Thunder hope Dion Waiters can fill James Harden role for them
OAKLAND, Calif. – Once news began to break Monday evening that the Oklahoma City Thunder were acquiring Dion Waiters from the Cleveland Cavaliers, there was speculation Thunder guard Reggie Jackson could be included in the deal. Some of Jackson's friends even texted him that he was headed to the New York Knicks.
Jackson got on the Thunder's bus for their game against the Golden State Warriors and wondered if he would get a tap on the shoulder and told to get off.
"I was traded," Jackson said late Monday, after the Thunder's 117-91 loss to the Warriors. "I was just thinking I was going to go home and pack and that was it."
As it turned out, Jackson wasn't included in the trade that sent Waiters to the Thunder in a three-team deal that also delivered Knicks guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs. The Thunder sent a protected future first-round pick to the Cavs and forward Lance Thomas to the Knicks. The Knicks also acquired forward Lou Amundson, center Alex Kirk and a future second-round pick from the Cavaliers.
Jackson said his nerves were calmed when he didn't get a call from his agent Aaron Mintz and brother/personal manager Travis Jackson.
The Thunder once had the NBA's most intimidating bench scorer in James Harden. The 2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year averaged 16.8 points and 1.8 3-pointers made per game during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 NBA season. Oklahoma City, however, traded Harden to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 27, 2012, with Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, a 2013 first-round pick (Steven Adams) and future first- and second-round picks.
The Thunder have tried Jackson, Martin and Lamb in their sixth-man scoring role once held by Harden – now one of the NBA's elite scorers in Houston – but without comparable results. The pressure will now be on Waiters to take over that role off the bench.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant believes Waiters can be like Harden.
"I am not saying he's James' replacement because we're far past that," Durant said. "But he can play, he can come off the bench for us and score and make plays. He is a really good player. A lot of people take him for granted, I think.
"He's been around, and you hear things about him that are not true. But he can play basketball. He can come out here and be himself, which is aggressive, put pressure on the defense and make plays."
Waiters averaged 14.7 and 15.9 points his first two seasons with the Cavaliers in less than 30 minutes per game. While playing alongside LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving this season, however, Waiters dropped to career-lows of 10.5 points in 23.8 minutes per game.
"He's a guy who has a lot of toughness," Durant said. "Being from the East Coast, I know a lot about Philadelphia where he comes from, South Philly where he comes from. Those guys are tough. They play with an edge, and that's what he needs here.
"I'm excited about Dion. I can't wait to have him."
Durant planned to reach out to Waiters soon, but thought it was too late after the Thunder's loss to the Warriors to text or call. Waiters is expected to be in Oklahoma City on Tuesday for his physical, a source said. All players involved in the trade must pass their physicals before Waiters can be cleared to play in the Thunder's game on Wednesday in Sacramento.
"We are going to make him feel wanted," Durant said. "I don't know that he has felt that the last few years. We want him here and are happy to have him here."
The Thunder will continue to start defensive specialist Andre Roberson when Waiters arrives, a source said. But Waiters is expected to get the bulk of the minutes at shooting guard. It's the same formula the Thunder used with Harden coming off the bench, but playing the bulk of the minutes and finishing games after coming in for Thabo Sefolosha.
Waiters actually flourished as a sixth man while playing for Syracuse, averaging 12.6 points off the bench as a sophomore during the 2011-12 season.
The move will also allow the Thunder to not use Jackson at shooting guard as much and will likely make it tough for Lamb to get playing time. Waiters can play point guard, as well.
When asked how his role changes with Waiters' arrival, Jackson said: "I don't know. I don't coach. I just go out and play."
Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown coached Waiters last season and believes a change of scenery will be good for him.
"He probably needs a fresh start," Brown told Yahoo Sports. "What better way than in Oklahoma City where they play to his strengths? He has had his ups and downs with playing off the bench. He believes he deserves to be a starter.
"But he looks up to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He was wanted in Oklahoma City, and they worked hard to get him. He accepted not starting in Cleveland and he still wanted to start. He will want to start in Oklahoma City, too. But he will accept coming off the bench there because of their players, culture and winning environment."
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