Pistons' Jennings: This is a big year for me

Brandon Jennings walked slowly, with a noticeable limp.

But the crutches were gone. And the big walking boot that covered his injured left Achilles tendon is a thing of the past.

The Detroit Pistons point guard made an appearance Tuesday night at the Pistons' draft lottery party for season-ticket holders at the Palace, where he posed for pictures with fans.

After he completed his brief appearance, he walked with two reporters and gave an update on how his rehab was going. He has been walking without restrictions for two weeks and said he was ahead of schedule.

"My goal is to be back to up and running in August, and actually really getting after it. So that gives me August and September and October to get ready," Jennings said.

Though Jennings was conservative, saying he hoped to be 100% by November or December, Pistons physical therapist Arnie Kander has set a more aggressive timetable for him to at least return to the floor.

That could mean a miraculous return after he suffered the disastrous injury Jan. 24 at Milwaukee in the midst of the best stretch of his career.

He has remained in the Detroit area for daily rehab sessions with Kander instead of returning to his beloved hometown of Los Angeles. His days are spent lifting weights — he said he has added 20 pounds and is up to 200 pounds — and rehabbing the injury in the pool.

With the uncertain nature of the injury, the Pistons made a move at the trade deadline to get point-guard-of-the-future Reggie Jackson.

Jackson, a restricted free agent, will likely sign an extension this off-season. Jennings, 25, is entering a contract year trying to prove to potential suitors that he is healthy.

A tough break, but Jennings understands the business side of it.

"I mean, it's a business," Jennings said. "I couldn't do anything about it. I was hurt. The main thing is, to me, is to just get back healthy. I can't worry about what everybody else is doing, what the team is doing, I have to get back healthy. I have to make sure I'm 100% healthy for next year."

And when he is healthy, he will be ready to fight for playing time.

"We're definitely going to compete," Jennings said. "It's my last year of my deal. So it's a big year for me. The fact I'm on my last year, the fact that I've been learning about other things, my body and everything like that, I definitely know what time it is."

Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.