At first glance, it may be hard to imagine why the Oklahoma City Thunder would want to trade away Reggie Jackson. After all, he looks like a star in the making, he kept the team afloat this season as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were sidelined, and he seems like a great fit as a sixth man.
However, there’s more to it beneath the surface. For starters, he hasn’t got the minutes he feels he deserves since the superstars returns and he’s handled the situation unprofessionally. He’s sulked, he’s hung his head and he’s been selfish. On top of that, he’s proven to be a big defensive liability. As a result, he’s been phased out of the offense, averaging 38.2 minutes in November, 28.4 in December and just 21.5 in January.
The Thunder’s addition of Dion Waiters could very well be the nail in the coffin for Jackson as it looks like he’s going to be plying his trade elsewhere very shortly.
Here are four teams where he would be a good fit.
Indiana Pacers
This is a slam-dunk option because everyone in the league knows the Pacers are starving for offense, but also because if Paul George is able to play next season (which people assume he’ll be able to do), the Pacers will once again become a factor in the Eastern Conference.
Jackson could be part of that effort and he could give the Pacers the scoring punch they so desperately require. Indiana currently averages just 95 points per game, which will not get the job done in any season – even with the Pacers’ excellent defense. It is very much worth it for the Pacers, who have a lot invested in Roy Hibbert, to trade one of their other good low-post defenders – maybe a package in which David West goes to Oklahoma City. For OKC, they can add a consistent scorer off the bench or possibly play side-by-side with Serge Ibaka and give this team some more pop on the interior.
New York Knicks
It is true that the Knicks are in flux but part of being in flux means that you are open to many possibilities in the attempt to reshape your roster for the future. New York coach Derek Fisher played with Reggie Jackson the previous few seasons in Oklahoma City, so he would have the advantage of knowing Jackson personally and finding what makes him tick. That’s very important for a coach to have and it could be just the thing to jump-start the Knicks next season. If the Knicks and president Phil Jackson think that’s the right fit, they’d certainly be willing to send OKC a couple of players – maybe even three – to land Jackson and not have to sacrifice too much in the way of salary. The Knicks could even toss in a draft pick.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are attractive as a possible trade partner with the Thunder for a couple of basic reasons: first, they’re not smart as an organization. The Thunder could lure them into a one-sided deal. Second, the Kings really don’t seem to have a coherent idea of what they want to do and who they want to be in the future. Sacramento might be all too eager to take Jackson, while the Thunder might be the perfect landing spot for unfulfilled talents such as Derrick Williams and Ben McLemore. They’re far more able to develop young talent and could get a couple of hidden gems for the disgruntled Jackson.
Los Angeles Lakers
ith Kobe Bryant done for the season, the Lakers’ need for a perimeter scorer becomes that much more acute. Los Angeles is scrambling and in a position where it must start from ground zero. Very simply, Jackson could become the new piece at the foundation of what this team wants to do on the perimeter. The Lakers could package picks, Jeremy Lin, and Ed Davis, and that could work if the Thunder are interested in a veteran backup point guard – who can accept his role as a backup – and a nice young, frontcourt piece.
