3-way trade sends Jackson to Detroit, Kanter to OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons and acquired Enes Kanter from the Utah Jazz on Thursday.

Detroit sent guard DJ Augustin, forward Kyle Singler and a 2019 second-round draft selection to the Thunder, and a 2017 second-round pick to the Jazz.

The Thunder traded center Kendrick Perkins, forward Grant Jerrett, the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss and a protected 2017 first-round pick to Utah. Oklahoma City also acquired forward Steve Novak from the Jazz.

Jackson helped the Thunder keep it together last season while Russell Westbrook was injured, and his value skyrocketed. He garnered national attention during last year's playoffs, when he scored 32 points in a first-round playoff win over Memphis. Thunder general manager Sam Presti tried to get an extension with Jackson done in the fall, but the sides couldn't agree. Jackson made it clear before the season that he no longer wanted to be a reserve, but Westbrook, the All-Star Game MVP, was in the way.

Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 7.7 assists in 13 starts this season while Westbrook and Kevin Durant were out with injuries before returning to a reserve role. Now, it appears, he'll finally have his chance to start.

''We're pleased to welcome Reggie Jackson to the organization,'' Pistons coach and president Stan Van Gundy said in a statement. ''Reggie is a young player with good size and length at the guard position. He's been successful as a starter playing extended minutes and we feel he's a good addition to our roster.

Kanter, the third overall pick of the 2011 draft, is averaging career highs of 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. The 6-foot-11 center adds scoring punch down low for the Thunder, something they haven't had in recent years.

''It is a rare opportunity to acquire a player like Enes who will be an added dimension to our frontcourt and has his best basketball in front of him,'' Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement.

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said the move was not in response to Kanter's postgame comments last week that he wanted to be traded. He pointed out the financial flexibility gained and the growth of second-year center Rudy Gobert and 23-year-old power forward Derrick Favors as factors.

''We're always going to take a long view and the rebuild is significant and long and arduous,'' Lindsey said. ''We're not going to run from that. We still have to operate and operate fundamentally correct.

''We have very significant salary cap flexibility. ... We can be a serious player during the draft to take in a veteran to speed up that timeline. We have great flexibility to chase some of the better free agents this offseason.''

Kanter, 22, was unhappy that his minutes had fluctuated in a front-court rotation with Gobert, Favors and Trevor Booker. The Turkish center is eligible for restricted free agency after the season.

Perkins joined the Thunder during the 2010-11 season and immediately gave them some needed toughness. With their enforcer, the team reached the Western Conference Finals three times in four years. Perkins lost his starting job to second-year player Steven Adams this season.

The 12-year veteran is in the final year of a five-year deal. He is averaging 4.0 and 5.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Lindsey would not comment on whether or not the team would work on a buy-out of Perkins' contract.

''It is important that we all thank Kendrick Perkins for his contributions to the organization,'' Presti said. ''He had a direct impact on the trajectory of our team and helped us grow immeasurably in ways that will be felt years to come.''

In a later move, the Thunder acquired a 2016 protected second-round draft pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guard Ish Smith, a 2015 protected second-round pick, the rights to Latavious Williams and cash considerations.

The Pelicans then waived Smith. Williams is a forward with Bilbao of the Spanish League.

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AP Sports Writer Kareem Copeland in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.