Detroit Pistons: Players to trade or retain at the NBA deadline
By Bob Heyrman
Should the Detroit Pistons consider trading Josh Jackson?
Josh Jackson, like Dennis Smith Jr. is a former high draft choice that is enjoying a career-rejuvenation with the Detroit Pistons.
Jackson had been initially selected by fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2017 NBA Draft. The former Kansas Jayhawk born in San Diego spent time in Detroit as a teenager hoped to return as a professional this past offseason as a 24-year old to get his career back on track under head coach Dwane Casey’s guidance.
Breaking into the NBA as a 20-year old, Jackson quickly averaged 13.1 points per game as a rookie playing a touch over 25-minutes per game. Jackson spent two years with the Suns before heading to Memphis for his third year but averaged a career-low of nine points in a mere 17 minutes per game.
Jackson saw an opportunity with the Pistons to find himself back into a regular NBA rotation. The rebuilding Pistons were in a position to take a flier on a young, once highly touted wing scorer, and he has not disappointed.
The 24-year old is scoring a career-high 13.5 points per game in just about 25 minutes of work in his first season with the Pistons. Jackson has made six starts for Casey’s club while shooting 42% from the field but a mere 29% from three through 32 regular-season games.
Jackson is another member of the Pistons that playoff teams may look to add in an attempt to their bench. Jackson is a wing scorer that can play the two or three and is under a team-friendly contract for the remainder of this season and next.
Unlike the veteran players previously mentioned in this article (Ellington, Wright), I hope the Pistons opt to retain Jackson’s services rather than trade him. I don’t expect Jackson to fetch more than a mid-to-late second-round pick on the trade market, and I’d prefer to see the soon-to-be 25-year old remain in the Pistons’ rotation next season.