NUGGETS TRADE REGGIE JACKSON JUST DAYS AFTER CONTRACT DECISION

Denver Nuggets point guard Reggie Jackson had already exercised his $5.3M player option for the 2024-25 season. However, Jackson’s plans to stay in Denver came to a screeching halt Thursday evening when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Nuggets are trading Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Nuggets are also sending the Hornets three second-round picks in 2025, 2029, and 2030, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.

This is seen as a purely a cap-clearing move for the Nuggets as they’re seriously strapped for cash. The Nuggets are reportedly working on a max extension for Jamal Murray and could use the cap space.

Following Bruce Brown’s departure last offseason, Jackson assumed the role of the main backup point guard behind Murray. Jackson would appear in all 82 regular-season games, making 23 starts while Murray battled a variety of injuries. He averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 assists per game. In the 12 playoff games he appeared in, Jackson averaged 3.5 points per game with one assist. While Jackson was in a backup role, the Nuggets clearly wanted more from him off the bench.

Jackson, who is from Colorado, spent the past two seasons with his hometown team. He was traded to the Nuggets during the 2023 season, and he would get a ring with them as they would go on to win their first-ever NBA Championship.

With Jackson’s $5.3M contract now offloaded, the Nuggets now find themselves in an interesting spot. Given Murray’s injury history, the Nuggets must find a strong backup point guard who can step up if needed. The Nuggets might have to find this player in the “bargain bin” as they have very little money to bring any big-name players.

On the plus side, moving on from Jackson improves Denver’s chances of re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope had already declined his $15M player option, making him a free agent. Caldwell-Pope is expected to attract a decent amount of attention in free agency. But if the Nuggets want him back, they’ll have to amp up their contract offer.

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The post Nuggets trade Reggie Jackson just days after contract decision appeared first on ClutchPoints.

2024-06-28T00:35:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd