Reggie Jackson vs LA Lakers (Photo : Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport)
The Detroit Pistons went off on a hot start but they have tempered down as of late, and that's enough to start trade rumors for the guard.
It was surprising that Jackson would even be considered to be dealt as he is one of the keys for the Pistons to be in playoff contention. Yet, in Detroit Bad Boys, some fans have already made proposals.
In one of the fan posts, user RyanCaldwell criticized Jackson, saying "he has been great at times but too often is found forcing the issue offensively, he has never been a good defender, he turns the ball over way too much, and he gets into fits where he just doesn't create for his teammates."
Jackson is indeed ball-heavy and not exactly a pass-first point guard prototype. He flourished with the OKC Thunder when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook went down, and there were stretches where he averaged 20 points/game. This year, Basketball Reference notes his stats per game with 20 points, 6.6 assists and 4 rebounds.
It was recently noted that the Detroit Pistons could need a shooter, and Nick Young was tagged as an option. If the Lakers were to trade him to the Pistons, they should also send their best trade asset, point guard Jordan Clarkson, who was part of the proposal. He is also the most realistic target, as Eric Bledsoe is probably out of reach.
Clarkson would not break defenses down the way Jackson does, but he has the potential to develop, not to mention he is a much cheaper alternative. However, he will be a free agent and the team may need to pay him-but still not much as Jackson.
Jackson was also a target of the Lakers early this year as stated in this Lakers Nation article. They would need to transition D'Angelo Russell into more of a shooting guard if they were to acquire Jackson.
For a team bereft of offense, as OKC was without Durant and Westbrook, Jackson would flourish for the Lakers. He wanted out of OKC to leave Westbrook's shadow, and he would relish the spotlight in LA.
