Last season, it was just before the regular season started that the Pistons found out about Reggie Jackson’s tendinitis in his knee and thumb. This season, the news of his severe ankle sprain was a belated lump of coal on the day after Christmas.
The Pistons’ promising 19-14 start cratered into a 12-25 stretch that essentially dented their playoff chances for the second straight season.
When Jackson is healthy, the Pistons have the look of a playoff team; when he’s out, they seem destined for the draft lottery.
While many fans clamored for a Jackson replacement — either through trade, free agency or the draft — all signs point to Jackson sticking around to finish the last two years of his five-year contract for $80 million.