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Stephen Jackson: ‘Um, I Don’t Think I’ll Be a Warrior Next Year.’ Logic: ‘About That...’

Aug 29, 2009, 5:30 PM UTC

Some people use exit interviews, phone calls, e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter to express displeasure with their current employment.â†µâ†µStephen Jackson used a shoe company’s block party.â†µâ†µ

â†µâ†µâ†µDime Magazine reports that, while in New York at a block party for shoe company Protege, Warriors forward answered a question about whether Golden State would make the playoffs with the following:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“Um, I don’t think I’ll be a Warrior next year.”â†µâ†µThe Contra Costa Times’ Inside the Warriors blog is also reporting that Jackson has hired an agent to help facilitate a trade, and it seems to make sense to move him as Golden State remakes their team around a young core that includes Monta Ellis, Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Curry. Jackson delivered the obligatory “I want to win” remark (“I’m just looking to go somewhere where I can go and win a championship”), naming the Cavaliers, the Texas teams (Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio), and, of course, the Knicks, where he would reunite with former Golden State running mate Al Harrington, as possible destinations.â†µâ†µBut the Warriors might have a hard time sending Captain Jack overboard.â†µ

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â†µBecause of salary, it would be a tough fit for any of the named teams. Alan Hahn of Newsday writes that the Knicks would have to scrap any LeBron-in-2010 plans to add Jackson, who carries an $8.4 million cap hit in 2010, despite Harrington's interest in bringing him aboard. All of the other teams mentioned are likely at or over the luxury tax threshold, and seem to have their rotations more or less set.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd, well, who really wants Stephen Jackson?â†µ

â†µâ†µESPN’s John Hollinger’s not a big fan. Jackson only played 59 games last year. He’s been a 20/5/5 player for Golden State, but it’s unclear how much of those stats are him and how much is a product of Nellieball.â†µ

â†µâ†µA 31-year-old point forward who can play some defense and serve as a third or fourth scorer would seem superfluous for the contending teams (read: not the Knicks) mentioned, especially because, in Jamario Moon, Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, and Trevor Ariza, each one brought in a capable swingman this summer.â†µ

â†µâ†µFurther, the Warriors would probably be looking for equal value in young players to add to their nucleus, not cap relief, and it would be hard to find such players on the rosters of the teams Jackson mentioned.â†µ

â†µâ†µJackson may want off the Warriors’ galleon, but don’t expect to see him sailing off any time soon.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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