Timberwolves quietly wrecking the Jaden Ivey trade for the Pistons

When the Detroit Pistons traded Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls, it wasn’t all about the present, but the assets Detroit received just keep getting worse. 

The Pistons traded Ivey for Kevin Huerter and a 2026 pick-swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a trade that immediately looked like a dud for everyone involved and more about the future than the present. 

But the future is getting worse too and making the Jaden Ivey trade look like a flop. 

The Pistons draft pick is getting worse 

Just two weeks ago, the Ivey trade was looking like the best-case scenario, as the Timberwolves were hovering at the 21st pick in the draft, so the Pistons would move up nine spots. 

The pick is protected in the top 19, so 21 is just about as good as it can get for the Pistons in this swap scenario.  

But after last night’s loss to the Cavaliers, the Thunder moved ahead of the Pistons for the best record in the league, which would push them to the 29th pick. The Timberwolves have won four straight and moved into the 4th seed in the West, so their pick has fallen to the 24th, meaning the Pistons would only move up five spots. 

The T’Wolves aren’t finished yet, as they are tied with the Rockets, just percentage points behind for the 3-seed, so we could see them move up even more, which would make that pick even worse.  

There are still a lot of games to be played, and the West is tight enough that there will undoubtedly be more shuffling in the standings, but the biggest payoff from the Ivey trade isn’t looking as good as it did recently. 

Kevin Huerter is a lost cause 

Even though Caris LeVert continues to stink, JB Bickerstaff has shown no sign of trying anything else, and that includes ungluing Kevin Huerter from the bench, where he’s been for most of his time as a Piston. 

Marcus Sasser got off the bench before Huerter in a rare moment of clarity for Bickerstaff when it comes to LeVert, so Huerter might not even be the next man up if coach Bickerstaff does ever decide to make a change. 

It’s not looking much better for the Bulls, as Ivey is out indefinitely with an injury and isn’t even traveling with the team. 

The Pistons won’t have Ivey’s cap hold, nor have to deal with his contract situation, which is something they did gain from the trade, but otherwise, it’s looking like a whole lot of nothing for both teams, especially if the Timberwolves continue to win.