Former Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey has now played two games with his new team the Chicago Bulls with familiar results.
For those who thought Ivey just needed more minutes with the Pistons, you’ll be happy to know that he’s getting them with the Bulls so far, playing in 30 minutes or more in his two appearances. The results haven’t been much different than they were in his 18 minutes for the Pistons, as he still doesn’t look comfortable with the ball and has had a deeply negative net rating.
I’m not here to diss Ivey and I realize some of you are probably wondering why I’m even writing about him given that he’s not in Detroit any longer, but come on, he’s our former number five pick playing on a division rival, so until further notice, he’ll at least hold some curiousity.
We won’t know much from this season, as the Bulls are horrible and now feature about 75 combo guards after adding five of them (yes, five) at the trade deadline. The lack of information the Bulls are likely to garner may force them into a risky choice, and knowing the Bulls, they will screw it up, but it may also force Ivey into a risky bet on himself.
Cam Thomas may preview the future for Jaden Ivey
Jaden Ivey is emblematic of the changing NBA, which no longer values score-first combo guards who don’t play much defense.
Former Nets guard Cam Thomas is the ultimate version of this, as he’s an undersized bucket who doesn’t play a lick of defense. He was just waived by the Nets after accepting the qualifying offer before the season in a misguided bet on himself.
Thomas is currently on the buyout market, and there is a chance that some team may take a risk on him, as the man can certainly score, but there is also a chance he lingers there and doesn’t get picked up.
If the Bulls (or some other team) are unwilling to offer Ivey the raise he is looking for in restricted free agency next offseason, then he may be forced into the same choice as Thomas, which is to bet on himself by accepting the qualifying offer.
This would be a way for him to get back to full strength, rebuild his value and get his raise and long-term deal, but as we’ve seen with Thomas, it can backfire spectacularly if it doesn’t work out.
Even if Thomas does get picked up, it doesn’t appear that raise is coming and the qualifying offer he took this season may end up being the biggest payday he gets for the rest of his career. If he doesn’t get picked up, Thomas may not be in the league next season, which seems extreme for a guy who is a proven 20+ ppg scorer, but that is the way the business is going.
I hope for Ivey’s sake, he gets good advice next summer, as I am cheering for the guy. It’s hard to imagine Ivey being out of the league soon, as there is still too much potential there, but if you take the qualifying offer and it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t leave too many “on ramps” in a brutal business that is quick to cast players aside.