With the recent play of Hamidou Diallo, Josh Jackson is the odd man out of the Detroit Pistons’ rotation.
Jackson’s numbers are pretty much the worst of his career, as he is averaging just 7.3 points per game on his normal terrible shooting.
Since his contract is up after this season, it’s likely that he’ll be one of the Pistons who do not finish the season in Detroit.
The question is whether anyone would even want him, as Jackson still has all of the same problems that have plagued him for his entire career since being drafted 4th overall by the Suns.
Jackson is still just 24-years-old, so there is a chance he could find another level, and he is a pretty good defender who might have value on the right team.
The Detroit Pistons are not that team, as their shooting is terrible and they have enough players that fit Jackson’s mold of long defenders who can’t shoot.
For the Pistons to recoup anything in a trade, they are probably going to have to take a risk on someone else’s problem or a similar player that has not lived up to expectations.
Here are three trades the Pistons might be able to make for Josh Jackson.
Pistons trade Josh Jackson to Dallas
I have mentioned Dallas as a possible future trade partner and they are a team that could use some depth on the wing, as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Bullock have not played up to expectations.
Dallas could use Jackson’s defense and he would probably find a place in their rotation. The Mavericks also have a couple of guys who aren’t playing that might interest the Pistons.
In this trade, the Mavericks get some wing depth and defense in exchange for two guys who are not in their rotation.
Trey Burke is pretty much just salary filler and his salary for next season would be the tax the Pistons pay to take a flyer on Moses Brown, a young big with upside.
The Pistons could use an upgrade at backup center and Brown showed some potential last season for OKC. He can grab rebounds, block shots and run the floor, which is something the Pistons lack in a backup big right now.
His salary is only partially guaranteed for next season and then he has a team option, so he’d really be no risk. The Pistons could waive McGruder to clear a spot and allow Burke to get some minutes in front of Michigan-friendly fans.
Detroit Pistons trade Josh Jackson to the Sacramento Kings
Another option for Jackson is to try to move him for a similar player, and the Kings happen to have a guy who was also a high lottery pick that has not lived up to expectations.
The Kings would love to at least make the play-in tournament this season and could use some forward depth behind Harrison Barnes and Maurice Harkless, who are both struggling with injuries.
The Pistons wouldn’t be able to make this move until after December 15th:
In this trade, the Kings get some veteran depth to try and make a run at the playoffs, and the Pistons get to take a chance on a 22-year-old big who is currently out of the Kings’ rotation.
To me, Bagley is the type of player the Pistons should take a flyer on during this rebuild, as he has high-ceiling talent but hasn’t been able to put it together for various reasons. He might be a head case, or he might just be a frustrated player on the Kings. Who knows, maybe a change of scenery will help.
This would be a low-risk move for both teams, as they both jettison guys who aren’t part of the long-term plans for players who are better fits with their roster needs.
Detroit Pistons trade Josh Jackson to the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are one of the surprise teams of the season at 13-10, the current sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs have done it behind defense, as Evan Mobley has been amazing and Jarrett Allen continues to be an underrated force at the rim.
The biggest shock is that the Cavs have done this largely without the services of Collin Sexton, who is out for the season with injury and set to be a free agent at the end of the season. Would the Pistons roll the dice on a guy like Sexton? Would the Cavs consider moving a player who is basically a sunk cost at this point?
This might be a lowball offer for Sexton, who is a proven 20+ ppg scorer, but he is also injured and set to be a free agent, so how much value does he really have?
If the Cavaliers have no interest in re-signing him, they might give him up for a guy who could help their defense now and a couple of distant future second-round picks.
The Pistons would clearly be taking a risk here on trading for a guy who would not play a single minute for them before becoming a free agent.
But this would give the Pistons in the inside track on re-signing him and they could possibly get him on a team-friendly deal as he tries to rebuild his value post-knee injury.
It would be a moderate risk for the Pistons, who wouldn’t be giving up much but could potentially nab a real scorer who could be instant offense off their bench.
Would Sexton be happy with that role? Would some other team offer him a big deal the Pistons would be reluctant to match? Would he just end up walking for nothing anyway?
All fair questions, but like I said, this would be pretty low-risk for the Pistons and could potentially land them a legit scoring threat at a discount. I’d at least pick up the phone and call Sexton’s agent.
The return for Josh Jackson is not going to be big, so the Pistons should try to use him to grab someone else’s cast offs who might be better fits or have some upside.