So, the Warriors won’t have to deal with Jackson’s court issues, at least not his Indiana ones. He still has to deal with the allegations that he violated his probation in Michigan stemming from the brawl with the Pistons. Assuming he’ll get some kind of plea deal for that (as they always do), the Jackson will be free and clear of legal issues, which makes him much more tradeable. Though his temper is an issue, he played well enough this season to remind the league that he can be a dominant player. Combine that fact with his relatively small contract, and he’s certainly a much more marketable piece.
Do they want to trade Jax? Probably not. But if Mullin really has taken Richardson off the market, Jackson is the Warriors’ next most valuable asset. Some might say Harrington, but Jackson (three years, $21.4M left) is cheaper and a better overall player in my mind than Harrington (three years, $27.7M left).
The Warriors are much more likely to move up in the draft if they can offer Jackson and the No. 18 than if they offered Pietrus and the pick. Potential trade partners, such as Minnesota, might be more interested in Jackson than Richardson (four years, $51M left).