Jaden Ivey trade hits new peaks and valleys in dramatic twist

When the Detroit Pistons traded Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter and a pick swap, there was hope that this could be a win-win trade, but so far, the only ones with anything to show for it are in the Motor City. 

The Pistons were getting a more experienced scorer who looked like a better on-paper fit, not to mention a first-round picks swap with the Timberwolves. The real benefit might have been getting off Ivey’s cap hold and future contract negotiations, which are going to be tricky. 

The Bulls were getting a second draft guy with high potential onto a roster primed for a rebuild. Ivey’s injury was worth the risk for Chicago, who is in the nascency of their rebuild and need high-end talent. 

But as of right now, the trade has hit a peak for the Pistons and a valley for the Bulls. 

Jaden Ivey is out for the season 

The Bulls announced yesterday that Jaden Ivey would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, which was not at all surprising given that he has barely played since being traded. 

If Ivey is ever going to reach his immense potential, he has to be healthy, as his current game relies heavily on his athleticism and when you take that away, what you are left with is the guy the Pistons watched for half a season. 

It was a smart move by the Bulls, who are tanking anyway, but it does put them in a precarious position going into the offseason. To make Ivey a restricted free agent, they have to extend the qualifying offer, which is likely more than they’d like to pay Ivey. 

Ivey’s QO will be around $9 million, so he may just take that on a one-year deal to rebuild his value, which would also give him the right to veto any trade. This is exactly why the Pistons didn’t want to deal with this, as the Bulls will either have to offer him a multi-year deal at a lower annual value or just let him play out one season and become an unrestricted free agent. 

The Pistons’ front office wouldn’t admit it, but this is the real reason they traded Ivey, as they didn’t want to deal with the mess or the risk, but the trade is starting to bear other fruit for the Pistons. 

Kevin Huerter is a big upgrade if he continues to play well 

Kevin Huerter is playing his best ball for the Pistons after dropping 22 points as a starter last night. He’s moving well with and without the ball, generally makes good decisions and is far craftier as a finisher than I thought. He showed it last night with a couple of nice takes to the rim. 

Huerter looks like a guy who will be in the playoff rotation, and I am not sure you could say that about Ivey, who wasn’t making much of an impact even before he was shut down. 

Huerter didn’t look like he was going to play at all for the Pistons at one point, so this twist makes the trade look far better for Detroit, as Huerter could end up being a key part of the playoff rotation. 

The Pistons’ pick swap is holding steady 

The final piece of the Ivey trade was the pick swap the Pistons got from Minnesota, which would currently be the 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. 

This would move the Pistons up six spots, a substantial jump in a deep draft that could end up yielding a rotation player for Detroit. If they get lucky, they could find someone even better than Ivey in that range, and if they do, this trade will be a home run for Detroit.