I was admittedly concerned when the Detroit Pistons hadn’t given us an official update on Jaden Ivey’s injury, as we were past the timeline for his re-evaluation.
That changed today when Omari Sankofa II reported that Jaden Ivey will be assigned to the Motor City Cruise as he prepares for his return.
Given the Pistons’ history with reporting injuries, I did have my concerns even though Ivey had been spotted taking part in a recent shoot-around.
But this is a huge milestone for his return, as it shows he is ready to start playing basketball again, not just go through drills, so he may be back sooner than we initially thought.
The Pistons have no need to rush him and won’t let Ivey return until he is ready, but this is big news for Detroit that couldn’t have come at a better time.
Detroit Pistons injuries: Return of Jaden Ivey
The Pistons haven’t been fully healthy all season, but it’s been ridiculous of late, with as many as seven rotation players out of the lineup.
The backups have stepped up admirably, particularly Daniss Jenkins, who may have earned himself a spot in the rotation even after Ivey returns.
But with Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris still on the mend, the timing of this Ivey announcement couldn’t be better. Cade and Ausar are making progress, so it won’t be long until we finally get a glimpse of the whole roster together, something that has been a rarity in the last two seasons.
If Ivey can return before December, it will give the Pistons two solid months to sort out their rotation, and see how Ivey fits back in with a team that has been humming in his absence.
It will likely be a bumpy transition at first, but the good news is the Pistons have the depth to absorb it, so if Ivey needs some time to get back into rhythm and basketball shape, Detroit has that luxury.
Ivey will be a restricted free agent after this season, so the Pistons want to see plenty of him with Cade Cunningham before they make a final decision on his fate. Jalen Duren is already going to get a massive raise this offseason, so the Pistons have to tread carefully with Ivey.
That’s in the future.
For now, Ivey is one step closer to being back on the floor, and giving fans what they’ve wanted for two seasons, which is a glimpse of the roster at full strength.