JUNE 19TH, 7:56am: The deal between Jackson and CSKA Moscow is official, the team announced (Twitter link). It’s a two-year arrangement, and while it’s unclear whether an NBA out exists, it wouldn’t appear as though he’s returning stateside anytime soon.
JUNE 16TH, 12:44pm: Jackson is set to re-sign with CSKA Moscow, as David Pick of Eurobasket.com hears (Twitter link). That would seemingly put the NBA on hold for now.
2:47pm: The Bulls, Mavericks and Magic have also registered some level of interest in Jackson, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders hears (Twitter link).
JUNE 12TH, 1:04pm: The Pacers are interested in point guard Aaron Jackson, who plays for Russia’s CSKA Moscow, report Chema De Lucas of Gigantes del Basket (translation via HoopsHype). At least three NBA teams are eyeing Jackson, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, adding that the 29-year-old who played collegiately at Duquesne will explore his possibilities to return to North America as a free agent this summer.
Jackson posted 7.4 points, 3.7 assists and 1.1 turnovers in 22.1 minutes per game for his Russian team this season, his third year with CSKA Moscow. He’s played overseas each season since going undrafted in 2009, making stops in Spain and Italy before heading to Russia, though he was with the Pacers for summer league in 2009. The Cavs had him for summer league the next year.
Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird expressed pessimism that his team would retain backup point guard C.J. Watson in free agency this summer, so it makes sense that Indiana would be in the market for a replacement. Still, the Pacers would likely be bereft of cap room if Roy Hibbert and David West opt in, as I noted when I examined the offseason ahead for the team, so Indiana will probably focus on point guards who might come cheaply.