Should Chicago Bulls consider trading up for rising prospect Jaren Jackson Jr.?

Prototypical modern big man

Ayton is certainly the best traditional big man of this year’s crop, boasting excellent size, finishing ability, rebounding and developing the ability to stretch the floor.

But Jackson is making a case as arguably the best big man in this year’s draft for fitting the new style of NBA basketball.

He’s dangerous from long range, hitting almost 40% of his 3-pointers last season. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim when defenders close out hard against him. And he shows energy on boards, even if he still lacks some raw size and awareness in that aspect of his game.

Yes, his shot form is a little funny-looking, and he does struggle as a playmaker and as a finisher down low at this point in his career. If he’s going to succeed long-term, he has to quickly develop post moves and inside scoring.

But having a basic skill to shot from the outside and create second-chance opportunities on the boards? There are worse skills to have when starting out your NBA career.

And his potential on the defensive end may be even more impressive yet. At 6-foot-11, he has the agility and length to guard any position on the court, switching all over the place to guard people in the post as well as to hassle and contest shots from perimeter players both from the outside and when driving to the paint.

Though he’s still just 18 years old and has a lot to learn about how to play more disciplined defense, this type of skill is at a premium in today’s game. With the athleticism of today’s wings and point guards and teams’ constant search for mismatches, Jackson Jr. gives you a chess piece that can minimize the opposition’s ability to exploit switches.

He’s far from polished at his age — then again, who is? — but one could see him playing well with Lauri Markkanen and giving this Chicago Bulls team an indispensable defensive piece.