The Detroit Pistons executed two trades at the NBA's trading deadline, announcing that the team first acquired guard Reggie Jackson from Oklahoma City as part of a three-team trade that sent point guard DJ Augustin, forward Kyle Singler, and a 2019 second round draft selection to the Thunder. The team sent a 2017 second round draft selection to the Utah Jazz in the deal.
The Thunder also received center Enes Kanter and spot-up shooter Steve Novak from Utah in the trade, and sent center Kendrick Perkins, forward Grant Jerrett, the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss, and a protected 2017 first-round pick to the Jazz.
Perkins is expected to have his deal bought out by the Jazz, allowing him to then join another team.
In Detroit's second trade, the team acquired small forward Tayshaun Prince from the Boston Celtics in exchange for forwards Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome.
For a Pistons team still competing for a playoff spot, the acquisition of Jackson is vital, especially considering that point guard Brandon Jennings was lost for the season due to injury.
“We’re pleased to welcome Reggie Jackson to the organization,” said Stan Van Gundy, Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons. “Reggie is a young player with good size and length at the guard position. He’s been successful as a starter playing extended minutes and we feel he’s a good addition to our roster.”
Jackson is a shoot-first point guard with range who has proven that he can put up points in a hurry. What is less certain is his ability to run an offense and distribute the basketball when he isn't in his accustomed sixth man role.
Jackson became somewhat expendable for the Thunder after they acquired Dion Waiters in a mid-season deal to provide another perimeter scorer off the bench.
Jackson, 24, has played in 50 games for the Thunder this season averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting 43.2% from the field. In 13 games as a starter, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound guard has averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 38.9 minutes per game. Throughout his career as a starter, a span of 49 games, Jackson has posted averages of 14.2 points, 6.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 36.8% from three-point range.
Drafted by the Thunder with the 24th overall selection in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Jackson averaged career-highs in points (13.1), assists (4.1) and rebounds (3.9) during the 2013-14 season. In 30 career playoff games with Oklahoma City, Jackson has averages of 12.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.0 minutes per game.
As for the Thunder, the addition of Kanter is a tremendous boost to their frontline, as he is an active, physical presence in the paint.
Throw-in forward Novak also might have a larger role than anticipated, as he is one of the league's better three-point marksmen.
In addition, whatever drop the Thunder may have expected from Jackson's departure, will be offset significantly by Augustin, who has proven that he too can put up quality numbers as a scorer of the bench.
Augustin signed as a free agent with Detroit during the 2014 offseason, averaged 10.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 23.8 minutes in 54 games (13 starts) with Detroit this season. The six-year pro holds career NBA averages of 10.2 points, 4.1 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 24.8 minutes in 483 games.
Singler, a third-year pro, averaged 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 23.8 minutes in 54 games (40 starts) with the Pistons this season, and will play a backup role to star Kevin Durant. Drafted by Detroit with the 33rd overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft, Singler holds career NBA averages of 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 27.1 minutes in 218 games.
As for the Pistons' other trade, Prince provides Detroit with a quality defender at the 3, a good three-point shooter, and a solid veteran presence. On a nostalgic note, he also is a reminder of the team's championship past, as he earned a ring in his first stint with the club.
“Tayshaun Prince is certainly well known to fans in Detroit and we’re pleased to welcome him back,” said Stan Van Gundy, Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons. “He fills a position of need for us at small forward with his offensive and defensive versatility.”
Drafted 23rd overall by Detroit in the 2002 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-9 Prince spent the first 10-plus seasons of his career with the Pistons where he averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 769 games (730 starts). He averaged a career-high 14.7 points during the 2004-05 season and scored 1,000-plus points in a season six times.
A member of the Pistons’ 2003-04 NBA Championship team, Prince was also a member of the USA Senior National Team that went 8-0 to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Prince has averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.6 steals in 917 career NBA games. In 140 playoff games (118 with Detroit), he’s averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Jerebko was the 39th overall pick by the Pistons in the 2009 NBA Draft. In 303 career games, he averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists.
Datome signed with the Pistons as a free agent on July 15, 2013. In two seasons, he saw action in 37 games where he averaged 2.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services
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