The Miami Heat need a guy that can flat-out get it done on all three levels and make a play for his team. Reggie Jackson is that, plain and simple.
Reggie Jackson was a godsend for the LA Clippers. Had it not been for him, they wouldn’t have made it as far as they did this year.
When Kawhi Leonard went down, he was absolutely key, necessary, and their second best player on a night to night basis, hands down. While his numbers will be documented shortly to prove the case here, his story about how this season all came together for him is also worth noting.
Not sure about how he felt about his pro career, it seems based off all you have heard, a call from Paul George did wonders for Jackson’s own personal psyche, outlook, and what seems like mental health. It is best summarized in this quote, from the man himself, after they were eliminated from the postseason by the Suns.
"My 10th year was my best year. The most challenging year. The most fun year. Not sure when you’re going to play. Ups and downs. Guys were injured. Still finding my way into this locker room. First thing I told these guys was, “Thank you for saving me.” I appreciate every guy in that locker room. I appreciate Paul for getting on that phone last year, at the end the season, was talking to a buyout with Detroit. I’m thankful for everything I’ve experienced being here – this city making me feel at home, this organization welcoming me, my quirks, my strengths, my weaknesses. I’m not here today without this team. I’m not here playing without this team. So, yeah, I thank them."
There is two things there. That’s a guy that might be hard to pry from whatever situation has him that emotional, the Clippers, while that same guy also seems re-invigorated and ready to give his all, what he gave across this postseason and some more, perhaps, to his next team.
That team should be Miami. This isn’t a hope or a dig into scenario, such as described with Cameron Payne, this is a go and get and a must have.
While again, he’ll likely be hard to pry away from the Clippers after an emotional statement like that, he’s exactly what the Miami Heat seem to need and it won’t cost a ton, relatively, to land him. He’ll get a really nice raise from the $2.3 million he played for this season, probably in the $11-$16 million range depending on where he lands, but that’s worth it for a guy that can give your team what he can at this point.
In 19 playoff games for LA this season and 17 of them being starts, Jackson averaged 17.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 32.7 minutes, on 48.4 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from deep. Did we mention that he shot nearly eight three pointers a game, well, 7.5 to be specific.
That’s Duncan Robinson land, yep, it’s been said. While, again, key when Kawhi went down, he was huge prior to.
Across those 19 games, he scored in double-digits in 16 of them and 20 or more points in nine of them, with his playoff-high coming in a 29 point, three board, two dime performance against the Utah Jazz in a Game 2 defeat. Because of his performances, because of the stage they were on, because of his mentality, and because all that seems to fit so well with the Miami Heat’s way, their players, and the culture, he should be a priority.
Reggie Jackson must be approached and talked to by the Miami Heat this offseason, minimally, a discussion. Other than him though, Bobby Portis and Cameron Payne deserve hard looks as well.
They are the three NBA Playoff Performers that the Miami Heat should definitely look into.