NBA Rumors: Latest on Reggie Jackson and Tristan Thompson
The NBA season may be incredibly young, but that doesn’t stop rumors from flying around the league, especially after the Oct. 31 deadline to agree on a rookie-scale contract extension passed.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, which just so happen to be two of the teams many consider to be NBA title contenders this year, did not come to an agreement with Reggie Jackson and Tristan Thompson, respectively.
That means there are some rumors regarding both players. With that in mind, here is a look at the latest from Cleveland and Oklahoma City.
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Reggie Jackson
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated provided an update on Jackson:
There is a very real possibility that retaining Jackson would force the Thunder to exceed the luxury-tax threshold. The reluctance to do so in the past is likely one of the reasons why James Harden is on the Houston Rockets now.
We have seen how important depth is for the Thunder in the early few games of this season, as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Mitch McGary, Anthony Morrow and Grant Jerrett all missed a recent game against the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook in particular has undergone multiple surgeries, so the need for more productive bodies at point guard is almost mandatory moving forward.
Jackson is an explosive guard who can get into the paint with a quick first step and finish at the rim, much like Westbrook (although Westbrook is clearly the better player). Jackson scored 23 points in his first game of the 2014-15 season and has the opportunity to make a statement to the league while Westbrook is out with injury.
That could drive up Jackson’s eventual asking price.
If the Thunder do bring Jackson back, it could also help prove to Durant that they are willing to build around him and spend enough to win a championship. That is a message Oklahoma City should be sending with the possibility of the Washington Wizards beckoning for the hometown Durant in the next couple of years looming over the franchise.
Tristan Thompson
Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio passed along the latest on Thompson: “The Cavs did feel they budged a little in the last-minute negotiations with Thompson on Friday. They offered Thompson more than $48 million over four years. Agent Rich Paul is gambling that Thompson can get more than that on the open market.”
Cleveland did manage to sign Anderson Varejao to an extension, but it didn’t do the same for Thompson.
If you take a glass-half-full approach for the Cavaliers, Thompson will have plenty of motivation to perform this season. Millions of dollars will be at stake on his next contract, and he will be in the spotlight all season playing alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
Much like Jackson has an opportunity to prove his value with Westbrook ailing, more people will pay attention to Thompson’s Cavaliers this year than in the previous few. That is the chance to turn some heads that Thompson needs.
Thompson proved his value in a recent win against the Chicago Bulls when he tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds off the bench (12 of those rebounds were offensive boards).
Thompson is also very important to Cleveland given the roster makeup. Anderson Varejao is a health risk who played in 31 games or less in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, and Love has lost some weight this season and will spend plenty of time picking-and-popping on the perimeter with James and Irving.
Thompson provides some size and muscle down low on both ends of the floor.
Thompson commented on the situation, via Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com: "I'm just focused on helping my team win. If I can do that, we'll be fine."
A focused Thompson is good news for the Cavaliers as they pursue a long-awaited title in James’ first season back with the team.
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