OKC Thunder: Re-Grading the Reggie Jackson pick
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder made Reggie Jackson a first-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, let’s re-grade that decision.
After re-grading the OKC Thunder selections of Terrance Ferguson, and Perry Jones III, let’s continue with polarizing figure Reggie Jackson. Buckle up folks, this one could get ugly.
As I sit in isolation, with no sports, while the only thing to do is ponder the past, I have been thinking of Sam Presti’s draft classes. That is of course because I am a crazy person, and miss basketball that much.
Let’s continue the trip down memory lane, and revisit the selection of Reggie Jackson. One of the best backup point guards in team history, that always thought he was better than he is.
As always, it is important to establish a grade on the pick before re-grading it. So, erase all the fights, the freezeouts, trade requests, Twitter beefs, and the bad memories. What was your genuine opinion of the Reggie Jackson selection at the time?
For me, I gave Sam Presti a C+. I was a huge Norris Cole, and Isaiah Thomas fan, which tanked my grade of this pick. However, it is clear Sam Presti knows better than me.
From here, we have to lay the outline of who Sam Presti missed on? Who panned out better than Reggie Jackson in this class that was available for Presti?
Lucky for Sam Presti, that list has only two names on it. All-Star Jimmy Butler and sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic.
Reggie Jackson fit the biggest need on the team, believe it or not despite being in a day in age where Billy Donovan runs out three guards, there was once a time that the OKC Thunder could not find a competent backup point guard!
Obviously, in a vacuum you would love to have All-Star Jimmy Butler, especially knowing that just a year later the team would be missing James Harden. However, all things considered, I still think Reggie Jackson was a good pick.
The question is how good was he in Oklahoma City? What has he done since? What is his final re-grade?