The NBA trade deadline did not disappoint this year as a flurry of moves occurred on Thursday. While Kevin Garnett’s return to Minnesota was the most attention-grabbing trade of the day, it’s hard to imagine that anyone is as happy about how today went than Reggie Jackson.
Jackson, who was on the Oklahoma City Thunder, was traded to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade between the Thunder, Pistons and the Utah Jazz. Jackson was reportedly unsatisfied with his role with the Thunder and wanted to go to a place where he could be the starting point guard.
Jackson, 24, has expressed desire for a starting role, but with the inability to get it in Oklahoma City, his agent requested a trade. Jackson is set to be a restricted free agent this summer and is in search of a contract near the max. Jackson is averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 assists in 28.0 minutes per game, but has seen his playing time significantly dip since the Thunder added Dion Waiters in January.
Jackson didn’t mask his excitement on Twitter after he heard the news.
Just woke up from my nap a #Piston #DETROITBASKETBALL!!!
— Reggie Jackson (@rjOKCson_15) February 19, 2015
Crying tears of joy #godisgreat
— Reggie Jackson (@rjOKCson_15) February 19, 2015
This may be one of the only times in modern NBA history where a player was over the moon about being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Detroit Pistons.