Report: Reggie Jackson has requested trade from Thunder
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The oddsmakers always know, somehow.
Prop bets came out Wednesday for Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline, with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson being a -250 bet to get traded, implying about a 70 percent probability that he's dealt.
Shortly after, news broke that Jackson may not be long for Oklahoma City. Jackson's agent has asked the team to trade his client ahead of Thursday's deadline, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The request was made in the last seven-to-10 days, and teams around the league were made aware some time ago.
The Thunder may have an incentive to deal Jackson, as he's made it clear he doesn't want to return to the franchise this summer, even though the Thunder can match any offer sheet he signs as a restricted free agent. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has been open to hearing offers, but has reportedly not committed to moving Jackson.
It's been an open secret that Jackson not only wants to cash in as a free agent but also wants to start, something Oklahoma City can't really offer. As a result, his name has been in the rumor mill all season long, and that's only heated up since the Thunder acquired Dion Waiters, who has an additional year left on his contract, to play a similar role.
Asked if he wants to be with the Thunder, Jackson said, "I would love to play basketball."
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 18, 2015
Wojnarowski reports that the Thunder won't deal Jackson without getting value back, even if doing so makes some sense and could get them closer to, or even below, the luxury tax line.
In his fourth season out of Boston College, the 24-year-old Jackson is averaging 12.8 points, four rebounds and 4.2 assists with a slightly above-average player efficiency rating of 15.6
The biggest hole in his offensive game remains his jump shot, as he sports a 28.8 percent career mark from 3-point range and teams often disrespect his ability to pull up in the pick-and-roll.
He's a quality two-position defender at 6-foot-3, albeit not an elite one, and the Thunder have been slightly worse with him on the court this year, owing in part to him head-manning units that don't include Russell Westbrook.
Whether a team is willing to shell out assets for a player who can walk this summer is unclear, but Jackson is young, talented and a team acquiring him would have the right to match any offer sheet he signs, so the risk is less than in the case of someone like Goran Dragic.