A timeline has officially been set for Reggie Jackson’s return to the Detroit Pistons, and it’s far from ideal.
The point guard is not only dealing with tendinitis in his left knee, but also addressed a right thumb issue that’s been plaguing him since last season. He is expected to miss between six and eight weeks, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com:
.@Reggie_Jackson had PRP for right thumb that bugged him all last season while having knee injection today. 6-8 week timetable
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 10, 2016
Aaron McMann of MLive.com provided some previous context that still holds true following this news:
Reggie Jackson update: likely 4-6 weeks before he can be cleared for basketball activity. Late-Nov. return optimistic, early-Dec. likely.
— Aaron McMann | MLive.com (@AaronMcMann) October 9, 2016
A December return seems far more likely if Jackson cannot be cleared for basketball activity for between four and six weeks. It will take some time for him to work himself back into playing shape, and the Pistons, judging from how they’re addressing this situation now rather than trying to let it ride, are clearly favoring the long game here.
With the point guard trade market bone dry, Detroit now turns to forecasted backup Ish Smith. Ray McCallum, who is on a non-guaranteed deal, should also get an opportunity to see time at the 1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris will all be given more freedom to work on-ball and create their own offense, too.
Still, losing Jackson will invariably sting. It’s unclear whether Smith will mesh with Andre Drummond in the pick-and-roll game as well, and the Pistons offense scored like a bottom-four machine whenever Jackson sat last season, according to NBA.com.
Barring an unforeseen impact trade, Detroit will need to hope its point-guard-by-committee setup keeps it in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt for the 20, 25 or more games that Jackson is on the shelf.
