5 NBA Teams That Should Be Interested in Trading for Reggie Jackson
NBA teams with a need for a starting point guard should look into trading for the Oklahoma City Thunder's Reggie Jackson.
While the Thunder haven't expressed an interest in dealing the superb sixth man and would prefer to keep him around long term, a split seems inevitable. Jackson is a restricted free agent this summer and wants to be a starter. That's unlikely to happen in Oklahoma City with All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook around.
Still, Jackson proved he can be productive in a starting role, averaging 20.2 points and 7.8 assists in 13 starts this season. Since Westbrook and Kevin Durant both returned to the lineup on Dec. 2, those numbers have dwindled to 10.7 points and 2.6 assists in seven games.
For now, Jackson has embraced returning to the bench in an effort to put the 11-13 Thunder back on top, per The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry. "It’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to getting used to and hopefully we can be one of the best second units in the league," Jackson said.
However, the dip in production could have an effect on Jackson's bottom line. According to a November 13 report from Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Boston College product could be looking at offers in the "$13 million to $14 million range" annually.
That's where the need for other teams to pick up the phone comes in. By acquiring Jackson now as opposed to making an offer in June, potential suitors can get a better feel for how he fits with their squad before committing big money to him.
If it doesn't work out, the acquiring franchise still owns his rights and can work out a deal with interested parties over the summer.
Note: All stats are current prior to games played Dec. 15 and are courtesy of NBA.com, unless otherwise noted.
Los Angeles Lakers
1 of 5
The Los Angeles Lakers don't lack for firepower. The team is averaging 102.6 points per game (tied for ninth-best in the NBA), and Kobe Bryant is third in the league in scoring (25.4 PPG).
However, beyond The Black Mamba and Nick Young, the Lakers don't have anyone who can create offense for himself. They also have a glaring hole at point guard, where Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price have been less than adequate options.
Jackson can fill both of those needs. He's a score-first point guard who takes his time creating off the dribble. According to NBA.com, Jackson takes at least three to six dribbles prior to shooting 33.1 percent of the time and has a 52.9 percent effective field-goal percentage when doing so.
A trio of Jackson, Kobe and Swaggy P could be dynamic, but it would take some time to jell. That's why you make the trade for Jackson now. If he proves to be a fine complement to Bryant and Young, the Lakers have the cap room to keep him long term. The team has just $36 million committed to next year's payroll, per HoopsHype.com.
The main issue is finding suitable assets to make a Jackson trade work. Los Angeles owes its 2015 first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Steve Nash trade—if it falls out of the top five. They do own the Houston Rockets' first-rounder from the Lin swap, and that might be a late enough pick to be worth dealing for a talent like Jackson.
After all, who is going to be there at the bottom of the first round who will be better than Jackson is right now? If the Lakers are going to get back to being respectable, as Lakers vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss is hoping, they will need to bring in players who can contribute right away.
That can start with a trade for Jackson.
Utah Jazz
2 of 5
In a recent column, Bleacher Report's Stephen Babb claimed that Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke was the "weak link" in what is an otherwise promising foundation:
"Still in just his second season out of Michigan, starting point guard Trey Burke hasn't had an especially long audition with the Utah Jazz. There's still time for the 22-year-old to really blossom. At the moment, however, he's the weak link in a lineup that's otherwise beginning to mature.
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Burke's 11.3 points per game are underwhelming on a team that's 22nd in scoring (95.6 PPG), and his 36.5 percent shooting from the field leaves much to be desired. He's also struggling with finding his touch from the outside, converting just 30.9 percent of his threes.
The player Babb suggests should replace Burke in Salt Lake City? Jackson.
A deal surrounding Burke and Jackson makes sense for both teams. The Thunder could develop Burke behind Westbrook, much like they've done with Jackson the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the Jazz get an upgrade at point guard who, at 24, is only two years older than their current starter.
With Jackson in the fold, the Jazz could go with a number of different looks in the backcourt. They can elect to use a big-guard tandem with Alec Burks and Dante Exum (both 6'6"). They could pair Jackson with Burks to give the club more of a scoring punch or let Exum run point and have Jackson play off the ball.
The Jazz can't stay in rebuilding mode forever. While Burke could someday become a solid player, Jackson is already there now. With Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors on the rise, bringing in the Thunder sixth man would allow Utah to start competing for playoff spots much sooner.
Miami Heat
3 of 5
During the Big Three era, it was OK for the Miami Heat to get by with the two-headed monster of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at point guard. After all, the other two players on the floor aren't as important when you have Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
However, now LeBron's back home in Cleveland and the Heat offense is need of a boost. Chalmers has done his part, playing mostly in a reserve role. He's averaging 12.6 points per game, while Cole is contributing 7.1.
That's part of the reason the Heat find themselves 26th in the NBA in scoring (94.2 PPG). It also doesn't help that Wade has once again struggled to stay healthy and Luol Deng isn't the scorer he once was.
Jackson would give the Heat a more reliable scoring option at point guard. He could also take some of the facilitating duties away from Wade, who leads the team in assists with 5.5 per game. With Flash turning 33 in January, it would benefit the team to lighten the load on his shoulders to keep him fresh for a playoff run.
Bosh has done a remarkable job as the club's No. 1 option, but the need for a No. 2 is coming sooner rather than later. Jackson has proved he can step into big shoes and produce. If the Heat can dig up some assets to pull off a trade, it would make sense to do so as quickly as possible.
New York Knicks
4 of 5
The New York Knicks have become a reality television show trapped in basketball uniforms. Just 26 games into the season, the team is a putrid 5-21, and dysfunction has reared its ugly head, per ESPN.com's Chris Broussard.
"Nobody's taken a swing at anybody, but there's a lot of arguing and cursing each other out after games," a source told Broussard.
So, why would Jackson want to join the cast of The Real Husbands of Madison Square Garden? For starters, things can't get much worse. If there is one thing the Knicks and their fans can hang their hats on, it's that team president Phil Jackson won't stand for this poor play much longer.
"I think, right now, we have a loser's mentality," Jackson said, per ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor, "because we're not finishing games."
A trade for R-Jax would be a step in the right direction. The Knicks have been utilizing Jose Calderon and Pablo Prigioni at point guard, but Calderon is 33 years old and Prigioni will be 38 in May. Both are serviceable, but neither is a long-term option.
There's also the financial benefit of playing in a market as large as the Big Apple, which should entice the 24-year-old.
Lastly, while the team's present looks murky, the future is a lot clearer. After this season, the Knicks will shed the pricey contracts of guys like Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani. According to HoopsHype.com, New York has only $40.5 million on the books for next year, which will allow it to chase another big name or two in free agency next summer.
However, this offseason's free-agent market for point guards isn't very deep. Assuming Goran Dragic opts out, he and Rajon Rondo represent the top two available at the position. Both will be 29 years old by season's end. Jackson will be 25 in April.
What about the other big names? It will be tough to pry Kevin Love away from Cleveland now that he and LeBron are finally starting to hit their stride together. The same for LaMarcus Aldridge, who is one half of an excellent inside-outside duo with Damian Lillard in Portland.
You can't fault the Knicks for being ambitious, but why not safeguard the possibility of striking out in free agency by acquiring the rights to a solid talent like Jackson a few months early?
Indiana Pacers
5 of 5
When Lance Stephenson left for the Charlotte Hornets and Paul George suffered that gruesome leg injury during a Team USA scrimmage, the writing was on the wall that this was going to be a long year for the Indiana Pacers.
Making matters worse, injuries have caused players such as David West, C.J. Watson and Rodney Stuckey to miss portions of the season. Point guard George Hill has yet to make his 2014-15 debut, as he's dealing with knee and quad troubles.
As a result, the Pacers are 7-17, and the offense has sputtered mightily (29th in scoring at 93.2 PPG). Indiana's leading scorer so far is Stuckey with a whopping 12.8 points per game. The team needs someone who can provide a spark.
That's where Jackson comes in. His addition immediately makes the offense better because he's capable of finding his own shot and doesn't mind the pressure of carrying the scoring load. Even when George returns, the Pacers will need playmakers to put around him.
Plus, Indiana isn't exactly a free-agent hot bed, so holding the rights to a player like Jackson has its advantages.
Much like with the New York Knicks, the allure of playing with the Pacers is more about next year than the current one. The team will hopefully have George back to his elite form. On top of that, it'll have a lottery pick in a decent draft this summer.
However, there are two potential roadblocks to a possible Jackson trade. First, the team must find assets that would interest the Thunder. Besides dealing with injury troubles, Hill still has two years and $16 million remaining on his contract.
Center Roy Hibbert has a player option for $15.5 million for next season, and his lack of speed makes him a poor fit in Oklahoma City's fast-paced offense. Next, there's West, who will be 35 years old next summer and has an option worth $12.6 million. None of those seem like tempting options for OKC.
The second obstacle is the luxury tax. The Pacers are adamant about staying under that threshold (Currently $63.1 million). If they are going to keep Jackson long-term, they'll need to find a taker for Hibbert's contract or hope West decides to opt out and spend his golden years on a contender.
If Indiana can clear those two hurdles, it'll find itself in a better situation than the hopeless one it is currently in. George, Jackson and a rookie like Ohio State freshman shooting guard D'Angelo Russell would give the team a nice core around which to build.
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