Josh Jackson had the best season of his career for the Detroit Pistons and is on a team-friendly contract, which might make him trade bait.
There are definitely some pros and cons to trading Jackson this offseason, but the Pistons don’t have to do anything, as he isn’t making much and was a contributor off the bench.
Jackson is set to make just over $5 million next season, so it is not like he is eating up much cap space, but he is also entering the final year of his deal, so if he plays out his contract he could walk into free agency with the Pistons getting nothing in return.
The Pistons could just wait until next season’s trade deadline, when Jackson might have more value as an expiring contract, but that carries some risk as well, as he could regress or get injured.
The worst thing a rebuilding team can do is to hold onto its own players for too long and miss the chance to turn them into assets.
There is also the issue of Hamidou Diallo, who the Pistons will almost certainly try to re-sign, which could make Jackson redundant as they have similar skills.
If the Detroit Pistons decide to trade Josh Jackson this offseason, here are three teams that would be interested.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Josh Jackson to the Portland Trail Blazers
Why they would want him: To improve their woeful defense
What might they give up in a trade? 2022 1st-round pick (top 20 protected)
The Trail Blazers are one of the teams everyone will be discussing this offseason, as they flamed out in the first round again and seem to have hit their ceiling with the Damian Lillard/CJ McCollum pairing.
Lillard is an icon in Portland and I can’t see them trading him, so they will try to add more guys around him and should have some cap space to do so.
The Blazers had the second-worst defense in the league and adding a lengthy, athletic defender who can guard multiple positions is something they would love to do, especially since he is making so little.
Jackson would be an upgrade from Derrick Jones Jr., who they could then trade.
Would they give up a first round pick for Jackson? Probably not unless it was heavily protected, and they would probably want an early 2nd-round pick in return to offset their loss.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Josh Jackson to the New Orleans Pelicans
Why they would want him: Improve their wing depth and defense
What might they give up in a trade? 2022 1st-round pick (LAL)
The Pelicans are another team with a good offense and a lousy defense.
Their two best players are not good defenders and the Pelicans would love to find a guy who could cover Brandon Ingram on the wing.
The Pelicans could slot Jackson in at shooting guard and he would be a big upgrade from Eric Bledsoe, who was awful this season and is no longer anywhere close to an All-Defensive player.
Jackson would give the Pelicans some much needed size on the perimeter and would be a great fit next to Lonzo Ball, which would give the Pelicans a really good defensive backcourt.
The Pelicans are sitting on a heap of draft picks and are likely to give one or more of them up this offseason to try and improve their terrible roster around Zion Williamson.
Jackson is a good fit and the Pelicans have the future draft assets to make it happen.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Josh Jackson to the Brooklyn Nets
Why they would want him: Improve their bench depth and defense
What might they give up in a trade? Nicolas Claxton
The Nets are the frontrunners to win the title this season and have a historically good offense that offsets their lack of defense.
It might take the 2004 Pistons to stop these Nets from winning the title, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try to improve in the offseason.
They are terrible defensively and will have very little cap space this summer, so a guy like Josh Jackson is just what they are looking for, as he will help their defense and not cost much.
The question is whether they’d be willing to give up a promising young player to get him. Claxton has not played much this season and at age 21, does not really fit the window of this current Nets team that is built to win titles now.
The Detroit Pistons might be able to snag an athletic center with some potential as a stretch-5, which would be the perfect type of player to pair with Isaiah Stewart.
The Pistons will have some options this offseason when it comes to Josh Jackson, and if they want to pick up a late first-round pick or a project player, those trades are probably going to be there.