Insider on Marc Jackson

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Funny, the debate on Marc Jackson coincides with this ESPN Insider feature.
If this is true, it pretty much cements it that the Celts won't deal for the
guy. No way they deal an expiring contract and add Jackson's salary. Too
bad, he'd be a nice fit. Not as good as Lafrentz, but more available and
affordable.
 
Mark
 

Friday, January 4    Updated 10:13 AM EST 


Want Marc Jackson action? Here's what it will cost you 
by Chad Ford 

With two weeks left until the Warriors can trade center Marc Jackson
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3205> , ESPN Insider
did some digging around to see what the Warriors are asking for in return
for the coveted big man. 

Want a 27-year-old, 6-foot-10, 270-pound center who has started a total of
35 games in his NBA career? Several league sources told Insider that the
Warriors are asking for a player in the last year of his contract (to free
up cap room this summer), a first-round draft pick (at least in the
lottery), and $3 million in cash. However, the asking price isn't written in
stone. As more teams become interested in landing Jackson, the price could
go up. 

Jackson is set to make $3,250,000 this season. That means a team like
Indiana, which could offer Travis Best
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3025>  (in the last
year of his deal), would still have to come up with a lottery pick. A team
like the Knicks, who currently don't have a player who would work
salary-wise to make that happen, would have to figure out a three-way deal
to get Jackson. 

Because they own a trade exception, the Magic could offer Pat Garrity
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3262>  and a
first-round pick for Jackson. The Suns could send John Wallace
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3114>  or Rodney
Rogers <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=1280>  and a
first-round pick for Jackson. Miami has a big enough trade exception that it
wouldn't even have to send a player to Golden State to get the deal done.
Memphis could send along Grant Long
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=208> , but it's
likely that Detroit will have its first-round pick this year. 

The other key factor that will likely affect any trade is that Jackson can
veto any trade the Warriors put together for one year. That means in the
end, it might be Jackson, not the Warriors, who picks the ultimate lottery
winner. 
Why all of the rabid interest for a guy who was struggling in Europe just a
little over a season ago? Insider talked to an advance scout who broke
Jackson down. 

"He's strong, is a pretty solid rebounder and has a real nice game facing
the basket. He's a solid free-throw shooter, can be offensive minded and
could average 18 and 10 on the right team. He's a very dedicated guy, he
plays hard and won't be a problem in the locker room. 

He's not much of a banger, shot blocker or athlete which means he isn't
going to be your prototypical NBA center. He'd be much better playing power
forward in the NBA, but because of his limited success at the position last
year when Adonal Foyle
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3178>  and Erick
Dampier <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3117>  both
went down with injuries, he has an upside that most NBA big men don't."