The Los Angeles Clippers were in need of more playmakers and on Thursday, the team fulfilled that need with the signing of guard Reggie Jackson.
The 29-year-old Jackson, who was on the waiver wire, was recently with the Detroit Pistons – where he teamed up with former Clipper Blake Griffin. Jackson had spent the last six and a half seasons in Detroit after playing his first three and a half years with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The point guard was looked at heavily by both the Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers after the trade deadline as a buyout candidate, however Jackson made it clear that he planned to sign with the Clippers due to his close relationship with Paul George – with whom he shares an agent.
Jackson fills a need that the Clippers desperately need going into the playoffs – a playmaker who can spread the ball around. While the team has Patrick Beverley, the aforementioned George, Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams as guys who can get their own shot, they had no one who could allow them to space the floor and let the primary scorers do what they do best. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, felt that he filled that need.
“Reggie is a proven playmaker and scorer, and we are looking forward to adding his experience and creativity to our team,” said Frank in a released statement.
Jackson, like the rest of this Clippers roster, has had his share of injuries this season. After starting the first two games of the season, he missed the next 42 due to a stress reaction in his lower back. Despite that, he averaged 14.9 points and 5.1 assists a game while averaging a career-high 37.1 percent from three-point range.
For his career, Jackson is averaging 12.9 points and 4.4 assists per game.
