Now that the Celtics have traded the No. 1 overall draft pick to the 76ers, the focus turns toward the No. 3 choice they received in return. Kansas forward Josh Jackson appears to be one of Boston’s prime targets. On Tuesday, the Globe spoke with Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts about Jackson’s season with the Jayhawks, and what might make him the perfect fit for the Celtics.

What stood out about Josh’s game the first time you saw him play?

Versatility and his competitiveness. There’s not a guy in the draft that will out-compete him; there’s no way. With that guy playing for us this year, we would not have been as close to as good as we were without him and his willingness to want to win, his willingness to play multiple positions, his willingness to do whatever it took.

If you need me to play the point, I’ll play the point. If you need me at the 3, I’ll do that. If you need me to make a 3-pointer, I’ll make a 3-pointer. If you need me to guard in the post, I’ll guard in the post. It doesn’t matter to Josh. He’s just a winner.

Are there things he can do athletically that most others just can’t?

He’s got unbelievable vision. He is a really, really good passer. He’s a guy that can create. He can rebound it, take it off the glass, and bring it. He’s a guy that makes great passes in the half-court situation. His basketball IQ is really, really high.

The thing about Josh is he can score with both hands, he can make awkward layups, he can catch lobs. But one thing he really likes to do is defend.

How would you describe his defensive intensity?

He’s the type of guy that if you’re in practice, and let’s say we’re doing a drill and a walk-on makes a jump shot. You know, he makes a lucky shot, and everybody in the gym goes, ‘Oh, Josh, you’d better make sure he don’t score anymore.’

He will make sure over the next five minutes that the guy doesn’t even touch the ball. And you’ll be like, ‘Josh, the guy’s a walk-on. It ain’t that big of a deal.’ In his mind, it is a big deal. It is a big deal. That’s what I mean about his competitiveness.

There are questions about Josh surrounding the December incident in which he threatened to fight a member of the Kansas women’s basketball team. Do you think there are off-court concerns with him?

He’s a great teammate; he’s a great kid. He was always a kid where if we had anything to do with kids or community events, he was there. His mom has done a great job of raising him.

Those incidents happen. He may have been around situations, and everybody makes mistakes. But one thing that’s great about him as a kid is he owns up to any mistakes. He takes responsibility, which he has, and then he looks to see how he can improve himself.

What about his game can translate to the NBA level?

His versatility, where you can play him at different places, and I think probably his ability in transition, because obviously the NBA is a transition game, and his ability to make plays for not only himself but for others, I think, will be terrific.

Do you have a sense how he might fit with the Celtics?

I think he’d fit great with them. I think [Jae] Crowder and those guys are guys that catch-and-shoot and score. He’s a guy that can be a facilitator that would help, so it’s not just Isaiah Thomas trying to do it. He’d be a guy that would give them enough of a playmaker, but it doesn’t have to be that he has to shoot.

He’s going to affect the game no matter what. When he’s out there, he’s going to affect it, and he’s going to affect it on both ends of the floor, which I know is important.

Is there a comparison with a current or former NBA player that comes to mind?

I think he’s got a lot of Kawhi Leonard in him, once his body gets stronger. And probably Paul George. I think he’s a combination of those two guys, and I think that’s a pretty good combination.

What does he need to work on at the NBA level?

Obviously increasing his range on his shot. I think people say he’s not a great shooter because of his form. But the one thing I’ll tell you is, when the game is on the line, he makes big shots, and he’s not afraid to take big shots and because he has such a good basketball IQ. He plays within whatever system needs to be played.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach