Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson is eligible to sign a contract extension, along with other 2011 first-round picks, up until the 11:59 PM deadline on Friday. At this point, however, it does not appear as if the two sides will come to an agreement.
"As the deadline nears, a deal appears unlikely to get done and talks will have to resume next summer when Jackson becomes a restricted free agent," writes Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.
The Thunder have been in this situation before, most notably with James Harden. OKC was unwilling or unable to meet Harden's contract demands and ended up trading him to the Houston Rockets in 2012. The Thunder have not reached the NBA Finals since.
It is possible that Jackson could follow a similar path. As a restricted free agent, another team could offer him a deal too expensive for the Thunder to match. We saw that happen this summer when the Dallas Mavericks swiped Chandler Parsons away from their in-state rival Rockets. If OKC fears such an outcome, the team could float Jackson's name in trade talks before the February trade deadline. However, Thunder general manager Sam Presti has said on several occassions that the team intends to keep Jackson.
ESPN's Nick Borges weighed in on the type of deal Jackson could be looking for.
"Jackson's agent, CAA's Aaron Mintz, may be asking for an average salary of $12 million to $13 million annually, which is likely above what the Thunder wants to pay the guard," Borges wrote. That type of deal is in line with the contracts signed by fellow point guards Eric Bledsoe ($14 million from the Phoenix Suns) and Kemba Walker ($12 million from the Charlotte Hornets).
Jackson has also stated his desire to be a starter several times. With Russell Westbrook firmly holding down that spot, however, it seems unlikely to happen in Oklahoma City. It is also possible that Jackson, 24, could accept a qualifying offer this summer and reenter free agency at an unrestricted level in 2016.
Jackson was one of the finalists for the Sixth-Man of the Year Award last season. The fourth-year guard averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game last year.
