James Harden hopes OKC will pay Reggie Jackson the money he's 'earned'

Kelly Dwyer-A little over two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder and guard James Harden could not come to terms on a contract extension for the team’s super scoring sub. Fearful of paying the luxury tax in a small market and working with three and nearly four maxed-out players on the team, the Thunder dealt Harden to Houston, where he was happily inked to the same sort of contract OKC’s owners refused to pay.

That deal hasn’t been the reason the Thunder have failed to return to the Finals setting that they enjoyed a few months before the Harden trade, but it is part of that package. Earlier this autumn, the Thunder and guard Reggie Jackson also failed to come to contract terms for the hybrid guard, whose services are needed more than ever with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant smarting with injuries. Jackson, 24, is playing over 41 minutes a game for OKC – contributing 21.5 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds. He can be a restricted free agent in July.