Ex-Piston, Detroit native Josh Jackson has found an NBA home

Josh Jackson played most of last season with the Detroit Pistons, before being dealt away. He has now found a new spot with the Toronto Raptors.

You could say the Raptors are trading in one former Detroit Pistons player for another.

Days after releasing Svi Mykhailiuk, Toronto announced the signing of 6-foot-8 swingman Josh Jackson.

Jackson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (sandwiched between Jayson Tatum at No. 3 and De’Aaron Fox at No. 5). And he has had his moments, but never been able to string a bunch of good performances together, to find a home.

Jackson was signed as a free agent by the Pistons on December 1st of 2020, and played until being packaged as part of the Marvin Baily III trade on February 20.

Jackson actually did pretty well in Detroit. Super athletic, Jackson was a decent defender and a dangerous cutter to the basket.

In his first year with Detroit, Jackson averaged 13.4 points, and with some big games, including 28 points against the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. It was in those moments you can see why he was drafted so high.

But Jackson’s scoring averaged dropped to 7.1 points last seaso.n as his minutes per game went from 25 to 18. The arrival of Hamidou Diallo, who has a similar game, cut into his minutes.

But the biggest mark against Jackson was his outside shooting. His first year in Detroit, he shot 30-perccent on three-pointers. Not great, but there were plenty worse. But that three-point percentage plummeted to 26% this past season. Coach Dwane Casey could not keep him on the floor too long if he was no threat to shoot outside.

After being traded, Sacramento did not play him a lot and let him go into free agency. It took until September for Jackson to land with another team.

Toronto might be a good fit for him. The Raptors needed some wing depth and general manager Masai Ujiri prefers players with athletic ability and length, two qualities Jackson possesses.

It would have been nice if things had worked out in Detroit, as Jackson spent most of his childhood there. He went to Consortium College Prep in Detroit for two years before going to play in California.

SO do not be surprised to see a lot of Josh Jackson fans when Toronto play at Little Caesars Arena.