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Thunder trade Reggie Jackson to Pistons, get Enes Kanter from Jazz

Thunder trade Reggie Jackson to Pistons, get Enes Kanter from Jazz

The Oklahoma City Thunder traded guard Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons in a multi-team trade that sent Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter to the Thunder.

As part of the trade, the Thunder will send rookie forward Grant Jerrett, center Kendrick Perkins and the rights to center Tibor Pleiss to the Jazz. Pleiss, whose draft rights were acquired by OKC in 2010, wants to come to the NBA next season and the Thunder won't have room to sign him with Steven Adams, Nick Collison and Kanter expected to be on the roster. The Jazz also received a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City and a 2017 second-round pick from the Pistons, and sent forward Steve Novak to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder also received guards DJ Augustin and Kyle Singler from the Pistons.

The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets both made significant bids to acquire Jackson, sources said, but lost out to the Pistons.

Perkins will negotiate a buyout with the Jazz, sources said. Once he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers will be contenders to sign him, sources said.

Jackson had requested a trade and was determined to seek a starting point guard job, something that was unavailable to him playing behind Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. The Pistons lost starting point guard Brandon Jennings to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.

After failing to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension with the Thunder in October, Jackson will become a restricted free agent in July.

Jackson has had a turbulent season with the Thunder, including his relationship with coach Scott Brooks. Jackson’s role has been diminished, especially since the arrival of Dion Waiters in a January trade. Jackson has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 assists and four rebounds for the Thunder this season.

Kanter also had requested a trade and will become a restricted free agent after the season. Kanter and the Jazz never seriously discussed a contract extension in October, but the Thunder made the deal with the intention of signing him, sources said.