The Pistons not trading Reggie Jackson
Last season, Reggie Jackson played in all 82 games and averaged 15.4 points per contest, which were his best stats and most number of games played since his first two years of playing there. But this was also a window of opportunity that the organization likely missed out on to sell high – even if the league is well aware of his flaws.
While the Pistons might have added point guards, Derrick Rose and Tim Frazier, this past summer, Jackson has managed to only play in two games so far this season, due to a stress reaction in his lower back and to make matters worse, he is an unrestricted free agent next summer.
In all likelihood, Jackson will end up walking for nothing and for a team that lacks young assets and is stuck in the middle, second-round draft picks – even if they are late – and young prospects with limited trade value (like Thon Maker despite striking out) are assets that are must-haves in case Detroit chooses to go the rebuild route (rebuilding from scratch without any quality prospects will only make the period last longer).
If Tom Gores chooses to stand pat at the deadline and is unable to retain Drummond come July, then Detroit will be facing a similar situation as the Hornets did this summer only, on the contrary, the Pistons won’t have the young talent to depend on to take on a larger role.