Celtics Draft News: 'GM convinced Josh Jackson is going to Boston,' per new report

A new report claims that the Boston Celtics are leaning strongly towards selecting Kansas forward Josh Jackson with the No. 1 overall pick during next week's NBA Draft. Though the two-way wing hasn't worked out with the Celtics, an anonymous general manager is "convinced that Boston will take take Jackson No. 1."

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, Jackson fits the prototypical Celtics mould as a blue-collared player who leaves everything out on the court with elite hustle, motor and toughness. In recent years, the Celtics drafted the likes of Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown who all fit the said description.

Celtics general manger Danny Ainge will have his work cut out over the next week. "I've picked Danny's brain for years. Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1," an unnamed GM told Ford.

Celtics Draft News: Can Jackson co-exist with Crowder, Brown?

With Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder already on the roster, the Celtics could struggle to find playing time for Josh Jackson. However, another unnamed general manger reckons Boston can make it work.

Don't the Celtics need players with differing skill sets? Isn't Jackson a bit duplicative, especially given the arrival of Brown last year? "Jackson will be better than all of those guys (at his position in Boston). Danny's looking for a star, and I think Jackson has as much or more star potential than Fultz or Ball. Everyone on the Celtics is an asset. Danny can move them all. He'll take the player he likes the best. Period. He'll figure out fit in the summer."

While Jackson doesn't have the upside of Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, he is projected to make an instant impact due to his NBA-ready body and ability to impact the game on the defensive end. Jackson's agent, B.J. Armstrong, told Ford that while his client hasn't worked out for the Celtics, he would welcome the possibility of going No. 1 overall to a storied franchise that claimed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.

Josh Jackson has yet to work out for the Boston Celtics

As of this writing, Jackson has worked out twice for the Lakers and once for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is also scheduled to work out for the Phoenix Suns before the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22. "We have great respect for Boston and Danny Ainge. That's a championship-calibre organization and Josh brings the things that I know Danny values. He can defend his position at an elite level. He can rebound for his position at an elite level and he can pass for his position at an elite level. All the championship-calibre teams are looking for players who can do those three things. And I know they want winners," said Armstrong.

"We're in dialogue with Boston. We're very respectful of them. They have the No. 1 pick and can select whoever they choose. We just need to see how things play out over the next week," added Jackson's agent.

There has also been chatter of Boston possibly trading down a few spots to select Josh Jackson, who is projected to go No. 3 overall in most mock drafts. In such a scenario, the Celtics and the Sixers could engage in dialogue and potentially swap the No. 1 and No. 3 picks. The Sixers are reportedly "very high" on Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball and would love to grab either point guard with a Top-3 selection.

The 2017 NBA draft will be held on June 22, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Celtics will also select No. 37, No. 53 and No. 56 in the second-round besides picking No. 1 overall in the first.