The OKC Thunder may trade Reggie Jackson this season and teams like the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat could be interested in making a move, as Jackson will be a restricted free agent this summer and if Oklahoma city doesn't think they can sign him, it's likely they will be trading him at the deadline.
Jackson has been playing less for the Thunder since Dion Waiters was acquired and reports have the team considering making a move with the backup guard. According to Basketball Insiders and Pro Basketball Talk, the Thunder have been going back and forth about a potential trade with Jackson, weighing whether to move him now or risk losing him this summer as a restricted free agent. Jackson feels he has starting potential, but with Russell Westbrook on the team Oklahoma City is not the place it will be happening.
The team pulled a similar move with James Harden and now they could do it again with Jackson. It's likely that Jackson will get starters money on the market and that doesn't appear to be what OKC wants to do with him. The team has defined roles for players and while Jackson has fit in nicely for a while and stepped up while Westbrook was out, he now is less secure with Waiters getting more playing time. Jackson is averaging 13 points, four rebounds and four assists per game and is shooting over 42 percent from the field.
Pro Basketball Talk reported earlier in the season that Jackson has had "some issues" with teammates this year and that is another reason why he could be traded. Jackson will be a prime target this summer for teams even if he is traded, as the NY Knicks reportedly are interested in signing him. The Knicks see him as a cheaper option than Goran Dragic or Rajon Rondo and if they miss out on those players they could go after Jackson.
The LA Lakers are also reportedly interested in Jackson as an RFA, according to Marc Stein at ESPN.com, while the Rockets also could look at a deal. The Rockets are planning on going after Dragic and they missed out on a trade with Rondo before he was moved to the Mavericks. The Rockets have been interested in upgrading at point guard from Patrick Beverley and with Dwight Howard out for a month they also could look at adding some offensive support.
Jackson has gone from playing over 25 minutes per game to about 20 or less in each matchup with Waiters on the team and that could lead him elsewhere. Jackson is just 24 years old and has the potential to be a starter and the Celtics could be a fit in the offseason, as they traded Rondo and will have money to spend. The Nuggets reportedly were interested in Jackson, as Frank Isola at the New York Daily News reported last week. The two sides could not work out a deal and they could pick things back up next week after the All-Star break, as the trade deadline is February 19.
