The Denver Nuggets, attempting to clear salary-cap room, dealt point guard Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets, the Denver Post and ESPN reported on Thursday.
The Hornets also received three second-round draft picks, per the reports. According to the Post, the selections will be in the 2025, 2029 and 2030 drafts.
The move comes days after Jackson accepted his $5.25 million player option, leaving him as a signed player for next season.
Per both reports, the Nuggets were looking to shed payroll to improve their bargaining position as they try to bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The veteran guard reportedly is opting out of a $15.4 million player option for next season with Denver.
Jackson, 34, was a reserve on the Nuggets’ 2022-23 NBA championship team. He is headed for a fifth team in what will be his 14th season in the league.
Last season, Jackson appeared in all 82 games, making 23 starts, and put up 10.2 points and 3.8 assists in 22.2 minutes per contest. In the postseason, he averaged just 3.5 points and 1.0 assist in 9.8 minutes.
Jackson was selected in the first round of the 2011 draft (24th overall) out of Boston College by the Thunder, and he spent 3 1/2 season in Oklahoma City. He subsequently played for the Detroit Pistons (2014-15 to 2019-20) and Los Angeles Clippers (2019-20 to 2022-23) before he was traded to Denver in February 2023.
In 853 NBA games (529 starts), Jackson has averages of 12.6 points and 4.2 assists.
–Field Level Media/Reuters