The Detroit Pistons have discussed a trade that would sent point guard Reggie Jackson to the Orlando Magic, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. In return, they would receive D.J. Augustin and forward Jeff Green. It is unclear if the trade has gained traction since initial discussions, per Stein.
Reggie Jackson trade rumors surface as Pistons reportedly discuss deal with Magic
Detroit would be selling low, receiving D.J. Augustin and Jeff Green in exchange for its starting point guard.
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The Pistons had previously shopped Jackson, according to ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe, whose return from a knee injury this season sent Detroit reeling. Pistons coach and team president Stan Van Gundy said “Everyone in the league is available for the right price,” according to the Detroit News, and Jackson, once thought of as a franchise point guard, has struggled to regain his form of a season ago.
Detroit would receive a serviceable veteran point guard in Augustin to pair with the already serviceable point guard on roster in Ish Smith. It would also take on a combo forward in Green, 30, who has yet to build on the sputtered blips of promise throughout his career. Detroit would also clear the remaining three years and $51 million of Jackson’s contract off its books, though Augustin has three years and $22 million left on his deal.
Orlando runs Elfrid Payton out as its starting point guard. Jackson, who averages 15.2 points and 5.6 assists per game, could be considered an upgrade.
Why this trade makes sense
Jackson is an impressive isolation basketball player who can break defenders down to create a lane to the rim. He is also adept at running the pick-and-roll, something he’d be able to do often with Bismack Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic in Orlando.
But Jackson’s knee injury hampered his mobility, and Van Gundy has had to hide his 26-year-old guard defensively on non-threatening wing players. Moreover, Detroit is significantly worse with their starting point guard on the floor.
Opponents outscore the Pistons by seven points per 100 possessions with Jackson on the floor, according to NBA.com’s stats page. They’re much better with Smith on the floor, and both Van Gundy and his players have acknowledged that.
“We found a groove with Ish,” Drummond said, according to ESPN.com. “And when Reggie came back, it has been a big adjustment.”
“Reggie came back,” Van Gundy added, “and we’ve struggled ever since.”
Jackson also has a tunnel vision tendency, and his teammates called a players only meeting in December to address it. The meeting included Pistons forward Marcus Morris blasting Jackson for not moving the basketball.
“Guys are not going to respond well when they don’t get the ball when they’re open. That’s just basketball. That’s just the right way,” Morris said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “The Spurs, Golden State, Cleveland, the top tier teams play the right way. You never win if you don’t play the right way. That’s just the bottom line.”
Jackson is in the second season of a five-year, $80 million deal. Green’s $15 million contract expires at the end of the season, and Augustin is on a manageable deal scheduled to pay $7.25 annually through the 2019-20 season.
The trade gives the Magic some cap relief heading into the off-season when Green’s salary comes off the books. It also gives Orlando a much-needed boost with a scorer and playmaker on the offensive end for the long-term.
Why the trade doesn’t make sense
Jackson, injuries and all, still averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Pistons last season. He was the head of a Detroit attack that pushed the Cavaliers in the playoffs last season, despite being swept in just four games.
Selling on Jackson for just Augustin and Green is not a return on investment, it’s a loss. Detroit loses its best one-on-one scorer and replaces him with two serviceable, but past-their-prime veteran players.
Probability a trade gets done
Detroit was a well-oiled piston before Jackson returned, and it’s unclear if the team can return to that form with the roster as currently constructed. A shake-up is necessary, and their starting point guard is the odd man out.
The Pistons were expected to build onto a season that landed the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed a year ago. Instead, the team has regressed. That said, there’s about an 80 percent chance Van Gundy pulls the trigger on a deal moving Jackson to get something in return. Whether it’s of equal value or not remains to be seen.
Trading Jackson only makes sense, whether it’s before the Feb. 23 trade deadline or over the summer.
Probability a deal gets done: 8.0/10
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