Thunder trade Jackson to Pistons, acquire Kanter from Jazz in 3-team deal

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The Oklahoma City Thunder swerved at the last minute at the NBA Trade Deadline, trading Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons in a surprising three-team deal.

The Thunder had reportedly been close to a deal sending Jackson in a package to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez, but began engaging with other teams as the deadline drew closer. They then changed course, consummating a three-team deal with the Pistons and Utah Jazz.

The Thunder will receive Enes Kanter and Steve Novak from the Jazz and Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin from the Pistons, while the Pistons land Jackson, and the Jazz acquire Kendrick Perkins, Grant Jerrett and the draft rights to 7-foot-2 German Tibor Pleiss. The Jazz are also receiving a protected future first-round pick from the Thunder and a second-round pick from the Pistons.

"This trade allowed us to add assets while helping to maintain flexibility for the future," said Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey. "Trades like this are never easy, but we thank Enes and Steve for their contributions to the team and in the community and wish them well as they move forward in their careers."

So, to review:

• THUNDER: Trade Jackson, Perkins, Jerrett, a first-round pick and the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss; Receive Kanter, Singler, Augustin, Novak, and a 2017 second-round pick (from Pistons)
• PISTONS: Trade Singler, Augustin and two second-round picks (2017 and 2019); Receive Jackson
• JAZZ: Trade Kanter; Receive Perkins, Jerrett, the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss, a first-round pick (from Thunder) and a second-round pick (from Pistons)

The Pistons acquiring Jackson fills a massive hole left by the season-ending injury to Brandon Jennings and suggests the Pistons will be aggressive in making a push for the playoffs. Short on offensive creators, the Pistons land a 24-year-old who has averaged 13 points and 4.2 assists over the last two seasons, largely in a reserve role. 

That stands as a major upgrade in the short term, with the Pistons surrendering little of value to land him. Jackson's market price may ultimately make him an expensive piece in the long run, but it's tough to argue with the present-day value of the trade for Detroit.

The Thunder dealing Jackson is the least surprising aspect of the deal, as he had requested a trade earlier in the week. An impending restricted free agent who wanted a larger role and a chance to start, Jackson was a tenuous long-term fit with the Thunder and somewhat superfluous following the acquisition of Dion Waiters.

While Oklahoma City still has a restricted free agent situation on their hands with Kanter, a talented offensive big with limited defensive utility, the team is more apt to sign him long term, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. At last report, Kanter's camp was seeking a four-year deal worth north of $60 million, an amount that would seem too rich for the Thunder were they not displaying a willingness to spend in the luxury tax this season.

With the Jazz apparently resigned to losing Kanter, the haul they received in return is appreciable. Not only are the Jazz freed of the $3.8 million owed to Novak next season, they land a pair of picks and an intriguing prospect in Pleiss, who could be headed stateside. The No. 31 pick in 2012, Pleiss was averaging 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 13.5 minutes for FC Barcelona this season, shooting 64.9 percent from the floor.

It is expected the Jazz will buy Perkins out, freeing him to sign with a contender. The Los Angeles Clippers would make sense as a landing spot given Perkins' relationship with Doc Rivers and the team's affinity for high-character veterans, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls are also believed to be a potential landing spot.