A big question after the Pistons acquired Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline regarded the fate of Brandon Jennings, Detroit’s starting point guard who suffered a season-ending injury.
Could the Pistons plan on keeping both Jackson and Jennings despite them both being ball-dominant guards?
Detroit also has two big men--Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe--who need the ball a certain number of times game to stay involved, not to mention a plethora of shooters.
The complications stem primarily from personalities and contract situations. Jennings and Drummond are both under contract for next season, but Jackson will be a restricted free agent and Monroe will be an unrestricted free agent. And Jennings and Jackson can co-exist, but the real question is--would it work?
An unnamed scout took on the question in a recent interview with Bleacher Report.
“They’re putting [Jackson] in position where he’s got to be a star. But you’ve got Andre Drummond, who needs the ball, and somebody [needs] to get him the ball. If you keep Greg Monroe, then he needs somebody to get him the ball. [Coach Stan Van Gundy] proved to be a magician in that before Brandon Jennings got hurt. [Jennings] was a loved teammate and playing some of his least selfish basketball of his career,” the scout said.
“Playing [Jennings and Jackson] together is feasible from a basketball standpoint, but from the two personalities standpoint, and the fact they both have to have ball in their hands, I think it’s another issue.”
Despite doubts about Jackson’s ability, particularly after this season’s underwhelming performance with the Thunder, the scout said the guard can play.
“Reggie’s a talented scorer. He is a capable passer—but that’s a secondary thought. He’s more likely to try to get the assist pass than the secondary assist, or hockey assist. He seems to have an arrogance about the way he plays,” the scout said.
“He’s a good defender, good on the ball, gets good pressure, steals when he’s off the ball, gets in the passing lanes. He’s definitely a talented player.”
Jackson and Stan Van Gundy have both addressed the situation, with Jackson calling it a “competition” and saying he planned on talking to Jennings. Van Gundy said the team plans on signing Jackson long-term, but said that doesn’t mean the end of Jennings time with Detroit.
