Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic NBA Trade Rumors: Pistons and Magic Discuss Trade Centered on Reggie Jackson
Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson has been on the trading block for some time now, but it seems things are about to heat up with the trade deadline just a few days away.
ESPN's Marc Stein has reported that the Orlando Magic and Pistons were discussing a potential deal that would send D. J. Augustin and Jeff Green to the Pistons in exchange for Jackson. But he said that this was not yet a done deal and he's not sure if it would "progress past the discussion phase." Furthermore, the Pistons would have to add another player to make the salaries match before a deal could be made.
Jackson became one of the team's core players when they signed him to a massive five-year, $80-million contract during the summer of 2015. But he has regressed since then and now it looks like the Pistons are already giving up on him.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
In an interview with ESPN's Zach Lowe last week, Pistons head coach/president Stan Van Gundy admitted that they have played better without Jackson. "Reggie came back, and we've struggled ever since," he said during the interview with Lowe.
In the same interview, center Andre Drummond also echoed his coach's thoughts, saying: "We found a groove with Ish. And when Reggie came back, it has been a big adjustment."
Jackson has struggled since coming back from a knee injury and the team even held a players-only meeting last December to talk about the way he was playing. While Jackson was recovering from his injury, Ish Smith took over the starting point guard role and he did quite well.
Augustin and Green are solid players who can help the Pistons if they do pull the trigger on the deal; however, a number of pundits have already noted that the proposed trade doesn't make much sense unless the Pistons are trying to dump Jackson's salary on the Magic.
Will the Pistons seriously consider trading Jackson to the Magic in exchange for Augustin and Green? Basketball fans will find out soon enough.
