develops. But even there, as long as he learns how to box out properly he should be fine in the modern NBA. We'll see how good he can defend out on perimeter against top-guards, but he has the foundation and it's not going to be the difference between being good and not good either.
