Houston Rockets: Make A Play For Reggie Jackson?

As the Feb. 19th trade deadline looms and the season meanders toward the midpoint, there are many questions that are on Houston Rockets’ fans minds.

One of those questions is: are the Rockets going to be active in making a trade to fulfill a need?

For the past eight seasons, the answer to that question would be a no-brainer.

We have one of the most savvy and well-respected general managers in professional basketball in Daryl Morey.

He has always had that keen ability to not become too attached to players and is always working to find ways to make this team better.

Here’s what I propose for you sir.

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard

Reggie Jackson

(15) shoots the ball between Houston Rockets guard

Patrick Beverley

(2) and guard

Corey Brewer

(33) in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

If the deal falls through to pry away Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns, we need to seriously look at targeting Reggie Jackson.

It’s no secret that we need a point guard to get this offense moving to levels we’ve never seen before.

I love Patrick Beverley‘s tenacity on defense but being a point does not come natural for him. His 3.3 dimes that he is currently averaging is hardly emanating what a guard should be dishing out. He doesn’t even crack the Top 50 amongst the leaders in the NBA.

But as of late, he has averaged 5.3 assists per 100 possessions meaning that he is making strides toward improving but he still has a long way to go.

I’d love to keep him and have him revert back to his more storied role as a high-energy bench production guy. His addition would make our 2nd unit one of the strongest in the NBA.

But I doubt he’ll be clamoring for a headband any time soon if this were to happen.

On the other hand, Jackson is currently averaging 23.3 points, 7.6 assists while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 87 percent from the charity stripe per 100 possessions.

His innate ability to be the ball distributor that we’re looking for along with being able to score when called upon is definitely a skill set that is second-to-none.

He will fit in nicely with the somewhat uptempo style the Rockets’ run. The only drawback that he doesn’t shoot the three-ball well which is a tool the Rockets use profusely to remain successful.

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) dribbles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) defends in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

You can throw his three-point shooting in the stat-o-matic machine for a delectable puree but whatever way you do it, his numbers still hover around 27 percent so I can definitely infer that it’s his Achilles’ heel.

But there are so many other things that he brings to the table, that stat wouldn’t matter.

We have enough talented three-point shooters on this roster.

He can play some defense — he would be coming from a team that is 10th in defensive efficiency allowing 100.9 points per 100 possessions.

So I presume he’d know what he’s doing.

Jackson seems to be languishing in Oklahoma City with the recent addition of Dion Waiters from the Cleveland Cavaliers via a trade about a month back.

They’ve split time that was once all Reggie’s as both waver back-and-forth to the bench.

Let’s go rescue him and have him be a part of a championship-caliber team.

With the way the Thunder are headed this season, making the playoffs is their sole goal and it’s not something that’s necessarily in the bag.

He is in the last year of his contract with a $2.2 million salary this season which was a option the team had picked up on him.

This makes him an even more attractive option because he’s not expensive and the Rockets have the assets to make this work.

Simply a swap of some role players would do with some cash if needed.

Nov 16, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) attempts a 3 point shot against Houston Rockets center

Dwight Howard

(12) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Rockets also have a first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans from the Omer Asik trade that depreciates over time if it’s not used in some way.

I just don’t think they will need that but it depends if the Thunder want to part ways with the guard and would like to have the Rockets as a trade partner.