Add Jaden Ivey to notorious group of Pistons

Jaden Ivey has been cut by the Chicago Bulls, an unfortunate ending to what has been a tough and bizarre season for the young guard. 

If you came here hoping for a hot take about his comments, sorry to disappoint you, but it isn’t coming. I respect other people’s beliefs as their own and none of my business, but I will say that speech often has consequences. Ivey is free to speak his mind without being arrested (free speech) but he’s not free from the consequences of that speech when it comes to his employer. 

All that aside, Ivey’s arc has been fairly tragic. He was drafted 5th overall by the Pistons, and things looked good for a short time, but now that Ivey is out of the league (maybe permanently), it’s hard not to view him as one of the Pistons’ biggest busts. 

Jaden Ivey joins list of Pistons worst busts 

Ivey is not a bust in the traditional sense of the word, as he showed great promise at times, and his career was largely undone by things outside of his control (until recently). He suffered a freak injury that clearly set him back physically, which is tough for a guy who relied entirely on his athleticism. 

He was also hampered by the coaching malpractice of Monty Williams, but Ivey can’t blame his actions on that. On the court, Ivey had many challenges and even when he was playing well, there was always something off with the basketball fit. 

It’s strange to say this, but Killian Hayes (the guy who Ivey was controversially benched for) is still in the league, and Ivey isn’t, so maybe Monty was onto something.  

Ivey joins the ranks of a Pistons bust no matter what happens in the rest of his career, as they had to basically salary dump him in a trade that is looking better by the minute, especially as Huerter starts to play well and it looks like the Pistons will move up at least six spots in the draft. 

I’m not ready to add Ivey to my All-Time Pistons draft bust starting five, but if he’s unable to secure a job this offseason (or doesn’t want one), he’ll warrant consideration, as I don’t think I’ve seen a player flame out in such epic fashion, especially one with this much talent. 

From a basketball perspective, the Pistons did about as well as they could at the trade deadline given the context, and I think there are some people who owe Trajan Langdon an apology now that we have more information. 

The Ivey situation is fluid, so I’m not going to say any more other than this is not the outcome anyone wanted for him.