Way-too-early 2023 NBA Re-draft: Where do Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara end up?
By Reese Kunz
No. 5: Detroit Pistons select GG Jackson II
Original pick: Ausar Thompson
GG Jackson II had the biggest rise in the re-draft after landing with the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 45 overall on draft day. Jackson was productive but inconsistent as a freshman at South Carolina. Although a talented prospect, Jackson ultimately fell in the draft primarily due to concerns surrounding his personality and work ethic. Jackson made several organizations regret that decision to pass up on him, averaging 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in only 25.7 minutes per game in his rookie season. Still only 19 with plenty of time to improve, Jackson has emerged as part of the Grizzlies' core along with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons finished with the worst record in the association at 14-68. The only good to come out of that is a coveted draft pick and the fact that they don't have to worry about drafting for positional needs since they need help in almost every aspect of their roster. In this case, the best available prospect would be GG Jackson II.
Jackson had an impressive rookie season in Memphis but could benefit even more with an increased role in Detroit, particularly as a go-to scorer. The Pistons' lackluster record shows that they frequently struggled to generate offense. Cade Cunningham is a great player, but he is more of a playmaker than a scoring threat that Detroit can consistently rely on to get a bucket. Jackson would fill that missing role nicely for the Pistons, providing Cunningham with a much-needed sidekick.