Jaden Ivey trade just keeps getting better for the Pistons

The Detroit Pistons made a somewhat surprising move to trade Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls at the deadline to acquire Kevin Huerter. Most fans have focused on the players involved, but there were other benefits for the Pistons that keep getting better, particularly the pick they will get from Minnesota. 

Detroit received a first-round pick swap with Minnesota, but Ivey was the focus, as he was a top five pick for the Pistons, and they flipped him for a mediocre player on an expiring contract. 

It might have been that contract that ultimately tipped the scales for Detroit, as Ivey is a restricted free agent next summer and the Pistons smartly surmised that paying Daniss Jenkins a fraction of what Ivey will make was the more efficient use of cap space. 

Detroit also found a way to move up in the 2026 Draft, which has long been heralded for its depth and star quality at the top, and right now, that is looking like a genius add on for the Pistons. 

The Detroit Pistons are moving up substantially in the draft 

The Pistons didn’t have a first-round pick in 2025 and it’s crucial for them to keep a steady stream of young talent in the pipeline. As I wrote about yesterday, finding fringe talent on the lower end of the pay scale is arguably more important than splashy trades or free-agent acquisitions, as it allows teams to invest more money at the top. 

The Pistons didn’t get an extra pick in 2026 to make up for it, but they will likely move up. As of right now, Detroit’s pick would go from 30th to 21st and has a chance to go even higher, as the pick only has top 19 protections. 

If Minnesota drops another spot, Detroit could end up with the 20th pick in a stacked class, which would give Trajan Langdon et al. a much better shot at finding an impact talent. 

It may not happen immediately, but given Langdon’s track record in the draft, there is a chance they end up with someone just as talented as Ivey. 

Lottery talent falls into the 20’s all of the time, so it will be on Langdon to identify the overlooked gem, which he has in the past with guys like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. 

The Pistons’ pick is now a trade asset 

Langdon wanted to use this year’s playoffs to evaluate his team and go from there, so if Detroit comes up short, we could see the type of splashy trade next summer that some fans were hoping for at the trade deadline. 

If so, this pick will now be an asset, as teams that are rebuilding will be looking for first-round picks and young players. Detroit can trade this pick on draft day, essentially trading the rights of a player that some other team wants. 

The Jaden Ivey trade hasn’t paid immediate dividends, as Huerter has only appeared for 12 minutes on average in four games so far, but it could pay off huge down the road in the form of another young talent or a trade chip that helps the Pistons land a star.