Suggested FA target Josh Jackson could find rebirth with Cavs

Jackson could be a legitimate starting 3 option for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and find rebirth with them

Jackson, who could find rebirth on the Cavs, is a gifted athlete on the wing and can create his own offense off-the-bounce more consistently than Osman, who has trouble getting separation on-ball outside of some straight-line drives after hard closeouts.

Jackson has explosive first step quickness, has shown improvement as a cutter thus far with the Grizz, and while he has only hit 31.9 percent of his deep ball attempts in the 18 games, in his last 11 games, Jackson hit 37.0 percent from downtown on 4.9 attempts per outing. He hit 38.2 percent of his deep ball attempts with the Hustle in 2019-20, too.

He had 13.3 points, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per contest in that last 11-game span with the Grizz, too, which provided a key spark and helped them consistently get out and run, and Jackson himself excels in that aspect of the game.

Jackson’s high-flying ability on the break after outlet passes from Kevin Love and/or Larry Nance Jr., also flanked with Kevin Porter Jr. and Collin Sexton, with Darius Garland and at times Cedi Osman/Dylan Windler as trailing shooters would be quite a well-layered attack in secondary transition, for example, in 2020-21.

Also factoring in how Jackson could fit in some lineups with Windler (if he’s healthy) at the 2 and/or Osman with Porter/Garland at the controls in settled offense, with Nance/Love, too, could lead to plenty of options for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Let’s not discount how Jackson, who has shown the propensity to get in passing lanes, is an alert defender as a stunter, and he has flashed encouraging defensive potential on-ball on the wing with the requisite lateral quickness needed to mirror opposing 3’s/deter drives.

Jackson, who could find rebirth with the Cavs next season, would be a quality add, if the Cavs were able to land him in the upcoming free agency period by giving him seemingly a prove-it opportunity. A key selling point in that realm would be potential starting minutes-share.

His addition would be even more of a quality one if Cleveland elected to go with a guard, such as LaMelo Ball of the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks, or a big, such as USC’s Onyeka Okongwu, in the 2020 NBA Draft. Maybe if Jackson shines next season, he could establish himself as the Cavs’ starting 3, too.