Nuggets Trade Key Role Player to Hornets in NBA Draft Round 2 Trade
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Reggie Jackson #7 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter during game three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson is heading to Charlotte.
The Denver Nuggets are trading veteran guard Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nuggets are trading three unprotected second-round picks to Charlotte to take on Jackson's contract.
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This news comes shortly after it was reported that another key role player for the Nuggets — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — was declining his $15.4 million player option to enter free agency, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
With this trade, the Nuggets get off of Jackson's $5.25 million salary. That gives them more wiggle room to potentially try to bring back Caldwell-Pope as they're up against the second apron.
Jackson, 34, was drafted back in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He's spent time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, and Nuggets across his 13-year career.
He's been one of the better off-the-bench scorers in the NBA throughout his career and continued to contribute for Denver this past season. Jackson appeared in all 82 games with the Nuggets this year, averaging 10.2 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from deep, and 80.6 percent from the free throw line.
Jackson is a career 12.6 points-per-game scorer. He may not remain with Charlotte but could wind up with a different contender looking for scoring punch off the bench.
As for the Nuggets, they move on from one of their better bench players to save some money. The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing finish in the 2024 playoffs when they were ousted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Nuggets won the NBA Finals in the 2022-23 season and will look to return this year behind three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets traded up with the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2024 draft, selecting Dayton big man DaRon Holmes II.
As for the Hornets, they continue to stockpile picks as they try to rebuild themselves back into contention. The Hornets went 21-61 this past season, earning themselves a top-6 pick in the draft. The Hornets selected forward Tidjane Salaun out of France.
In the second round, the Hornets had the No. 42 overall selection and drafted guard KJ Simpson out of Colorado.
This is one of the many trades during Thursday's draft, but one of the few that's involved players — not just picks.
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