Pistons confirm the devastating Jaden Ivey news that nobody wanted to hear

Jaden Ivey has not been a very active participant in the Pistons preseason after playing in the preseason opener and missing the next two games. Fans would have liked to see more action from him in the preseason as a way to ramp up during his recovery from injury, but the Pistons have now delivered an unfortunate announcement. The team confirmed that Ivey underwent an orthoscopic surgery to relieve discomfort in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Ivey's absence will be a major blow to the team

This is another tragic update in Ivey's health after he suffered a broken fibula to end his season last January. The Pistons are claiming that this most recent injury is unrelated to his fibula, which is at least promising. But having multiple different injuries in a similar area of his body could be cause for concern about Ivey's long-term health.

Ivey is entering a key season for his contract situation too. He still remains without a contract extension and will likely be a restricted free agent next summer, now that this new injury will make the Pistons even more wary to commit long-term money to him. This was the last thing that either the Pistons or Ivey wanted to happen, and it adds even more confusion to his contract negotiations.

The Pistons as a whole are also ill-equipped to handle this injury now. Last season, they were able to weather the storm of his absence through contributions from veteran guards. Most notably, Tim Hardaway Jr took over the starting shooting guard spot while Dennis Schroeder was acquired via trade to play backup point guard. Neither of these players are on the team anymore, and the Pistons are lacking in point guard depth.

The Pistons have tried some methods to find backup ball-handling outside of Cade Cunningham in the preseason, but they have been unsuccessful so far. They will need somebody to step up and fill the void while Ivey is on the shelf with his injury. It may come in the form of a veteran playing out of position like Caris LeVert or a young player finally breaking out like Marcus Sasser.

It's terrible timing for Ivey to suffer another injury as the Pistons prepare for a big season. The team is looking to take another step and prove themselves as a contender in the East, especially as Cade Cunningham showcases his dominance. But the lack of a second star will hurt them, especially when Cade needs to rest. Ivey was supposed to fill that role but he will have to wait at least a month before he can prove himself.

Although it would be unwise for the Pistons to make a final decision on Ivey too quickly, a repeat injury history certainly doesn't help his perception in the eyes of the front office. If the team is able to find another successful stretch without him, they may look to move him for a more reliably healthy guard.