Although the Nuggets didn’t make a major splash at the trade deadline, they did add some frontcourt depth by sending out Bones Hyland in a deal for veteran center Thomas Bryant. As a result of that move, Denver is in the market for a backout player to fill out their 15-man roster, and according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, veteran guard Reggie Jackson is near the top of the team’s wish list.
Jackson was on the move on deadline day, having been included for salary-matching purposes in the swap that sent center Mason Plumlee from the Hornets to the Clippers. Charlotte is considered likely to buy out the veteran guard.
Jackson, 32, was the Clippers’ full-time starter at point guard last season, but fell out of the team’s starting five in 2022/23. For the season, he has averaged 10.9 PPG and 3.5 APG on .418/.350/.924 shooting in 52 games (38 minutes; 25.7 MPG).
According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report (Twitter video link), the Suns, another Western Conference contender, are also viewed as a probable suitor for Jackson, who played high school basketball in Colorado.
The Nuggets have an open spot on their 15-man roster and are seeking a reliable insurance policy in their backcourt or on the wing. Jamal Murray, the team’s primary backcourt ball-handler, has missed a few games recently due to right knee inflammation, Bruce Brown isn’t a natural point guard, and veteran Ish Smith is more of an emergency option, Singer writes.
Although Jackson is at or near the top of Denver’s list of targets, there are plenty of other buyout candidates the team could consider. Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Patrick Beverley are among the veteran point guards likely to reach free agency. Singer also points to Danny Green as a wing who might be a nice fit for the Nuggets, though there’s no indication yet that Houston will buy out Green after acquiring him from the Grizzlies.
A reunion with Will Barton, who is reportedly working on a buyout with the Wizards, won’t be possible, since NBA rules prohibit a team from re-signing a player it traded during the offseason if he’s waived by his new team during the subsequent season.
Bucks would make sense
Yup. He or Beverley can give you a good 10-15 minutes.
Hard pass on Beverly
Denver definitely needs a veteran backup. Bruce Brown should be guarding SGs and SFs. Jackson or Westbrook would be nice.
Bad trade my the brown nuggs. Jokic is a zero on defense but the MVP lol lmao. Past MVPs rolling in their grave. Even lebron plays some defense
Check again. Jokic is very solid defensively. Top ten in the league in deflections, guards his man very well, and may be the best defensive rebounder in the game. Advanced defensive stats are even better.
Jokic isn’t horrible on defense anymore. He’s not elite like Embiid but he doesn’t need to be he more than makes up for his average defense with his incredible offensive game. When LeBron was younger and winning MVPs he was one of the best defensive players in the history of the league. He can’t do that anymore but he still locks in at key moments. Plenty of past MVPs weren’t noted for their defensive talents. Harden, Westbrook, Dirk, Barkley, Nash(2), Curry(2) and Magic(3) were all poor to average on defense.
Similar sentiments by non-players, and even players, before they saw in person, or played in person against prime Larry Bird. Bill Walton still says Bird is the best player he ever played against, or with. Wilt Chamberlain said Bird is the first Player he’d pick for his team.
Larry’s defense & athleticism were often picked on by ignorant fans, and sports media, but all the greats who played with him said he was no slouch, and if you ever backed off an inch, Bird would make you pay. On defense. He torched everyone on offense, that is no secret.
Jokic, and Doncic are the real deal. They play like Bird, which is an old school style from Wilts days, and so did Bird. Luka/Jokic have elite awareness, and skills, on top of skills that more than make up for whatever athletic talent they may lack.
Wall2DC
After Charlotte buys out Reggie Jackson, don’t be surprised if he ends up going back to the
YANKEES, they love Mr. October there !!
Steinbrenner insulted Mr. October by calling him “Mr. May”. Of course, in basketball, Mr. May would be the compliment and Mr. October the insult.
that’s all I’ve got
Denver remains the best team in the West. Boston is the best team in the East. Denver and Boston have the best chemistry in the NBA.
Jokic should be winning his 3rd straight MVP award, and right now is the best player on the planet.
I see Denver beating Boston for the title.
Lakers will be a first-round playoff exit.
Clippers are gonna be a real problem to take out.
Boston this season Vs the Nuggets is similar to the Bill Russell super-teams taking on Wilt & bunch of no-namers for the title about 5 times in the 1960’s. Wilt got ’em in 1967 though.
Denver is a good place for Jackson. Even Dallas is a good place for him.
The big buy out guy. Is Russ
Where he goes could decide the West. If I was Sixers or Heat ….. I’d be trying to sign him.
Why? Russ is terrible.
I’m surprised Utah wants to buy him out. Sexton has been iffy, and they are a fairly solid play-in team, even after the trade deadline. Seems like squandering play-off/play-in berths is a little foolish, even if it was an accident
Barton would be a good fit for the Lakers.
Barton is one of the worst defenders in the league and lost his rotation spot on a sub .500 team…… yet you think he’s a good fit on the lakers? Lol. You already have Beasley who can’t guard anyone how bad do you want the lakers to be defensively?
Reggie would be a very solid fit