2013-2014 NBA Season

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

As for this part, you don't find anyone talking specific numbers. I've seen a few articles mentioning him as a potential all-star (don't agree), and that the Thunder will have to be creative to keep him. If you are right and he would only be offered around 8 per season, then him leaving was never a real concern. OKC can and will do that in a heartbeat. But you can find tons of articles around that indicate he was playing himself out of his role here, meaning OKC wouldn't be able to pay him. That means 8 per year was not the number most were projecting, or even close to that. About the closest I've seen to mentioning actual numbers is that he "isn't a max guy", which I don't think anybody ever thought. The thing is, it only takes one team to agree he is a potential all star and he'll get overpaid.

Nobody ever said he was Harden, but there are several articles out there comparing their production with OKC, and the numbers are close. It wasn't the craziest thing in the world to think Jackson's numbers would rise given extra minutes. He averaged 14.2 PPG in December and 3.6 assists in 26.5 minutes. In January, his minutes went to 31.5, but his PPG only went up 0.9, and his assists 0.6. It wasn't the craziest thing to think he would play 35 minutes a game, and at the same rate he would have averaged 19.5 and 4.8. I don't really think his career 3P% is relevant as a young player. This year is what he will be judged on in that area, and he is average and improving.

His erratic defense has kept his minutes down, and he hasn't played as well against starters. But again, it was possible, and had he done that his price tag would have gone up. It isn't like no bench player has ever stepped into a starting role and increased production. It isn't like he didn't have some big games this year in the 4Q against other teams starters, including a couple monster games against the Spurs.

If Westbrook never missed time, and Jackson stayed in the same role, it is likely that Jackson would have priced himself out of OKC. Somebody would have offered him too much money based on his play in that role, thinking he could do even more as a starter. Now, that is pretty clearly unlikely. That is what I meant by my "saved OKC money" comment.

I have a hard time believing that they will commit 8 or more million to a non starting player. IMO Jackson is not a great fit as a starter on this team because he is not really a PG. Anchoring the 2nd team he is ball dominant and looking to be the 1st option which he obviously cant do while starting. That doesn't mean he isn't an effective player because his numbers are still good, however unlike Westbrook who is every bit in charge of the offense as Durant when playing together Jackson cant do that.

I don't think that anything that has happened to Westbrook has much effect on Jacksons value. I do not believe that unless he starts shooting 40% from 3 point range will he ever get above that 8 million a year ceiling. The question is he going to be happy coming off the bench for a top team or want to start for a potentially lessor team. Harden wouldn't. Problem OKC has is that they keep drafting good players and eventually they are going to have to pay them. It isn't really a "problem" per se but the Lakers, Heat, Knicks, Clippers, etc are willing to go over cap to do so and OKC won't. Despite all the changes and tweaks to the cap the big market teams still have a big advantage that a few have traded in by hiring Billy King or letting the wrong family member run the team like Jim Buss (and I'm sure if Dolan has a sister she could do better than him too)