There were several times this offseason when Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson became a topic of trade speculations. Jackson is a starter for the Pistons, but last season he dealt with a few injuries (left knee and right thumb) that limited him to only 51 games. These health issues were the reasons why he got dragged into the rumor mill.
However, it appears that Jackson is staying put in Detroit for now. In a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press, Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy even gave an update regarding his top playmaker.
Van Gundy shared that Jackson is expected to be ready for training camp, which starts on September 26th. Restrictions are going to be imposed on the 27-year-old though, one of them includes him practicing just once a day.
Jackson keeps starting job
No matter what happens, Jackson is the starting point guard in Detroit, whether he can play at the start of the season or again needs to miss games. At this moment, he is the Pistons' No. 1 option at the position. In the 2016-17 NBA season, he was the squad's second-best scorer as he averaged 14.5 points per game, just behind forward Tobias Harris (16.1 ppg). If Jackson is locked in to start, competing for the backup role are Ish Smith and Langston Galloway.
Smith has an advantage over Galloway because of his experience in the league and better numbers from last season. The 29-year-old may also be more familiar with the system of the Pistons since he already suited up for them in their previous campaign. Galloway, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the team.
Pistons derailed
If Jackson can stay healthy and Andre Drummond plays like an All-Star, Detroit has a big chance of returning to the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
In the 2015-16 season, the duo helped the Pistons finished eighth in the East, and end a six-year playoff drought. They got swept in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won the NBA championship that year, but this showed the franchise is back on track. Unfortunately, in the following season, the Pistons failed to carry the momentum.
They were inconsistent and ended 10th in the conference with a 37-45 record. Once again, they were absent in the postseason.
Hopefully, in the coming season, Detroit could get back to its winning ways. Reaching the playoffs in the East may have been easier for the Pistons after all the moves that materialized in this year's offseason.
