Celtics select Demetrius Jackson with 45th pick in 2016 NBA Draft

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Demetrius Jackson was a projected first-rounder but fell all the way to the Boston Celtics with the 45th pick. While we don’t know why Jackson fell so far in the draft, this is a great value pick for the Celtics.

Jackson might stand at just 6-foot-1, but he’s a tremendous athlete who plays a lot like Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe with his above-the-rim style. He does a great job of running the pick-and-roll and is an accurate passer. At 21-years-old, Jackson comes in ready to run an NBA offense, though he’ll need to extend his jump shot range.

As a defender, Jackson doesn’t project as a lockdown guy, but he’s pesky. He has a strong frame and can move his feet to keep in front of larger guards. Still, at his size, his upside isn’t exactly high on that end.

The Celtics already have plenty of guards on the roster, but you don’t draft for need – especially at this point of the draft – so Jackson makes sense.

It’s still odd that he fell this far, though. So you have to wonder if there is a medical issue or if he struggled in pre-draft workouts. Stay tuned for that.

Kevin O’Connor can be followed on Twitter: @KevinOConnorNBA

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