On one of the NBA’s craziest trade deadline days to date, a three-team deal involving the Pistons, Jazz and Thunder that sent point guard Reggie Jackson from Oklahoma City to Detroit may have been one of the most intriguing.
Jackson, who reportedly asked for a trade just a few days ago, was a big part of Oklahoma City’s offense earlier this season when both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were out with injuries, averaging 19.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 38.2 minutes per game in November. However, his role and minutes have diminished every month since, exacerbated by the Thunder’s acquisition of guard Dion Waiters from the Cavaliers in a January trade.
Relegated to limited minutes off the bench, Jackson made no effort to hide his displeasure with Thunder brass and was clearly unhappy there. When he found out he was sent to Detroit, he tweeted this (below), leaving his feelings right out for the world to see:
Just woke up from my nap a #Piston #DETROITBASKETBALL!!!
— Reggie Jackson (@rjOKCson_15) February 19, 2015
Pretty obvious to see what Jackson, who was picked 24th overall in the 2011 Draft by Oklahoma City after a standout junior season at Boston College, felt about his change of scenery. In exchange, the Pistons traded D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler and a second-round pick to the Thunder, who sent Kendrick Perkins, Grant Jerrett and a first-rounder to the Utah Jazz for Enes Kanter and Steve Novak.
Up front, the deal looks like a relative win for all three teams involved. The Pistons get a replacement for the injured Brandon Jennings, the Thunder add a frontcourt piece and replace Jackson with another point guard while the Jazz got rid of the unhappy Kanter and cleared some cap.
However, the biggest winner, overall, has to be Jackson. He goes from a place he wasn’t wanted and didn’t want to be to Detroit, where he’s the clear starting point guard for the rest of the season, and maybe beyond. Jennings, the previous starter, tore his Achilles a few weeks ago and was declared out for the season, leaving the spot ripe for Jackson’s taking.
Also, it’s not like the cupboard has been left bare for the fourth-year player. The Pistons, with head coach/president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy leading the way, have a dynamic forward/center combo of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe as well as young guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks among others.
Jackson is expecting a big salary bump this summer when his rookie contact–which is paying him just a shade over $2.2 million for the 2014-15 season–expires, making him a restricted free agent. Therefore, the rest of this season is a glorified tryout for both parties. One on hand, if Jackson plays well enough, the Pistons and other teams around the league will notice and throw lucrative offers at him. Conversely, Jackson has a few months to see if he wants to stay with the Pistons long-term, and possible sign an extension that would make good on Detroit’s investment in the trade.
Looks like the Pistons, for the price of some picks and bench players, might have gotten a solid point guard, or even two-guard if Jackson stays past this season. With the Pistons two games out of the East’s No. 8 spot, the pickup just might push the Pistons over the hump into the postseason, and provide a similar resurgence to Jackson’s career.
