What is the future of the Detroit Pistons point guard position?
Adding through free agency
Should the Pistons find themselves unable to trade for a starting-caliber point guard, they will be forced to look to sign a free agent during the 2020 offseason. The problem with this, however, is that the 2020 free agent class is weak, especially at the point guard position.
One player who would certainly garner interest from Detroit is Kyle Lowry, who Dwane Casey coached in Toronto. Lowry, though, is 33 years old and his ability on the court is beginning to decline. In two-to-three years, Lowry may very well be past the point of being able to serve as a starting point guard, making this a risky option for Detroit.
The same holds true for Goran Dragic, 33, and Jeff Teague, 31, who wouldn’t be significant upgrades over Jackson. One of the most exciting free agent point guards is the Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, but San Antonio will likely extend him a qualifying offer and match any offer sheet as a restricted free agent.
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This leaves the Pistons with very few options in free agency. There are several solid guards who will be available, including Fred VanVleet, but none that are proven starters at this point.
While Jackson hasn’t lived up to many fans’ expectations, he could end up being the best option for Detroit.
In terms of production, Jackson has been a serviceable point guard, averaging 16.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He has shot 42.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range during his tenure as a Piston. These numbers won’t blow you away, but in comparison with other free agent point guards, they are probably as good as the Pistons can get.
More importantly, this sort of production could be retained for relatively cheap, as Jackson surely won’t command a massive contract. In fact, he may sign for a much more team-friendly deal, helping Detroit retain flexibility and cap space moving forward.
A player like Lowry would almost certainly be able to contribute more in the short term, but at 33 is most likely looking for one more big payday, which Detroit should avoid at all costs. Re-signing Reggie Jackson wouldn’t be a sexy move, but it’s one that could end up being Detroit’s best option in terms of production on the court and cost.
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Detroit’s front office has a daunting task ahead of them. If they can’t find a suitable trade partner for their next point guard, Reggie Jackson could remain as Detroit’s floor general for the foreseeable future.