What would a successful Detroit Pistons rebuild look like?

Stability at the point guard position

Since Reggie Jackson’s first full season as the Pistons starting point guard in 2015-16, he’s missed almost 30 percent of games played during that time, missing 108 out of the 368 games in that span. However, even during those 260 games where Jackson appeared, the Pistons had a winning percentage of 51.9 percent during those games.

The constraints of Detroit as a free agent destination is in part why the Pistons both traded for and signed Jackson to a five-year extension after the 2014-15 season. For those that remember, Jackson was had by only giving up Kyle Singler, D.J. Augustin, and a 2nd round pick and was a significant upgrade at the position at the time. He had a rough start in Detroit, but Jackson’s last 12 games of the season he showed the promise that the Pistons had hoped to find when they traded for him, 20.5 points 10.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds on a .495/.438/.716 shooting line.

But, now that the team faces the prospect of Jackson’s unresitricted free agency this summer, the Pistons have an important decision to make about the direction of the position. Despite the decision to pursue Drummond trades, Derrick Rose per Bleacher Report is likely to stay in Detroit this season unless he specifically asks for a trade. Rose has been tremendous offensively this season, but there needs to be a plan for going forward. SB Nation has the Pistons taking point guard Cole Anthony from North Carolina with the eighth pick in their latest mock draft.

I’m no draft expert, but if the Pistons are going to avoid overpaying for someone like Fred VanVleet in free agency, another year of Derrick Rose plus whatever rookie they select and Tim Frazier type minimum guy may be the way to go, for now.