Jaden Ivey
Like Holland, this has less to do with Ivey and more to do with the context, as it’s easy to see him as the odd man out next season.
The Pistons added veterans who can shoot and it’s likely JB Bickerstaff is going to lean on them early, especially considering the Pistons have a brutal early schedule.
That could leave Ivey coming off the bench as the backup point guard, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, as he could thrive in that role, and if he does, he might have a long-term future with the Pistons.
But what if he doesn’t? What if Ivey isn’t happy with that role and starts moping around? What if he’s getting benched at the ends of games (very likely) in favor of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.?
Fans want Ivey to evolve into a star but that’s not going to be easy as long as he’s on a team with Cade Cunningham.
If Ivey will accept a backup role, that could be his route to a lucrative second contract, especially if he is scoring efficiently and shows he can run the offense for stretches.
But given Trajan Langdon did not draft him and that Ivey is extension-eligible next summer, he won’t get endless patience.
There is a world in which Jaden Ivey can thrive for the Pistons, but there is also one in which fans are going to be disappointed when he has a lesser role and ends up traded.