Jackson Signs With Blazers

February 2, 1999 / 8:49 PM EST / AP

Free agent guard Jim Jackson signed a three-year, $6 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, giving the team more outside shooting and depth at the guard position.

Jackson, a six-year NBA veteran, played the final 31 games of last season with Golden State, averaging 18.9 points. He began his career with the Dallas Mavericks, who selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 1992 draft.

Jackson spent more than four seasons with the Mavericks, and together with Jamal Mashburn and Jason Kidd, the three "J's" were supposed to take the losing Mavs to respectability. But that never happened.

Jackson was dealt to New Jersey in a nine-player trade in 1997. He was traded to Philadelphia on draft day 1997 in the deal that sent Keith Van Horn to the Nets. Jackson spent the first part of last season with the 76ers before being traded with Clarence Weatherspoon to Golden State for Joe Smith and Brian Shaw.

Jackson, who practiced with the Blazers on Tuesday, said he'd had offers from five other teams, but came to Portland because the team was committed to winning instead of building for the future.

"The reason why I chose Portland is because of the direction that this team is in, and also that this team is in the playoffs, so they don't need Jim Jackson to put them over the hump," he said.

Jackson's agent, Mark Termini, confirmed the terms of the contract.

The Blazers are well over the $30 million salary cap, but were eligible for the $1.75 million salary cap for free agents. Jackson will make that this season, plus a 10-percent raise the next two seasons.

Jackson has played mostly shooting guard in his career, the same position Isaiah Rider plays for the Blazers. Portland president and general manager Bob Whitsitt said Jackson will compete with Rider for minutes, as well as play small forward and occasionally point guard.