The Detroit Pistons entered trade season with a roster that was already setting the pace for the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, Detroit also faced a burning question about how they'd proceed with Jaden Ivey and the minutes and touches he was depriving Daniss Jenkins of receiving.
Thankfully, the Pistons resolved those pressing issues in one fell swoop with a trade that will see Ivey join the Chicago Bulls, Kevin Huerter head to Detroit, and Jenkins solidify his place as a key contributor.
Ivey flashed significant upside during his four seasons with the Pistons, but his fit was called into question after a 2024-25 injury kept him sidelined for a large portion of the 2025-26 season. Jenkins stepped up in his place, but Ivey's return to the rotation created something of a logjam in the backcourt.
That development became all the more concerning when Jenkins declined a two-year contract offer, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
"Sources say two-way contract standout Daniss Jenkins recently declined the Pistons' offer of a new contract at a rookie minimum salary for the rest of this season and next season. No alarm bells are sounding in Motown yet, though, as the expectation persists that Detroit will soon find common ground on a new pact to convert Jenkins to a standard deal."
It seems as though the common ground is closer than it seems.
Pistons finally clarify Daniss Jenkins' role and future with the team
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Pistons have traded Ivey to Chicago in return for a package centered around a less ball-dominant contributor in Huerter.
Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/pgxqr1WT90
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
In the process, the Pistons ripped the bandage off, moved on from Ivey, and declared that Jenkins is the playmaking force off the bench they will proceed with.
Jenkins has been a revelation for the Pistons, averaging 8.0 points, 3.4 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goal made in just 16.8 minutes per game. That translates to 17.1 points, 7.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 2.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Unfortunately, Jenkins' emergence has consistently conflicted with Ivey's reintegration into the rotation and caused unnecessary drama in regard to the latter's pending restricted free agency.
Re-signing Ivey remained a possibile course of action, which offered reason enough to press pause on signing Jenkins to a multi-year deal beyond the rookie minimum. Trading Ivey, however, has alleviated pressure and created clarity within the rotation—particularly due to who he was traded for.
With Huerter replacing Ivey, there should be no reason whatsoever for the Pistons to refrain from giving Jenkins the minutes, role, and contract he's earned.
Kevin Huerter is a better fit alongside Daniss Jenkins than Jaden Ivey
Huerter is currently shooting an uncharacteristically poor 31.4 percent from beyond the arc, but there's reason to believe he can right the ship. He's a career 37.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc who has four seasons at 38.0 percent or higher.
Even if Huerter doesn't fix his jump shot, however, his style of play is far more ideal to utilize alongside Jenkins than Ivey's was.
Jenkins currently leads the Pistons at 4.53 dribbles per touch and ranks second behind Cade Cunningham at 4.87 seconds per touch. Ivey did an admirable job of adapting by cutting down his own averages, but during his breakout season in 2024-25, checked in at 3.85 and 4.27.
Huerter, meanwhile, is the prototypical off-ball player with averages of 1.34 dribbles per touch and 2.09 seconds per touch in 2025-26.
Even with a shot that isn't falling, his offensive game is primarily built around off-ball motion, catch-and-shoot opportunities, and attacking closeouts. He doesn't need isolation offense to get into a rhythm and can thus play a more complementary role alongside Jenkins and the second unit.
In the process, Huerter can help the Pistons evaluate Jenkins' true value to the rotation and decide on what his future with the franchise looks like.