In a surprise deal with the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks traded up to select young wing Andre Jackson Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Given Milwaukee’s need for more youth and wings, the addition of Jackson was easy to justify. Many think the wing has a bright future with the Bucks, and that could very well be true under new Head Coach Adrian Griffin. With that said, let us get into the deal itself and break it down.
The financial aspect of Andre Jackson Jr.’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and what it took to get him
Considering that he’s a second round pick, Jackson’s deal will not cost the Bucks a ton in the grand scheme of things. Per Spotrac, his deal with the Bucks is worth $7.6 million over four years, which is standard procedure in contracts like this. While the deal is fully guaranteed in year one, it’s only partially guaranteed for year two and non-guaranteed for years three and four.
There’s very little to complain about in that regard, and if Jackson ends up playing a legitimate role for Milwaukee this coming season, that contract could become a steal very quickly. It would be a huge boost if the Bucks could get real production out of a draft pick who is on the books for cheap.
As for what they gave up to get Jackson, Milwaukee traded away a 2030 second rounder and $2.5 million in cash, per The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski. That’s excellent maneuvering by General Manager Jon Horst to get the Bucks another pick in this draft over 20 spots higher than their original pick, which was 58th (they used that to select Chris Livingston). The Bucks have been giving away their second rounders like they’re candy lately, but it’s beyond reasonable to trade a pick seven years down the line to get a piece like Jackson right now.
In short, Jackson’s deal and what it took to acquire him are both fine moves by the Bucks.
Assessing Andre Jackson Jr.’s fit and role with the Milwaukee Bucks
As previously mentioned, Milwaukee needed more youth and wings, and Jackson fills both holes. While won’t be ahead of Khris Middleton, Jae Crowder, Grayson Allen, or Pat Connaughton in the wing rotation, at least to start the year, there’s certainly a place for Jackson in the mix. At the bare minimum, he’ll be a nice addition to Milwaukee’s wing depth. If he does see legitimate time on the court, Jackson can be a do it all kind of player for Milwaukee. Mostly, his defense, rebounding, and passing will get him on the floor.
At 6-foot-6, Jackson has an excellent stature that will allow him to match up against taller wings, which is something this unit has lacked over the past few years. It’ll take some time, but Jackson has the potential to become an incredibly solid defender based on his college tape. Speaking of his tape, Jackson is an incredible facilitator. With Joe Ingles leaving and the Bucks currently without a backup point guard, the team needs more secondary playmaking off of the bench. Jackson should give them a boost in that regard.
While his defense, rebounding, and passing are all strengths, the one weakness of Jackson’s that the Bucks will have to work with is his outside shooting. The guard was a poor shooter in college, and it’s unlikely that he’ll instantly get it clicking at this level. That could make it hard to have him on the floor in particular lineups, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yet, that’s something that can be worked on. Jackson’s other attributes, particularly his pesky defense, could help the Bucks from day one next season, even if it’s in a minimal role.
All in all, Jackson could be a Swiss Army Knife off of the bench for the Bucks.
Andre Jackson Jr.’s long-term outcome with the Milwaukee Bucks
Andre Jackson Jr. has the potential to become a very good to solid rotational player in this league.
He’s got the tools to be an excellent defender and passer, but what will determine his true ceiling is how much he can improve on offense. The Bucks will not ask him to be a scorer, but he will have to knock down his 3-point shots with some regularity. In three Summer League games thus far, he has not been able to do that, having hit just one of his seven attempts. There have been a handful of occasions where he has not even taken open looks. The Bucks will look to work on that shot.
Even if Jackson’s shot never materializes, he can still be an impact player due to his defense, like Portland Trail Blazers’ wing Matisse Thybulle. Many people have compared Jackson to Thybulle due to how both can impact games, especially defensively, despite a poor outside shot. Other fans have said that Jackson could be Milwaukee’s version of Draymond Green as a do it all guy who can defend, pass, and rebound while letting others do the scoring. If Jackson could develop into Green or even close to him, he’d be the biggest Milwaukee draft steal in a long time.
For now, Jackson will be a bit of a project player. While his lengthy tenure at UConn may have him ready to play NBA minutes, he’ll have to work on the offensive side of the ball if he truly wants to stick around for a long time. The Bucks would undoubtedly love it if they were able to hit on a draft pick and develop a young piece to become an integral part of this core moving forward. New Coach Adrian Griffin is known for his player development skills, so the hope is that he can put them to good use on Jackson and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks’ young pieces.
The verdict on Andre Jackson Jr.’s deal and fit with the Milwaukee Bucks
Whether it’s the trade to get Andre Jackson Jr. or the selection itself, this is excellent work by the Milwaukee Bucks on all fronts.
Milwaukee needed more defensive-minded and athletic wings, and General Manager Jon Horst certainly added one in Jackson. Even if there are struggles on offense, Jackson can still make an impact due to his defense. A big reason for Milwaukee’s struggles in their playoff loss to Miami this past season was a lack of athletic wings. Jackson might not be a lockdown defender from the jump next season, but he’ll give Milwaukee a taller and more athletic option to utilize when lethal scorers come to town rather than sending shorter players at them, as they’ve typically done. That alone makes this a big win, though the biggest knock is the lack of that outside shot.
As for the trade it took to get Jackson, it’s a steal for Milwaukee. The Bucks had a major hole on their roster, and they were able to attempt to address it by moving an asset way down the line and some cash. It’s good management, especially if Jackson pans out very quickly. The contract makes a ton of sense for Milwaukee as well, as they’re only legitimately locked in for this coming season. They’d love to pay Jackson all four years and beyond because that would mean he’s made his mark, but only time will ultimately tell.
BTBP Grade: A-
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