They extended Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. James Harden refused to accept their extension offer, and they traded him.
Now, Reggie Jackson is playing out the final season of his rookie-scale contract, headed toward restricted free agency, and he has an ally in Harden.
Harden, via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman:
“I fell into the same situation, and that could have been my only contract And I’m sure Reggie feels the same way,” Harden told The Oklahoman. “He has to get the money that he’s earned and that he’s worked his whole life for. It’s the nature of the business. It’s going to happen every single year and it’s going to continue to happen.”
Absolutely.
Jackson was well within in his rights to decline Oklahoma City’s extension offer before the season, and he’s playing extremely well with Durant and Westbrook out. In the process, Jackson is earning a lot of money.
The Thunder will have the chance to match any offer sheet he signs this summer, but whether or not they do, he’s going to get paid by someone.
