Dragic payday may affect Jackson extension with Pistons

ORLANDO – Scratch that.

The Free Press reported this week that Brandon Knight's huge payday with the Phoenix Suns would set the market for Detroit Pistons restricted free agent Reggie Jackson.

It looked like Knight's agreement — five years, $70 million — would give a general idea of where Jackson's negotiations were headed. But then the Miami Heat gave a five-year, $90-million deal to point guard Goran Dragic.

So keep that in mind if the Pistons don't immediately strike a deal with Jackson when the two sides meet Saturday.

All three point guards were acquired around the NBA trade deadline this past season. Here's a look at their numbers following the trades:

■ Knight: 11 games, 13.4 points and 4.5 assists per game with a 10.5 player efficiency rating, according to Basketball Reference. A bum ankle sidelined him at the end of the season.

■ Dragic: 26 games, 16.6 points and 5.3 assists with an 18.8 rating.

■ Jackson: 26 games, 17.6 points and 9.2 assists with a 19.8 rating.

Knight struggled with his ankle, and Jackson's numbers are skewed by a high usage rate. But also remember that Knight is 23, Jackson 25 and Dragic 29.

According to two people with knowledge of the upcoming negotiations, the Pistons are seeking a five-year commitment from Jackson so that they'll be able lock in his percentage of the salary cap for the next five seasons.

If that's the case, Jackson could seek a deal approaching Dragic's.

If the sides can't find a number that works over five years, Jackson is amenable to less money and fewer years with an option to hit the open market sooner.

This will not go the Greg Monroe route. Jackson wants to be with the Pistons. He has developed a bond with team owner Tom Gores and loves playing for coach Stan Van Gundy.

He sees the young core of Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Stanley Johnson and believes that he can win a championship with the Pistons.

A deal will get done — it's just a matter of what it will look like.

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