Should the Detroit Pistons trade for Markelle Fultz?

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly buyers in the trade market. They’re also rumored to be interested in Markelle Fultz. Should they make a trade for Fultz?

The Detroit Pistons have been reported to be buyers in the trade market.

The Pistons *may* also have a point guard issue; for the present and the future.

Reggie Jackson has been delegated to being almost certainly a spot up shooter. The weakness in Jackson’s game his whole career on offense has been his shooting. It was much better in 2015-16 where he shot 36 percent from distance, but it hasn’t been that good since.

Despite this, Dwane Casey has Jackson shooting 6.2 threes a game this year on 33 percent shooting. To make matters worse, Jackson is a below average defender, possibly an average one when he’s trying hard and giving effort.

Everyone understands that Jackson’s strength of his career, the reason the Pistons paid him, the reason the Pistons have a playoff berth in the last 10 years, is because Jackson has been an elite pick and roll ball handler.

He has had the ball basically taken out of his hands for the majority of the game. With the trade for Blake Griffin it’s understandable to expect Jackson to play off ball more.

However, he’s not succeeding very well at this role and the Pistons as a team is struggling during the December gauntlet.

The frustration by whatever fan base is understandable. If Jackson brought supreme athleticism, length, and good defense, the frustration wouldn’t make as much sense.

However, Jackson has basically been placed as a three and D player, who doesn’t bring much three and zero D.

The fan base wants to move on from Jackson, but finding a better(!) replacement for this year is almost impossible.

Finding his replacement for the foreseeable future, however, is staring the Pistons in the eyes.

The Pistons have been reported to be interested in the Philadelphia 76ers controversial young point guard Markelle Fultz.

Fultz has recently been diagnosed with TOS, thoracic outlet syndrome. This apparently is the reason Fultz shooting form has went to trash after looking like a future superstar coming into the NBA.

Many on the outside looking in thought it was just a mental issue he was dealing with. Fultz insisted he knew something was wrong with his shoulder, and he was right.

After finally getting the right diagnosis of his shoulder, the hope is once he heals and it is treated correctly, he could find his shooting form again and reach his insane potential.

Fultz is currently in physical therapy, and should return in a few more weeks.

This is exactly the type of player the Pistons need to pounce on getting. A young player, whose team seems to have given up on, with loads of potential. He’s on his rookie deal and the Pistons would have control over him moving forward.

Looking outside his shooting, Fultz is already good at many things. He is an extraordinary athlete, he is a good passer, and a good defender. He has all the tools that made many think he was the consensus first overall pick.

If Fultz were to never find his form again, and continued to struggle with shooting, he very well could still be a good player. He would never be great, but that’s a risk worth taking.

Fultz wouldn’t be the immediate answer at point guard this year over Jackson, unless something magical happens with his shoulder in this therapy.

However, with Jackson being an expired contract next year, it would be much easier to move him this upcoming off season. Having his replacement already on the roster at that point would give the Pistons more options to do with Jackson.

The belief would be that Fultz becomes the Pistons future at point guard, and fulfill his potential.

If the 76ers are for real about getting rid of Fultz, and it’s for the right price, the Pistons should absolutely make a move for him. The Pistons don’t have the cap space to sign stars, and they don’t have enough assets to trade for a star.

However, they have enough to trade for a player with potential to be a star whose been given up on. At the least, Fultz would bring high level defense, tremendous length, good facilitating, with the capability of getting to the rim with his high level athleticism and length.

That would be a massive improvement for the Detroit Pistons in the future, for they haven’t had a player fit those boxes in years.

At just 20 years old, Fultz is worth the risk.

Because the reward could be astronomical.

This is the Detroit Pistons best shot to get a replacement at point guard.

Take it.