3 takeaways from Reggie Jackson’s triumphant return to Detroit Pistons lineup

3. Jackson’s preserving his future

A cloud hangs over a significant portion of the Pistons’ future, and it’s no different for Jackson. The Pistons only have $51 million in guaranteed money on the books for the 2020-21 season. Jackson’s $16 million contract is one that comes off the books in the final year of the five-year, $80 million extension he signed in 2015.

The injury questions are a legitimate concern for any team looking to sign Jackson, including if the Pistons were to bring him back. It’s an interesting thought that Detroit could bring Jackson back in free agency, in a market where they’ll have money to spend while most teams save for the mega 2021 free agent pool.

Only Rose returns at the point guard position next season. The Pistons have also been linked to Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet, which is due to a great relationship between Casey and the 26-year-old. But VanVleet is the cream of the crop when it comes to point guards in the 2020 free agent class.

Beyond VanVleet, the market is crowded with older, injury-prone players. Jackson fits in that category alongside Goran Dragic, Jeff Teague and Isaiah Thomas. D.J. Augustin fits in a more-reliable category but is the oldest among Jordan Clarkson and Shabazz Napier. Those are the top point guards set to become free agents this summer.

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It’s hard to say what Jackson will command on the open market. Rose is providing great value on the two-year, $15 million deal he signed last summer. Could Jackson be had at a similar evaluation and would the Pistons be willing to bring him back?

The Pistons know they need to sure-up the point guard position for the future. This is evident by the rumors surrounding interest in VanVleet and, earlier in the year being linked to the Knicks French guard Frank Ntilikina.

Detroit could draft a point guard in the 2020 NBA Draft, one that is filled with lead guards at the top of the board. If the Pistons were to draft one, they would likely be out on a pursuit of VanVleet and could bring in a veteran or re-sign Jackson to provide leadership. Any deal would likely be a short-term deal.

There are a lot of question marks about the Pistons moving forward, especially at the point guard position, but one area of assurance for Jackson is that he is healthy and could separate himself in a crowded market.