What could have been an absolutely tragic start to 2025 for the Detroit Pistons has turned into a best-case scenario.
When Jaden Ivey went down with an ugly leg injury, the first thought was that he’d surely be out for the season.
But after undergoing successful surgery on his broken fibula, Ivey will be evaluated in a month and could return this season if everything goes to plan, which is the best news the Pistons could get in these circumstances.
Ivey had been enjoying the best season of his career and his efficient scoring next to Cade Cunningham answered some of the questions we had about the duo coming into the season.
With Ivey out, the Pistons will move on tonight at home against the Hornets and we can take a guess at what the starting lineup and rotation will look like, as coach JB Bickerstaff has already given us a sneak peek.
Detroit Pistons starting lineup without Jaden Ivey
Ivey missed back-to-back games against Miami and Utah in mid-December, but it was the game against the Jazz that we can use as the basis for the new starting five, as it was the only one where the Pistons had the rest of the regular starters available.
In that game against the Jazz, the Pistons moved Tim Hardaway Jr. to the two and started Ausar Thompson alongside him on the wing with regulars Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren.
Malik Beasley was the first guy off the bench and we also got 12 minutes of Marcus Sasser. Sasser has shot the ball well this season and could see increased run when Cade Cunningham needs a rest, as the Pistons don’t really have another point guard.
We will also likely see stretches where Ausar Thompson initiates the offense, which he can do, but he’ll have to be tighter with his handles and take care of the ball.
The Pistons could also insert Malik Beasley into the starting five, but this seems less likely given his defined role off the bench.
It also staggers their shooters so that there is always one on the floor, as the bench doesn’t have a bucket-getter otherwise.
The Pistons have to embrace a next man up mentality, as they don’t have one player who can replace Ivey’s scoring, but can do it in the aggregate with Thompson, Ron Holland II and Sasser, who should all see increased minutes with Ivey out.
This will be a good chance for coach Bickerstaff to experiment with different lineup combinations, which could be useful later in the season if the Pistons are still battling for a play-in spot.
There is nothing “positive” about Jaden Ivey being out, but if you are looking for silver linings, it will give Trajan Langdon a better chance to evaluate three of his young players and there is a chance one or more of them will flourish in a bigger role.