Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Big Questions Heading Into 2018-19

3. How NBA-ready is Jaren Jackson Jr?

Jaren Jackson Jr is possibly the most intriguing prospect of the 2018 Draft. Highly prototypical of the NBA’s neo-big man, he is a fleet-footed shot blocker with an impressive long-range stroke.

Jackson’s stock is highly-touted; The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks went as far as “The Most Complete Big Man of the 2018 Draft.” However, he may not bode well for the Memphis Grizzlies’ immediate plight.

See, Robert Pera has placed some perhaps-crazy expectations that Memphis can win 50 games this year. Whether he’s subconsciously engineering a rebuild, Pera has implied huge onus for Jackson in Year One.

The problem is that JJJ might also be the rawest player in the Draft at present. He only turns 19 this weekend, and played about as limited a role in college as a lotto pick could.

The NBA usually presents a vicious learning curve to underdeveloped bigs, which -despite obvious potential — is Jackson’s label. He will find rotation minutes based on length and athleticism from day one, but he will need room to grow into a bigger league and role.

There will be an awkward conflict of interest for JB Bickerstaff and his, um, staff. Bringing Jackson along slowly and comfortably might be mutually exclusive to the Front Office mandate. New assistant Jerry Stackhouse witnessed firsthand how easily a young big — 2001 No. 1 pick Kwame Brown — can crumble under expectation.

Jackson certainly has the physical gifts and talent to exceed expectations as a rookie. But history and his resume both suggest he will need a couple of years to develop into the player Memphis envisions. Clinging to the last straws of the Conley/Gasol era, the Grizzlies may not have that long to wait.