The Milwaukee Bucks put the finishing touch on their roster earlier this week when they added former No. 15 overall pick Justin Jackson.
This move came after the Bucks converted undrafted rookie Mamadi Diakite’s contract to a standard NBA contract, which freed up a two-way slot. Immediately after that news broke, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski was the first to report that the team would simultaneously sign Jackson with that opening.
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Jackson’s young NBA career has lacked any stability to this point as Milwaukee marks his fourth stop in just four seasons. Now finding himself playing for one of the premier contenders in the entire association and earning his keep on this roster will certainly be a tall task.
That is highlighted further by the abundance of bodies the Bucks have available on the wing and in the frontcourt on this highly talented roster.
Furthermore, earning meaningful time with a new organization with just 14 regular season games left to play is far easier said than done. However, as Jackson alluded to during his first media appearance as a Milwaukee Buck on Friday, he understands the circumstances and will look to make the most of the opportunity with the team. You can watch the full media availability on the Milwaukee Bucks official YouTube Page:
"“My goal is to just come in here and grow relationships, get better each and every day, and however else everything else plays out, that’s how it plays out. But I’m just trying to put myself in the best situation if there is an opportunity. If not, just building relationships and getting better with these guys. That’s kind of my overall goal…For me, it’s just going in each and every day and trying to get better. Whether thats before or after practice, in practice, before games, maybe even after games, whatever it is, I’m just trying to get better. If there is an opportunity, like I said, then I’m trying to take advantage of it.”"
Justin Jackson’s playing time will likely be scarce with the Milwaukee Bucks
Jackson went on and assured that he is grateful for the opportunity, hoping that he can gather experience from playing for one of the premier contenders in the Eastern Conference. With Milwaukee’s rotation virtually set, the odds of the fourth-year forward seeing any extended run seem slim at this point.
Yet, the 26-year-old gives the team some welcoming depth to bolster their rotation and potentially give them some solid minutes if called upon. Before being waived by the OKC Thunder, Jackson was having a solid season by averaging 7.2 points on .406/.306/.857 shooting splits, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 16.5 minutes per game.
Hypothetically, the former North Carolina Tar Heel could give the team a scoring lift off the bench with numbers like that as he was giving the Thunder solid rotational minutes nightly. Although his production on the offensive end has been inconsistent this season, he had flashed potential as a contributor with the Thunder on numerous occasions.
Jackson is yet to appear in a game for the Bucks, and it could very well be quite a while before we get to see him in action on the floor. Still, this is a low-risk, high-reward signing from an organizational standpoint in filling their previously vacant two-way slot.