The Jaden Ivey era ended in a whimper for the Detroit Pistons, as they traded the former #5 pick to the Bulls for Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric and a pick swap.
Many fans were rightfully frustrated, not only with the return the Pistons got for Ivey but because we never really got to see what he could do in Detroit after various coaching and injury-related setbacks.
Huerter is a fit, and the Pistons did likely move up in the draft a few spots depending on what happens in Minnesota.
Speaking of Minnesota, it feels like something is brewing, as they just paid to salary dump players, possibly for a chance to pursue the league’s biggest prize.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and how it affects the Pistons
It doesn’t appear as if the Pistons are going to make the blockbuster move some fans were hoping for, as they aren’t likely to trade any more of their young guys. Ivey was the odd man out and they got what they could for him, which if we’re being honest, wasn’t much, though I do have hopes Huerter will thrive playing next to Cade Cunningham.
But if Minnesota ends up trading for Giannis (they are clearing cap space for something), the Pistons could get involved as a third or fourth team, taking on one of the players to grease the trade. Both the Timberwolves and Bucks have players that could help the Pistons (Bobby Portis Jr.), and there could be other teams involved for the Pistons to pry assets from to play facilitator.
Depending on how the Pistons did the Huerter trade, they may still have their trade exception to use, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see this deal folded into something bigger, which often happens with these multi-team trades.
I could be wrong, and the Pistons may feel grabbing a shooter, and slightly better draft position is enough for Ivey and all they could get. Trajan Langdon has indicated there wasn’t going to be anything big, so this might be a quiet trade deadline for Detroit.
I've been on team "let them cook" all season, so if this is all the Pistons are going to do, I can live with it, as I don't think they need a big trade to compete for the Eastern Conference.
But it does seem as if there’s something bigger in the works, at least on Minnesota’s end, and I do wonder if the Pistons are going to get involved somehow.
Fans are coming to terms with the end of the Jaden Ivey era, some with jubilation, others with confusion, but we should probably reserve full judgement on the trade until the dust from the trade deadline settles, and we see the full picture.