When Jaden Ivey fell into the Pistons’ laps in the 2022 NBA Draft, he was a no-brainer pick for some, but there were instantly questions about his fit, questions that still remain to this day, which is why we’re seeing Jaden Ivey included in just about every fake trade.
The trade proposals have been flying around the Detroit Pistons as fans, media and pundits try to figure out their strategy for the trade deadline, which could include trading for Bennedict Mathurin.
That was suggested by Bleacher Report, who put the following trade proposal out there for the Pistons:
On the surface, this trade makes sense for all three teams. The Pacers get a center to replace Myles Turner and are ready to get back to business next season when Tyrese Haliburton returns.
The Mavericks get a young guard to potentially pair with Cooper Flagg, as well as a 1st-round pick in next year’s draft. It would be hilarious if they actually got more for Daniel Gafford than they got for Luka Doncic.
The Pistons would get Mathurin, who is a guy many fans wanted them to draft in the first place, as he was a clearer fit with Cade Cunningham as a bigger wing who doesn’t need the ball in his hands as much.
It would be a painful admission of failure for the Pistons, as they could have just taken Mathurin in the draft and would now be giving up a first-round pick to undo that mistake.
Bennedict Mathurin would be a minimal upgrade for the Pistons at a premium cost
There are some arguments in favor of Mathurin over Ivey, though as a fan who thoroughly hates the Pacers, it would be tough to stomach seeing Mathurin in a Detroit uniform.
Mathurin is healthy, he’s playing well on a bad team, and he put up some monster games in the playoffs last season to help get Indiana to the Finals, so he’s been in a playoff atmosphere and thrived, while Ivey is still an unknown.
Mathurin is a plug and play fit next to Cade Cunningham, and though he’s not a lights-out 3-point shooter by any means, he can hold his own and would at least give the Pistons another 17+ppg scorer.
The downside to me is obvious, which is that coming into last season, everyone thought Ivey was better than Mathurin and was proving it before he got hurt. Ivey was averaging the same points per game last season as Mathurin is now but doing it on much more efficient shooting and while adding some playmaking.
This would be selling low on Ivey in my opinion, as Mathurin may be worse when the dust settles, and Ivey is back to full strength. You could also argue that day may not come for Ivey, and even if it does, the question of fit between him and Cade still exists.
If the Pistons are going to use Ivey and a pick for an upgrade, they might be able to do more than Mathurin, who may end up being a lateral move that cost the Pistons a draft pick to make.
I also think B/R underestimates how little these two teams would want to help each other considering they are division rivals who figure to be battling in the standings again next season.