<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After the D-League game between Idaho and Dakota, I talked to three players: former Jazz point guard Randy Livingston, ex-Weber State center Lance Allred and former NBA lottery pick Luke Jackson. All three were extremely helpful. Jackson, in fact, was about as pleasant to talk to as any player I've been around. During a 10-minute conversation, we covered a lot of ground, including: -- Jackson's visit to Utah prior to the 2004 draft. The Jazz liked him, except Jackson had a promise that Cleveland would take him at No. 10. Because of that promise, Jackson did not work out for the Jazz. But he met with vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor and some of the coaches, just in case Utah was able to pull off a trade and move into the top 10. The Jazz didn't, of course, and ended up taking Kris Humphries with the 14th pick. Mostly, however, I could tell that Jackson wanted me to know -- and to get the word out -- that his surgically-repaired back is "100 percent" and that he's ready for another shot in the NBA. He even volunteered how much he would enjoy playing for a no-nonsense coach like the Jazz's Jerry Sloan, and suggested he could fill a Jeff Hornacek-like role for Utah. Jackson scored 15 points in a 111-105 loss to Dakota -- his third game in the D-League. Aside from looking a little rusty after playing in only 46 NBA games in two seasons, he flashed the smooth jumper and basketball instincts that made him a lottery pick. If his back holds up, I'm guessing he'll get another chance.</div> Sort of funny he's saying he'd fill Jeff Hornacek's shoes. What guys will do for chance now days. I liked Luke Jackson in college, he was a great player but back issues has messed up his career. I think in Utah he'd find some kind of niche like all NBDL players do, ala Milt Palacio & Keith McBrick. Maybe we should give him a chance if he keeps up tearing up the D-League. BTW--I looked at his boxscore today, he had 23 points in 26 minutes on 9-9 shooting.
