There has been a lot of talk about Jaden Ivey’s offensive and defensive fit with the Detroit Pistons but the biggest red flag for his extension might be his style of play.
I saw enough from Ivey last season to believe he can be a solid second scoring option for the Pistons. If the shooting numbers from his 30-game sample are real, he has the catch-and-shoot chops to play with Cade Cunningham effectively.
He does have to be a better decision-maker (especially when Cade is on the bench) and improve in the mid-range and floater spots, but these are attainable goals, and Ivey is a hard worker who should be able to get there on offense.
Defense is a bigger question mark and where the fit with Cunningham starts to be questioned, but we did see signs of improvement last season, and another full season with JB Bickerstaff should be enough for Ivey to improve to at least a net neutral defender, which is all the Pistons need him to be right now.
It sounds like extending him is a no-brainer if the money is right but there is one red flag hanging over Ivey and that’s the way he plays.
Jaden Ivey lives on the floor
Jaden Ivey only played 30 games last season, but it was after a freak injury that happened after Cole Anthony jumped into his legs.
Prior to that, Ivey had never had a serious injury and played 74 and 77 games in his first two seasons, so there is no evidence that Ivey is prone to injuries.
But his style of play does make him an injury hazard, as he gets up and down the floor quickly, isn’t afraid to throw his body into defenders, and spends A LOT of time on the floor, often crashing there from a considerable height.
I dont’ know if I’ve ever seen a player hit the deck more than Ivey. Part of this may be him trying to draw fouls, a strategy that has been somewhat effective, as he did average nearly four free-throw attempts per game last season, but it takes its toll.
You do have to wonder what Ivey’s game is going to look like in a few years when some mileage and a lot of beatings have taken a toll on his legs and whether he can consistently hold up when he is constantly hitting the floor.
Injuries have increasingly played a huge factor in the playoffs as we saw again this season with key players getting hurt, so Ivey’s style of play is a concern, and it would be nice to see him avoid some of that contact (with the floor) and lessen the risk.