Detroit Pistons: Where are the Pistons’ 2016 playoff starters today?

The NBA playoffs are just around the corner, and for the second consecutive season, the Detroit Pistons have found themselves on the outside looking in. Since the 2009-2010 season, the Pistons have only made a playoff appearance in two of those 12 seasons.

During the 2015-2016 season, the Pistons made their first playoff appearance in seven years. Under head coach Stan Van Gundy, the team finished the regular season with a record of 44-38. They landed the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and matched up against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Detroit would be swept by the eventual NBA champions in four games. The Pistons fought hard and kept two of their four losses within five points.

The Pistons’ 2016 playoff starters were expected to be the team’s core going forward. Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris, and Andre Drummond were expected to have the Pistons in playoff contention for years to come, but five seasons later and none of the 2016 Pistons playoff starters remain on the roster.

All five players are set to participate in this year’s playoffs. Since this year’s team is not going to be watching the postseason from the couch this year, this is a great opportunity to see where these former Pistons’ careers have taken them.

Former Detroit Pistons, where are they now? Reggie Jackson

Jackson had the best season of his career in 15-16. The point guard led the team in points and assists with 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per contest, both career highs. the Boston College product came short in a bid for an All-Star selection during the regular season as well.

The point guard’s best playoff game against the Cavaliers came in game one in which he scored 17 points paired with seven assists. Jackson also shot 58.3 percent from the floor and sunk two of his four three-pointers that game as well. The point guard would have two games where he posted13 points and 12 assists in games three and four. Jackson would struggle from beyond the arc after that game as he shot just 16.7 percent from three throughout the series. Jackson finished the series averaging 14.3 points and 9.3 assists per game during the series, and he would finish it off by missing the game-winning shot in game four.

Unfortunately for Jackson, after having the best season of his career, he would be struck by the injury bug. Jackson could not recapture the same level of play he had managed during the 15-16 season. Ultimately Jackson would be bought out by the team in the last year of his contract during the 2019-2020 season.

Jackson found his new home with the Los Angeles Clippers where he would re-sign during the offseason. This season with the Clippers Jackson is averaging 10.7 points and 3.1 assists on 23.3 minutes per game. Jackson and the Clippers will match up against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round this year.