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UPDATE 7/17: Demetrius Jackson cleared waivers Monday, sources tell CelticsBlog. The Celtics will use the stretch provision, as detailed below, to spread out the cap hit to a menial level over the next seven years. This clears the way for the Celtics to complete the Guerschon Yabusele signing after waiving the retiring Paul Pierce Monday, which they plan to finalize in the coming weeks according to a source familiar with the situation.
Former Celtics guard Demetrius Jackson has cleared waivers, per source.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) July 17, 2017
The Boston Celtics will waive point guard Demetrius Jackson, sources tell CelticsBlog. Steve Bullpett of the Boston Herald was the first to report. Jackson already has $650,000 guaranteed for this season, so the Celtics will have to eat that money against the cap.
With Semi Ojeleye signing, Celtics will waive Demetrius Jackson per source. He has $650,000 guaranteed.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) July 15, 2017
If Jackson is not claimed by another team, sources say the Celtics plan to use the stretch provision to count Jackson as about $92,857 over the next seven years against the cap, as first reported by Bobby Marks of ESPN. Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe was the first to report the Celtics may use the stretch provision.
Jackson was considered a steal for the Celtics when he fell to them at the 45th pick in the 2016 draft. Widely projected to be a borderline lottery prospect, Jackson fell down draft board during the pre-draft process. He rarely had a chance to play in Boston during his rookie year, playing just 17 minutes the entire year.
He had a solid season for the Maine Red Claws in the NBA D-League, averaging 14.8 points and 6.0 assists per game as the Red Claws made a run to the D-League Eastern Conference Finals.
His release was expected as the Celtics wanted to prioritize signing versatile 3-and-D wing Abdel Nader, who was taken behind Jackson at the 58th pick but thrived in Maine, winning D-League Rookie of the Year.
Jackson is expected to find another team shortly, and there is a possibility he will be picked up on waivers according to league sources. He has shown potential to be a rotation player, but he did not have any opportunity in Boston because of the deep and young roster. The average age of the roster, assuming Kadeem Allen and Jabari Bird sign two-way contracts as expected, would be just 24.3.