Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Center Enes Kanter and point guard D.J. Augustin were among four players acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team trade Thursday that also involved the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons.
The Thunder, currently locked in a tight race with Phoenix and New Orleans for the Western Conference's final playoff seed, received Kanter and 3-point specialist Steve Novak from the Jazz and got Augustin and forward Kyle Singler from Detroit.
In exchange, Oklahoma City shipped young guard Reggie Jackson to the Pistons and sent veteran center Kendrick Perkins to Utah.
"We feel we have added talent, toughness and commitment to our roster," said Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who added that he was "excited about the depth and versatility" of his team.
The Jazz also received rookie forward Grant Jerrett, the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City, as well as a 2017 second-round pick from Detroit.
Both Yahoo Sports and ESPN.com reported that the Jazz would buy out Perkins' contract, with the Clippers, Cavaliers and Bulls among the teams interested in picking him up.
"This trade allowed us to add assets while helping to maintain flexibility for the future," Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said in a statement. "Trades like this are never easy, but we thank Enes and Steve for their contributions to the team and in the community and wish them well as they move forward in their careers."
Kanter, a restricted free agent at season's end, recently requested a trade from the Jazz.
The third overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Kanter is averaging career bests of 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds this season.
Jackson also is slated for restricted free agency at the conclusion of this season, and his role with the Thunder had become less clear after the team acquired guard Dion Waiters from Cleveland last month.
The 2011 first-round pick has averaged 12.8 points, 4.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 50 games this season, including 13 starts.
Augustin will take over for Jackson as Russell Westbrook's backup in Oklahoma City after playing well in a starter's role with the Pistons following Brandon Jennings' season-ending injury. In six February games, the 27-year-old averaged 19.8 points and 8.2 assists while shooting 43.5 percent from 3-point range.
Through 54 overall games this season, Augustin had averages of 10.6 points and 4.9 assists.
Singler and Novak figure to boost Oklahoma City's perimeter shooting. Singler has made 40.6 percent of his 3-point attempts this season and Novak is a career 43.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Perkins, a 12-year veteran whose play has declined in recent years, is averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 51 games this season.
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