The Detroit Pistons have heard of the recent trade rumblings, but don’t appear to be fazed by it.
A recent report from ESPN.com detailed that the Pistons have discussed a trade that would send Reggie Jackson to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the talks, Detroit would hypothetically receive Ricky Rubio, along with another player. Perhaps Shabazz Muhammad.
Regardless, Pistons president of basketball operations and head coach Stan Van Gundy assured to Reggie Jackson on Saturday that he would not be traded.
“I normally don’t even address it (with players), because most of these guys know,” Van Gundy said (via Rod Beard of The Detroit News). “Reggie’s agent had called (GM Jeff Bower on Friday) night, so I texted Reggie and said this is the crazy season – and we’re not trading you for Ricky Rubio. And that was it.
“The fact that it was out there and concerned his agent enough to call, I addressed it.”
Stan Van Gundy has denied trade rumors in the past, such as when teams began calling on Brandon Jennings last year. Despite saying Jennings would not be traded, the Pistons ultimately dealt him to Orlando later in the season.
The Pistons appear to be open to dealing some of their players, with general manager Jeff Bower known for being open to discussions.
“I’m not denying that discussions take place — they take place all the time,” Van Gundy said Saturday morning. “That’s a lot different than considerations. Somebody says, ‘Would you consider Ricky Rubio for Reggie Jackson?’ That discussion might have taken place — and clearly we didn’t make that move.
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“These discussions happen all the time and I love it when teams say somebody is off limits. I won’t lie to my guys. There’s no one in this league who is off limits,” Van Gundy said. “Who’s the most off-limits guy? LeBron? What if the Warriors offered Kevin Durant and Steph Curry? They wouldn’t consider that? There’s no deal they wouldn’t consider?
“Everybody’s available. I got asked a question the other day: there’s a report out there that Reggie’s available for the right price. Everyone in the league is available for the right price! It’s just for your main guys, the right price is a lot steeper and usually doesn’t come around.”
For the Pistons, a struggling team with an underwhelming record, being active around the trade deadline may be in their best interest. They are a team certainly worth keeping an eye on throughout the next five weeks.
The trade deadline falls on February 23rd this season.
