Wisconsin's Traevon Jackson Signs With The Washington Wizards

Former Wisconsin Badgers point guard Traevon Jackson has an opportunity to shine with the Washington Wizards as an undrafted free agent. Jackson was part of the Badgers squad this past season that took down a historic undefeated Kentucky Wildcats team in the NCAA Final Four and finished as a runner up for the national championship game against the Duke Blue Devils. Jackson will play on the Wizards summer league team.

Jackson is an interesting prospect as he is a mature player who played all four years in college where he averaged 7.6 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. While the numbers don't stand out, Jackson's game on film stands out quite a bit. He does a good job utilizing the pick and roll on the perimeter and turning that into penetrating opportunity inside the lane with a nice floater.

Additionally on offense, Jackson showed pretty good confidence in his shot with the Badgers. He doesn't think too much about where he wants to go with the ball once he has his mind made up there isn't much changing it which is a good thing in terms of confidence. Jackson consistently used cross over moves to create his own shot whether he was setting up for a mid range jumper or outside the perimeter.

So while Jackson might not be an electric scorer, he is someone who has the talent to keep a defense honest with just enough of a threat with outside shooting and driving to the lane as well.

Jackson could be a pretty good addition for the Wizards if he ends up making the team. The Wizards already have John Wall and Bradley Beal so they don't need another guard who needs the ball in his hands constantly to score for himself but someone who can facilitate  for his teammates coming off of the bench.

It also doesn't hurt that Jackson has a history of playing with high profile and star players so there really wouldn't be an issue of ego's. Jackson is going to come in the summer league with a chip on his shoulder just like every other undrafted player this year.

With the Wizards showing their flaws with Wall missing a good chunk of time in the Eastern Conference playoffs this past season, they understand how important it is to have a reliable backup point guard. However, nothing is set in stone in terms of a long term roster spot for Jackson.

With that being taken into account, Jackson has no choice but to leave a good impression on the Wizards as a fellow Big Ten guard will join him on the roster in Dez Wells. So it should be a pretty entertaining battle there.

One thing that Jackson really has going for him is the fact that he has postseason experience at the college level. He knows what it takes to make a deep run at a championship especially playing hurt which Jackson knows all too well. His experience obviously fits with what the Wizards are trying to accomplish down the road to an NBA championship.

The Wizards have done a solid job so far of adding gritty players who most certainly have something to prove in the summer league.