When the Detroit Pistons traded Jaden Ivey last season, they knew it wasn’t likely to pay off right away, but they are finally ready to start seeing some returns from the deal.
First off, kudos to Trajan Langdon for getting anything in this trade, as the Pistons did a great job of keeping Ivey’s “eccentricities” quiet and were able to get something out of a player who never looked right last season.
This is a player who is no longer in the league by the way, so the fact the Pistons got two players who. might contribute this season for Ivey is a great deal for Detroit.
Ebuka Okorie could contribute right away
One of the assets the Pistons got for Jaden Ivey was the pick swap they eventually used to select Ebuka Okorie. Yes, they had to trade up to get him, but ultimately, it was the swap that made it possible.
Okorie may not play right away for the Pistons, though coach JB Bickerstaff has been raving about his poise, and Okorie was impressive in his preseason debut, getting to the rim at will and even hitting the game winner.
He also played alongside Daniss Jenkins, which may be the key to him getting minutes this season, as he’s not likely to overtake Jenkins on the depth chart right away, but could certainly see some time playing with him in short bursts.
The interesting thing is that Okorie does have some similarities with Ivey in that both are super quick guards with electric first steps (at least pre-injury Ivey), but Okorie plays with more patience and poise and is a better ball handler and finisher around the rim already.
He could end up being the creator and ball handler the Pistons need, and if he eventually cracks the rotation this season, it will be a huge win for Detroit, as they weren’t getting anything out of Ivey.
Kevin Huerter is the forgotten man
Kevin Huerter also came over in the Ivey deal and looked like a throw-in for salary-matching purposes.
He showed signs at times last season, but couldn’t stay on the floor, as he had a nagging injury that never fully healed and required offseason surgery.
Huerter is fully healthy now and it was surprising to see him as one of the first players off the bench the first preseason game. Huerter can create and pass a little, so could carve out a bench role for himself, as most of the Pistons’ bench guys are either one-dimensional shooters or guys who can defend but don’t offer much on offense.
If the Pistons can get a decent season out of Huerter, it might make it more palatable to trade Duncan Robinson, and at the very least, would bolster Detroit’s bench depth with a more versatile offensive player.
The Pistons got next to nothing out of Ivey or the trade last season, but if things work out, Trajan Langdon will look smart for getting real assets for a guy who isn’t in the NBA.
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