New York Knicks: Could Reggie Jackson be the point guard solution?

The likelihood of Reggie Jackson coming to the New York Knicks may be fairly high.

It’s no secret that the New York Knicks are going to be looking for a starting point guard this offseason via free agency or trade. There is some mutual interest between the team and Derrick Rose, who will likely fill the 6th man role if he comes back.

The team has been linked to young players who fit the roster’s timeline, All-Stars, and MVP candidates to fill the vacant slot. However, one player that may end up getting chosen over all of them is Reggie Jackson of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jackson had a few solid seasons with the Detriot Pistons before injuries and losses started piling up, causing him to be bought out in February 2020. He then signed with the Clippers and has been a solid rotational piece ever since.

However, he is currently in the midst of a breakout postseason run. Jackson is averaging 18.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on incredible 49-42-87 shooting splits. He’s displayed an ability to hit threes on high volume while also aggressively attacking the rim.

He’s helped carry the offensive load after Kawhi Leonard went down with a knee injury and has risen to the occasion.

That could also lead to the New York Knicks front office having some interest in Jackson when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer.

Jackson has spent time at both point guard and shooting guard this season, providing value as a shot creator while also being utilized as someone who can space the floor for others. This would be beneficial to the Knicks, as it would allow them to play both Derrick Rose and Jackson at the same time so that they don’t need to fight for minutes.

It cannot be overstated how much his ability to hit catch-and-shoot threes would help New York’s offense. This allows Julius Randle and RJ Barrett to continue to grow as offensive creators while also boosting their assist totals.

The New York Knicks’ high volume of corner threes was a huge part of the team finishing with the third-highest three-point percentage in the league. It could have been even higher, but Elfrid Payton shot 12-39 from the corners for a conversion rate of just 30.8%. Jackson hit on 31-62 of his corner threes, an impressive 50% clip.

Jackson is also represented by Aaron Mintz of the CAA. Mintz happens to be the agent of both Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton, so it’s clear that he has a solid relationship with New York’s front office. Team President Leon Rose used to be one of the CAA’s top sports agents before he came to the Knicks.

At 31 years old, Jackson might be looking for his last big payday and would be willing to leave the Clippers in free agency. He shouldn’t command a massive salary, but it wouldn’t be hard to imagine him receiving a 2-3 year deal worth around $10-$13 million per year.

He may not be the top point guard option who will solve every issue the team has, but it’s possible that he could be an above-average starter who helps keep the Knicks in the Eastern Conference playoff picture for the foreseeable future.