The Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly are determined to re-sign guard Reggie Jackson at any cost. Oklahoma City is willing to match any offer the soon-to-be restricted free agent gets in July in order to bring him back next season, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
Oklahoma City failed to ink Jackson to a contract extension before the Oct. 31 deadline, but that doesn't mean they're willing to let him go without a fight.
"On Reggie Jackson: Don't expect a James Harden situation to unfold," Mannix tweeted Monday night. "Thunder confident they can and will match offers next summer, I'm told."
The Thunder famously failed to splurge in 2012 on an extension for Harden, who ultimately went to the Houston Rockets in a trade. With Kevin Durant's free agency less than two years away, though, Oklahoma City's front office will be pressed to do whatever it takes to field a competitive team that can help the reigning MVP win his first NBA championship.
After missing three games with a sprained ankle, Jackson returned to the lineup Monday and has since averaged 18.0 points and 9.5 assists through two games. Turnovers - he already has 11 combined in the two games - have been a problem, though.
Assuming the Thunder do re-sign Jackson, the team will still have a lot of work to do in the offseason. They failed to sign Pau Gasol this summer, leaving them without a consistent presence in the paint again.
One issue for the Thunder in free agency, according to what Durant said on his HBO special, is many of the top-tier free agents want to play in a big city that has a lot of attractions.
