The Detroit Pistons opened their wallet in a big way on Sunday. The team has been relatively quiet in free agency after losing Greg Monroe to the Milwaukee Bucks. They opted to bring back one of their very own before making any other moves as point guard Jackson signed the largest contract in the history of the franchise. So what does that mean for Brandon Jennings who is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon?
The Pistons announced they have signed point guard Jackson to a five-year, $80 million contract. Jackson arrived via a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder following the season-ending injury to Jennings in the middle of the year. Jackson arrived and struggled to get adjusted, but thrived in his final stretch of games. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons were sold on his potential to thrive and lead the team.
The issue in Detroit is finding playing time for both Jennings and Jackson to handle the ball. Both point guards are getting paid starters money, but will ball possession begin to be an issue? Earlier in the offseason, Jennings name surfaced amongst trade rumors as several teams were looking for upgrades. However, the draft settled most of those issues and interest in Jennings might no longer be there.
According to several NBA sources, Eric Bledsoe and Ty Lawson could still be available for dealing which also hurts the idea of a move for Jennings. At this point, there is not a team with a standout need for a starting point guard of that caliber. The Lakers drafted Emmanuel Mudiay. The Kings signed Rajon Rondo. The Houston Rockets brought back Patrick Beverley. More teams will be looking for depth help instead of a key starter. However, the mid-season deadline could paint a different picture. With some teams relying on rookies, Jennings name could easily pop back up.
The Brooklyn Nets are hoping that is true with Deron Williams. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Nets could be getting a deal done with the Cleveland Cavaliers to send away Joe Johnson, but the team is still hopeful someone is interested in Williams. The veteran has a high-priced contract and injury history working against him, so getting a deal done could be just as difficult for Brooklyn as it might be for Detroit with Jennings.
