Nuggets 'trade' for veteran guard Reggie Jackson

Denver sent its backup point guard, Bones Hyland, to the Clippers in a four-team deal that netted the Nuggets center Thomas Bryant, but due to salary differences, different team needs and possibly Pat Riley's nap screwing up L.A.'s plans, they weren't able to get Reggie Jackson from the Clippers directly. Enter the Charlotte Hornets.

Charlotte traded center Mason Plumlee to L.A. for Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and cash, presumably to cover the difference in Plumlee's and Jackson's salaries. That cash also allowed the Hornets to buy out Jackson, who was extraneous on a team that, despite a 15-43 record, has plenty of point guards.

So the Nuggets and Clippers essentially swapped backup point guards, with Charlotte as an intermediary. The Nuggets took two second-rounders from the Clippers, then turned around and sent three second-rounders to the Lakers for Bryant.

Now, trading Hyland, the No. 26 pick in 2021, seems more palatable. Getting two seconds for a former first is a little disappointing, but Jackson is a massive upgrade on the erratic Hyland this season. Jackson will likely play alongside Jamal Murray at times, in addition to backing him up.

It's somewhat of a surprise the Clippers even let Jackson go. While his usage was down this year with Kawhi Leonard back, Jackson's shooting numbers are up across the board. In his last playoff series, he averaged 20.3 points for the Clippers, shooting 41 percent from three-point range.

Jackson gives coach Mike Malone another ballhandling option and Nikola Jokic another passing target beyond the arc, where Denver is already the best shooting team in the NBA. All it cost them to remake their bench was Hyland, one second-round pick and a fortunate buyout.