The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Frank Jackson, the team announced Monday night.
This roster move was a bit of a surprise. The 22-year-old played well in the preseason, posting 14 games in the first game and 15 in the second before scoring eight in the final game.
With a full roster, the Thunder needed to make one more cut before the season started. Jackson was the casualty.
He originally signed with the Thunder on Dec. 4 after playing two years with the New Orleans Pelicans. Over his first two seasons in the NBA, he appeared in 120 games for the Pelicans, averaging 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.
Over his career, Jackson has shot 42.2% from the field and 31.9% from 3.
Oklahoma City starts the season with a primary guard rotation of George Hill, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Theo Maledon as ball handler options and Lu Dort and Hamidou Diallo as off-ball guard options. Additionally, second-year guard Ty Jerome may be able to find a role once he regains health from an injury that cost him the three preseason games. Jerome did not practice on Monday.
The Thunder’s season tips off Wednesday against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
