The OKC Thunder may trade Reggie Jackson this season and it comes as he is set to be a restricted free agent and teams like the Miami Heat, NY Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets could be interested in making a move at the traded deadline if the backup point guard is traded away for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Jackson has developed into a solid player behind Westbrook and played well when Westbrook was injured, but now he could be trade bait. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report reports that the Thunder are fully behind head coach Scott Brooks despite being out of the playoffs picture and that the team may look at a trade with Jackson at some point this winter closer to the deadline. The team added Dion Waiters in a trade with the Cavs and his arrival has coincided with Jackson's decreased playing time.
According to ESPN.com, since Waiters has joined the team, Jackson's playing time has decreased to less than 20 minutes and he is averaging just nine points, three rebounds and two assists in that stretch of games. The Thunder can still make it into the postseason, but it's likely they will do it without Jackson. Earlier this season Jackson said he wants to play starter's minutes and with Westbrook in OKC that won't be happening.
Jackson is heading into restricted free agency and that could put him at odds with what the Thunder like to do with contracts. The team has traded blossoming stars like James Harden and Jeff Green and now Jackson could be next. Frank Isola at the NY Daily News reported that the team nearly traded Jackson to the Denver, but the Nuggets and Thunder did not work out a deal. The Nuggets have players like Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler as trade options along with Ty Lawson.
Jackson is averaging 13 points this season with four rebounds and four assists and while he may not be getting starter minutes in OKC, he could end up starting for another team. The Cavaliers have been looking for another guard to play behind Kyrie Irving, but that would be another situation where Jackson isn't getting a ton of playing time. The Knicks are interested in signing Jackson this offseason, while the Lakers and Houston Rockets also could be fits.
The Rockets tried to trade for Rajon Rondo and did not get that deal done and they are also interested in Goran Dragic. The team wants to upgrade over Patrick Beverley and now that Dwight Howard is injured, the Rockets could be motivated to find some extra offense. James Harden has been playing at an MVP level and the Rockets have been one of the better teams in the west, but they may look at the trade market for some support.
Dragic is going to be one of the top players on the free agent market along with Jackson and they could be options for teams that miss on Rajon Rondo. The free agents this summer are deep and the Thunder know they will probably lose Jackson soon, so they likely will trade him. Keep an eye on this one. The Oklahoma City Thunder may look at a Reggie Jackson trade this year at the trade deadline and teams like the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, Miami Heat, NY Knicks and Boston Celtics could be interested in making a deal.
