3 potential lineups Cavs could use involving suggested FA target Josh Jackson
By Mason Cole
Potential lineup #1 for the Cleveland Cavaliers involving Jackson: Darius Garland-Collin Sexton-Jackson-Kevin Love-Andre Drummond
If the Cavaliers were to sign Josh Jackson, his potential ceiling for the 2020-21 season would be cracking the starting lineup. That of course would mean Osman would be moved to the bench. But with his athleticism, three-point shooting and defensive abilities, Jackson would be a nice fit to play alongside Darius Garland and Collin Sexton.
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Garland and Sexton are both ball-dominant guards. They will both spend much of the time initiating the offense and making plays for themselves off the dribble. Kevin Love will also see a lot of isolation plays in high-post and low-post situations. The best way to surround those types of players is to put shooters around them.
While Jackson, who has shot only 29.8 percent from three-point land in his career, is far from an elite three-point shooter, he will have plenty of opportunities working with the Cavaliers training staff to develop into a more efficient shooter.
Plus, Jackson did shoot 38.2 percent with the Hustle in 2019-20, and as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky pointed out, Jackson did shoot a “better 35.7 percent from deep in his last 13 games pre-hiatus.”
If the Cavaliers were to sign Jackson, the best-case scenario is that he develops into a better shooter. Coupled with that, if his shooting improves, it would pair nicely with his defense, turning him into a solid three-and-D wing for the Cavaliers.
If his shooting continued to improve, Jackson could help to provide spacing on offense as well as quality on-ball defense to a Cavaliers lineup that offers three bad defenders, on-ball more so, in Sexton, Garland and Love.
At only 23 years old, Josh Jackson is still young enough that he has time to improve his game dramatically. His defense can still improve as well as his offense and shooting. If he were to hit the ceiling of his potential, he would fit into this Cavaliers lineup nicely.