NBA free agency, Reggie Jackson Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
It wasn’t long ago when the future of Reggie Jackson in the NBA seemed uncertain. He’s admitted as much, saying he was on the verge of retirement before the season. Instead, he returned to the LA Clippers and became a key cog in the franchise’s first-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals.
The point guard is still closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but he’s suddenly showing no signs of slowing down. This season, he averaged 10.7 points per game and shot 43.3 percent from three, the latter a career-best mark. He saved his best for the postseason when he started in 17 of the 19 games he played in and averaged 17.8 points per game, stepping up in the absence of Kawhi Leonard.
A number of suitors will be interested in signing Reggie Jackson in NBA free agency. It will have to be a strong fit to continue his renaissance.
With Jackson playing at a higher level than ever, this has suddenly become an opportunity to cash in one last time in NBA free agency for the veteran point guard. Teams are always looking for solid floor generals, especially ones that feel comfortable shooting the rock from three, as Jackson clearly does.
There will certainly be some desire for a return to Los Angeles from both sides, but the financials on that will be tricky. Paul George and Leonard are both costing the franchise a fortune – if Jackson wants to be paid like a third banana, he might have to go elsewhere.
Any number of suitors will be interested in signing Jackson. It will have to be a strong enough fit though – both in terms of financials and culture – for the guard to continue his renaissance.
Here are three teams that would be great landing spots for Jackson.
his best for the postseason</a> when he started in 17 of the 19 games he played in and averaged 17.8 points per game, stepping up in the absence of Kawhi Leonard.</p>
<h2>A number of suitors will be interested in signing Reggie Jackson in NBA free agency. It will have to be a strong fit to continue his renaissance.</h2>
<p>With Jackson playing at a higher level than ever, this has suddenly become an opportunity to cash in one last time in NBA free agency for the veteran point guard. Teams are always looking for solid floor generals, especially ones that feel comfortable shooting the rock from three, as Jackson clearly does.</p>
<p>There will certainly be some desire for a return to Los Angeles from both sides, but the financials on that will be tricky. Paul George and Leonard are both costing the franchise a fortune – if Jackson wants to be paid like a third banana, he might have to go elsewhere.</p>
<p>Any number of suitors will be interested in signing Jackson. It will have to be a strong enough fit though – both in terms of financials and culture – for the guard to continue his renaissance.</p>
<p>Here are three teams that would be great landing spots for Jackson.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_432271" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-432271" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1196,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1325671758.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1196" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1325671758.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1325671758-768x574.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency, Reggie Jackson Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Destinations for Reggie Jackson in NBA free agency: 3. LA Clippers</h2>
<p>Let’s start with Jackson’s current team. The point guard showed up for owner Steve Ballmer’s club, especially during the postseason, and they’d likely love to have him back for another run.</p>
<p>Jackson joined the team midway through the 2019-20 season, just weeks before it was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He didn’t do a ton for the team last season, particularly during the playoffs, but became indispensable this past season.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the Clippers may not be interested in paying a point guard over 30 a ton of money. In fact, they’re already doing so with two point guards older than Jackson, Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley, both of whom are still on the books next season. Rondo is set to make $8.25 million in the last year of his deal, while Beverley will make over $14.3 million before he hits unrestricted free agency.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe width="500" height="281" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/EwVOqcxVn98?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Part of the problem is that they all bring a different element. Jackson is the best scorer of the bunch, but Beverley is the best defender and Rondo the best distributor. None are the long-term future, of course, but this is a team operating in a contending window while George and Leonard are around.</p>
<p>Trying to maximize that window, Jackson is the best bet of the three and it might be worth pushing towards the tax to bring him back – Steve Ballmer can certainly afford it. But the Clippers should also start looking towards a point guard in the draft, for the sake of the future.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_386066" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-386066" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1148,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1206468187.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1148" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1206468187.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1206468187-768x551.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency, Reggie Jackson Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Destinations for Reggie Jackson in NBA free agency: 2. New York Knicks</h2>
<p>The New York Knicks are always listed as a team that would sign a significant point guard. Frankly, they’ll be linked with bringing in Chris Paul until the day CP3 hangs up his sneakers.</p>
<p>While the Knicks’ recent history of free agency acquisitions has been mixed, they did manage to hit last season when they brought back Derrick Rose, albeit via trade midway through the season. Rose became one of the team’s most consistent scoring threats towards the end of the season, fully revitalizing his career and single-handedly keeping the team alive during Julius Randle’s postseason struggles.</p>
<p>Rose will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Knicks fans may clamor for his return after his solid contributions. Additionally, Immanuel Quickley is deserving of more run after his solid rookie season.</p>
<p>Signing Jackson would be creating a tacit agreement with fans that this team will continue to contend next season. That seems risky since it was a surprise they did so at all last season and they didn’t look good in the postseason. But sometimes it is best to strike while the iron is hot.</p>
<p>There’s also a world where Rose returns and Jackson plays shooting guard next to Rose, a position Jackson occasionally played this past season. It doesn’t hurt that Jackson is represented by CAA, Leon Rose’s former agency. At the end of the day, however, the decision will come down to the mentality of the front office and whether or not this is a team trying to win now (spoiler: James Dolan is always pressing to win now).</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_432356" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-432356" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1302544529.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302544529.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302544529-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency, Reggie Jackson Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Destinations for Reggie Jackson in NBA free agency: 1. Miami Heat</h2>
<p>Many factors can be attributed to the Miami Heat crashing and burning out of the postseason in the spring. One of the biggest reasons is probably the exhaustion the team coped with after advancing to the NBA Finals in the bubble.</p>
<p>But another asset they lacked and needed was a true lead guard. Jimmy Butler led the team with 7.1 assists per game, but the playmaker is a forward, not a guard. Second on the team was Bam Adebayo, at 5.4 assists per game. The best passing guard on the team last season was Goran Dragic, who averaged 4.4 assists per game.</p>
<p>It’s not clear if Victor Oladipo will be back next season, but the guard has only averaged 4.0 assists per game in his career. He won’t be the savior to the Heat’s problem.</p>
<p>Jackson could be a good fit, though. He’s capable of distributing to some degree but is also capable of creating his own shot when he needs to. He’d fit well with the team’s aggressive mentality, as well as their desire to win now.</p>
<p>Now it seems unlikely the Heat will be willing to dole out big bucks for Jackson. They seem more likely to try offering him an MLE, which might not fit with his financial desires for this next contract.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Best spots for Spencer Dinwiddie" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/08/nba-free-agency-2021-spencer-dinwiddie/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/14/nba-free-agency-reggie-jackson/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/08/nba-free-agency-2021-spencer-dinwiddie/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Best spots for Spencer Dinwiddie </a> </div>
</div>
<p>If winning is a priority, however, Jackson seems like a great fit for Miami in almost every way. Pat Riley is sure to be in hot pursuit this summer.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">