“People talk about me getting $80 million, now you got people getting $85 million that haven’t made the All-Star [Game] or anything like that,” Wall said. “I guess they came in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in, and they’re good now. Reggie Jackson gets five years, $80 million. I’m getting the same as Reggie Jackson.” – John Wall

The only way to compare Jackson’s contract is to place it alongside others signed in the same market.

Conveniently for our comparison two other players were traded mid-season before resigning with their new teams. Brandon Knight signed a 5 year $70 million deal to remain with the Phoenix Suns and Goran Dragic resigned with the Miami heat for 5 years at $90 million. Reggie Jackson’s contract falls nicely between the two, but how do they each compare statistically?

I hear a lot of chatter about the sample size after the trade deadline being too small. Both Jackson and Dragic played 33% of a season with their new teams, unfortunately for Brandon Knight and the Suns injured ruled him out of all but 11 games after his trade from Milwaukee.

In my opinion, 33% of a season is sufficient to get a ball park understanding of what that player can bring moving forward.

Post Trade Games Post Trade Minutes 3P%Post Trade 3P%Career FT% Post Trade FT%Career Post Trade PTS Post Trade REB Post Trade AST Post Trade ATO Jackson Post Trade 27 32.2 33.7% 29.4% 79.6% 85.6% 17.6 4.7 9.2 2.628 Dragic Post Trade 26 34.8 32.9% 36.1% 80.8% 75.1% 16.6 3.4 5.3 2.3 Knight Post Trade 11 31.5 31.3% 36.5% 82.8% 79.6% 13.4 2.1 4.5 2.14

Clearly Jackson’s Three-point percentage took a significant increase from what he has shown over his short career. I believe it is realistic to think he should be shooting somewhere between his career average and what he shot for the Pistons in 27 games, something in the region of 31%-32%.

I don’t believe any of the three aforementioned players are currently in the top-ten in their position, but Jackson has the most potential to break out over the next 12 months. Dragic is 29 already and while Knight is only 23, he seems to fit best at the SG position with Bledsoe running the point.

Lastly, I’d like to compare what Jackson was able to achieve during his short time with the Pistons with what John Wall was able to in his season with the Wizards.

Games 3P% FT% PTS AST REB Wall 79 30% 78.50% 17.6 10 4.6 Jackson – Post Trade 27 33.70% 79.60% 17.6 9.2 4.7

Don’t those statistics look similar?

Before you get all excited, I’m not saying Jackson is better than, or even as good as Wall. I’d take Wall everyday and twice on a Sunday. Having said that, Reggie has shown us the sort of potential that makes me believe given the current system Stan Van Gundy runs, his age, and the shooters now surrounding him. that he can take the leap needed to be considered a top-10 point guard.

Van Gundy took a gamble that Reggie will continue to improve. I like to think Stan’s system will continue to get the best out of Jackson. His chemistry with Andre Drummond is something to get excited about, as well as the personnel around those two.

Speaking of Drummond, if he can take the sort of leap highlighted here, in conjunction with Jackson’s continued improvement, the Pistons may see some playoff success sooner rather than later.

I’m sure Van Gundy was comfortable enough to give Jackson $80 million because his fit with Drummond combined with his post-trade stats, but if both don’t improve, they may prove to be a very expensive $200 million mistake by Van Gundy, Including Drummond’s likely $120 million extension.

That may ultimately cost him his job. Only time will tell, but I’m leaning towards those two being a great investment in the team’s future. I also believe it is more likely, due to their age, that they continue to improve as they spend more time together. Jackson has the shooters around him now to spread the floor allowing more room for him to operate the Pick and Roll with Drummond.

I believe the Drummond and Jackson combination compares quite favorably to the early Jameer Nelson/Dwight Howard Orlando Magic years that Van Gundy had so much success with. Let’s not forget Van Gundy took a team headlined by Howard, Nelson, Lewis and Turkoglu to the finals.

The Pistons have a sweet shooting power forward, Ersan Ilyasova, like the Magic had in Rashard Lewis. The one real piece they are missing in comparison is a play making small forward like Hedo Turkoglu.

I believe Drummond and Jackson can become one of the premier Point Guard / Center combinations in the league.

Do you think Drummond and Jackson can take the leap needed this season and help the Pistons to the Playoffs? How do you think Jackson’s extension compares to that of Brandon Knight and Goran Dragic? Tell me in the comments below.