Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said guard Reggie Jackson was a "core member" of the team and insisted no trade would come. One possibility, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, is permanently playing Jackson as the starting point guard and moving guard Russell Westbrook into the 2-guard position.
Jackson proved last season he could be a starting-caliber guard while he filled in for an injured Westbrook. Jackson had big games throughout the season, but his role of mostly coming off the bench limited him to a still-impressive 13.1 points and 4.1 assists per game.
He becomes a restricted free agent in July, and the Thunder plan on trying to keep him. Presti said Jackson was a "core member" of the roster and Oklahoma City would give it their "maximum, best chance" to re-sign him, according to ESPN's Royce Young.
With the end of his contract on the horizon, Jackson undoubtedly will want a starting job somewhere. According to Kyler, Oklahoma City can provide it.
"He wants to be a starter and there was talk all summer that Russell Westbrook may see a lot more time at the two guard spot with Jackson running the point," Kyler wrote Thursday. "That lineup solved a lot of problems during the playoffs, and it would solve Jackson's biggest hurdle of commanding a starter's contract. ... The smart money says Jackson gets his new deal and it's a hefty agreement."
Westbrook can score like a shooting guard, and the idea of playing two point guards together - the Phoenix Suns being the best example - is quietly becoming a new trend.
Oklahoma City doesn't want to repeat what happened with James Harden a few years ago, and with superstar Kevin Durant becoming a free agent in 2016, Presti wants to field the best roster he can to convince Durant to stay in Oklahoma City.
It's uncertain if the Thunder will push hard to extend Jackson before the Oct. 31 deadline or wait until the summer to sign him.
