Oklahoma City Thunder backup guard Reggie Jackson has requested a trade on Wednesday, about 24 hours before the NBA’s trade deadline.
Jackson is unhappy in his role on Oklahoma City, which has diminished following the trade for Dion Waiters.
Jackson, 24, is set to enter restricted free agency this summer. He has long expressed his desire to be a starter for a team, and is expected to attract a large offer sheet on the market that the Thunder would have difficulty matching.
Jackson “has made it clear to the Thunder that he would be resistant to returning to the franchise should it keep him for the rest of the season and then decide to match an offer sheet in restricted free agency this summer,” reported Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo.
Jackson’s agent made the request to Thunder general manager Sam Presti, sources said.
The Thunder are in a similar situation to the one they had with James Harden several years ago. Presti ended up trading Harden prior to the deadline, fearing he the team wouldn’t be able to re-sign him for a good price after the season ended.
The New York Knicks are thought to be among the teams that are interested in Jackson, although the team doesn’t have many assets they would be willing to part with. One asset that could be attractive to the Thunder, though, is the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis.
The Thunder would likely want a draft pick as well as a young player with potential such as Thanasis.
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