Suns GM Ryan McDonough: Off-court issues not a factor with No. 4 pick

Doug Haller | The Republic | azcentral.com

Ryan McDonough didn’t want to discuss specific individuals, but the Suns general manager did say this:

There’s no prospect in Phoenix’s range at No. 4 that the organization has removed from consideration for Thursday's NBA draft because of off-court issues.

That means Josh Jackson – if available – remains a solid option for the Suns. The Kansas small forward is considered among the draft’s top players, but he also was involved in two off-court incidents during his one college season in Lawrence.

In May, Jackson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of striking an unattended vehicle after he backed into a car on campus and left without providing contact information. According to the Lawrence Journal-World, Jackson had to pay a $250 fine and $63 in court fees. He also was put on six months’ probation.

In a different case, Jackson signed a diversion agreement stemming from an incident in which he was accused of arguing with a Kansas women’s basketball player outside a local bar. According to the Journal-World, Jackson allegedly kicked and hit the woman’s car and threatened to beat her.

As part of the agreement, Jackson had to complete an anger-management course, abstain from drug and alcohol use for one year, write a letter of apology and complete at least 20 hours of community service. After a recent workout with the Lakers, Jackson told reporters he was nearing completion of the anger-management course and that he had learned from his mistake.

The Suns last week watched Jackson work out in Sacramento. The competitive 6-8 forward is considered the best two-way player in the draft, someone who could provide immediate help no matter where he ends up. In addition to Jackson, the Suns also are expected to consider Duke forward Jayson Tatum and Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox with the fourth pick.”

“We do a ton of intel, a lot of background on every player,’’ McDonough said. “We have dozens of reports. We have scouts go to practices, talk to just about every assistant coach. Talk to the managers, talk to the graduate assistants, the training staff, the strength and conditioning coach. People around the program. We vet all that and we’ll continue to do that.

“Obviously, I don’t want to comment on specific players, but there’s nobody in this draft – at least in the top grouping of projected lottery picks – that we’ve removed from consideration due to an off-court issue.”

Finalizing draft board

After Monday’s final workout – which consisted of second-round prospects – the Suns started finalizing their draft board for Thursday’s draft.

McDonough outlined the process:

“Over the next few days, we’ll have a meeting with our medical team to go over all our medical information that we have and make sure everybody checks out soundly that we’re interested in,” he said. “At that point, the scouts will submit their rankings to me, (coach) Earl (Watson) and (owner) Robert (Sarver), and then we’ll meet as a group to go over it. That’s an evolving process.

"Obviously, it’s subject to change in case you get any last-minute information on say Wednesday or Thursday but it will be set over the next couple days and then right before the draft we usually explore trade opportunities as well.”

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Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.