Phoenix Suns sign F Justin Jackson to 10-day deal, waive Emanuel Terry
Jan 4, 2022, 9:40 AM | Updated: 9:50 am
Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Justin Jackson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 2, 2021, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 140-103. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Phoenix Suns announced the signing of veteran forward Justin Jackson to a 10-day hardship deal on Tuesday. To clear space, Phoenix waived big man Emanuel Terry, who was their first hardship signing this season.
Marc Stein first reported the agreement of a Jackson deal last week.
Jackson has spent one 10-day deal with the Boston Celtics in December and rejoined the G League’s Texas Legends after that contract ran its course.
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The 26-year-old Jackson appeared in 34 games in 2020-21 with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 7.2 points per game on 40.3% shooting last season.
He has played 249 games in his five-year NBA career, but only appeared in one game this season for the Celtics.
The Suns will be the sixth NBA team the 2017 draft’s 15th overall pick has played for after wearing jerseys for the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Thunder, Celtics and Bucks.
Jackson started in 41 games as a rookie in 2017-18 for the Kings where he averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds on 44.2% shooting.
The 6-foot-8 forward played his college basketball at North Carolina from 2014-17, one year before Suns’ forward Cam Johnson transferred there in 2018.
Jackson will become the Suns’ fifth signing under the hardship exemption, a rule added by the league this season to require additions by teams as they place rostered players in health and safety protocols.
The Suns signed Terry, guard M.J. Walker, and big men Paris Bass and Bismack Biyombo to hardship deals thus far. With Biyombo’s NBA experience, his recent addition appeared to make Terry the first big man out.
Terry appeared in 18 minutes over three games with Phoenix, failing to score a basketball but grabbing 14 rebounds and adding two assists.
The Suns are still missing much of their depth as Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee and Abdel Nader remain in health and safety protocols. The team on Tuesday will see the return of head coach Monty Williams, who had been in health and safety protocols since Dec. 27, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
