Milwaukee Bucks swingman Stephen Jackson indicated to the media Friday night he'd like to be traded to the Orlando Magic, reported Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD following the Magic's 94-85 win against the Bucks. "I would love to [play in Orlando]," Jackson told HOOPSWORLD. He also said Magic superstar Dwight Howard has indicated he would like to play alongside Jackson. "When you get a compliment like that from a big man like Dwight, it means a lot," said Jackson.
Jackson, a 12-year veteran, has played sparingly in his first season in Milwaukee and is unhappy with his role. "It's tough," he said. "The only thing that I can do is worry about what I can control and that’s trying to be a professional and keep supporting the young guys." Jackson has averaged no fewer than 33.1 minutes per game in each of the last eight seasons, only to see his playing time dwindle to 28.8 this season.
Orlando could choose to acquire Jackson, who has one season remaining on his contract at $10.1 million, in an effort--one might argue a misguided one--to please Howard, who can leave the team in free agency in the summer of 2012. The Magic previously traded for power forward Glen Davis, a teammate of Howard's on the AAU circuit, in a move some league observers believed Howard influenced. Nothing in Kennedy's report, however, suggests Orlando is indeed interested in adding Jackson to its crop of wings, which already includes Jason Richardson, J.J. Redick, Von Wafer, DeAndre Liggins, Hedo Turkoglu, and Quentin Richardson.
Jackson owns career averages of 16.1 points, four rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 33.3 minutes, shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from three-point range.
The NBA trade deadline is March 15th.
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