Detroit Pistons Trade Rising Star Jaden Ivey in Three-Team Deal
In a move that has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, the Detroit Pistons have traded away rising star guard Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls as part of a complex three-team deal. The team's decision to let go of Ivey comes after more than three seasons with the franchise, during which he averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Ivey's departure marks the end of what appeared to be a cornerstone player for Detroit's rebuild. Selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey had established himself as a key piece of the team's young core before injuries derailed his season. Despite averaging career-best numbers during the first 30 games of the 2024-25 campaign, Ivey suffered a broken left fibula on New Year's Day that ended his breakout campaign.
The trade brings in two new players to help address key needs for the team. Veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. joins Ivey in Chicago, while the Pistons acquire guard Kevin Huerter and forward Dario Saric from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap as part of the deal.
"We understand that times like this are difficult for our players," said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. "It's tough to build relationships with people, especially when you're dealing with injuries and uncertainty. But we try to create a place where guys feel comfortable expressing themselves."
Ivey's departure is also a reflection of the challenges he faced during his time in Detroit. After missing the remainder of last season due to injury, Ivey suffered another knee injury during training camp that delayed his return. When he finally debuted this season, he struggled to regain his form, averaging career lows of 8.2 points in 16.8 minutes per game.
The trade offers a fresh start for Ivey, who will join the Bulls alongside Conley Jr. As part of Detroit's roster gets deeper at guard and forward positions, attention shifts to how the new pieces will fit alongside the team's existing core. The protected first-round swap provides future flexibility, though the immediate impact depends on how quickly Huerter can regain his shooting touch.
For Ivey, this move is an opportunity to prove himself as a young player in a new environment. While injuries have derailed his season and career in Detroit, he has demonstrated significant upside, including averaging 17.6 points from three-point range during the first 30 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Pistons' decision to let Ivey go sends a message that they are willing to make tough decisions to build a more competitive roster. With the addition of Huerter and Saric, Detroit looks to be building towards a brighter future, even if it means saying goodbye to one of its most promising young players.
In a move that has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, the Detroit Pistons have traded away rising star guard Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls as part of a complex three-team deal. The team's decision to let go of Ivey comes after more than three seasons with the franchise, during which he averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Ivey's departure marks the end of what appeared to be a cornerstone player for Detroit's rebuild. Selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey had established himself as a key piece of the team's young core before injuries derailed his season. Despite averaging career-best numbers during the first 30 games of the 2024-25 campaign, Ivey suffered a broken left fibula on New Year's Day that ended his breakout campaign.
The trade brings in two new players to help address key needs for the team. Veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. joins Ivey in Chicago, while the Pistons acquire guard Kevin Huerter and forward Dario Saric from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap as part of the deal.
"We understand that times like this are difficult for our players," said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. "It's tough to build relationships with people, especially when you're dealing with injuries and uncertainty. But we try to create a place where guys feel comfortable expressing themselves."
Ivey's departure is also a reflection of the challenges he faced during his time in Detroit. After missing the remainder of last season due to injury, Ivey suffered another knee injury during training camp that delayed his return. When he finally debuted this season, he struggled to regain his form, averaging career lows of 8.2 points in 16.8 minutes per game.
The trade offers a fresh start for Ivey, who will join the Bulls alongside Conley Jr. As part of Detroit's roster gets deeper at guard and forward positions, attention shifts to how the new pieces will fit alongside the team's existing core. The protected first-round swap provides future flexibility, though the immediate impact depends on how quickly Huerter can regain his shooting touch.
For Ivey, this move is an opportunity to prove himself as a young player in a new environment. While injuries have derailed his season and career in Detroit, he has demonstrated significant upside, including averaging 17.6 points from three-point range during the first 30 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Pistons' decision to let Ivey go sends a message that they are willing to make tough decisions to build a more competitive roster. With the addition of Huerter and Saric, Detroit looks to be building towards a brighter future, even if it means saying goodbye to one of its most promising young players.
This trade is like the ripples on a pond, you never know where they'll settle 
. Ivey's departure raises questions about the value of patience and time in developing talent. Can we really build a winning team with players who are still finding their footing? It feels like Detroit is taking a step back to take two steps forward 
. The protected first-round swap is like a safety net, but it's not a guarantee that everything will work out 
. Ivey's future is uncertain, and it's hard not to wonder what could've been if he'd stayed in Detroit 
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his career was lookin up in detroit but injuries just kept gettin in the way 
hope he finds his groove with the bulls and shows em what he's workin with 
gotta respect the pistons makin that tough decision tho 
they're buildin somethin new and it's all about the bigger picture 
i feel bad for him, he had some tough luck with injuries but u gotta give the pistons credit they made the right move 
the new additions will definitely help but i'm gonna miss seeing ivey out on that court 
his three pt skills were insane 
still got faith in the bulls tho, conley jr is a beast 
. The dude was holdin back in Detroit, and now he's got a chance to prove himself in a new city with some actual talent around him 
. Don't get me wrong, Ivey's a talented player and all, but the Pistons needed a shake-up at point guard, and Conley Jr is a way better fit for 'em 
. Plus, the trade brings in some fresh blood, and I'm hyped to see how Huerter and Saric fit into Detroit's system 
. Ivey might have some moments of brilliance, but I don't think he's gonna be the savior of the Pistons' rebuild 
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gotta feel bad for jaden ivey man... he had some ups and downs with his injuries in detroit but the dude's still got game 
. i think he's gonna kill it with the bulls, especially with conley jr by his side 
. the pists are makin moves to build a better roster and hopefully they get back to bein a top team again 
he had some ups and downs last season with injuries etc so maybe its time for a fresh start 4 him in chicago 
and also 2 c how detroit's new pieces fit into the picture 
i mean i get it injuries happen but to just write him off like that is harsh especially when he had moments where he looked almost unstoppable on the court 
but what about ivley's future?