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Why did Detroit Pistons trade Jaden Ivey to Chicago Bulls?
Free Press Pistons writer Omari Sankofa II breaks down the Detroit Pistons’ trade of Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
For weeks, the Detroit Pistons signaled that they were unlikely to shake up their roster ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
They stuck to their long-term plan even as other teams in the Eastern Conference maneuvered to get better. The Pistons made one significant move ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Tuesday, Feb. 3, sending Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls for Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric. It ended up being their only move as the 3 p.m. deadline passed on Thursday without another trade from the Pistons.
The hope is that the Pistons, who are leading the Eastern Conference by five games at 37-12 overall, will continue to meet or exceed expectations as currently built. Several teams jostling below them in the standings arguably strengthened their rosters, though, with the Cleveland Cavaliers adding James Harden and the Boston Celtics acquiring Nikola Vucevic.
Here’s why they stood pat after acquiring Huerter, and where the team stands afterward.
Pistons prioritized continuity at trade deadline over big splash
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was frank when asked about the Pistons’ deadline plans last week. Firmly atop the Eastern Conference with one of the league’s youngest rosters, the front office didn’t approach the deadline with urgency.
“To be honest with you, it’s hard to say we’re not happy with what we have,” Bickerstaff said after the team’s practice on Jan. 26. “There’s no reason for us to feel otherwise because of what these guys have done together.”
They instead addressed their need for shooting by bringing in Huerter, a 27-year-old wing and career 37.1% 3-point shooter. He’s in the midst of a down season averaging just 31.4% from deep, but the hope is that he’ll re-find his touch alongside a high-level creator in Cade Cunningham.
The odd man out of the Pistons’ longterm plans was Ivey, who put up big scoring numbers before a broken fibula ended his 2024-25 season. The team morphed into a playoff contender as Ivey rehabbed, and they declined to ink him to an extension when he became eligible last summer.
Ivey returned to a team deep at the guard position and had his minutes sliced almost in half after he made his season debut in November. In Chicago, he could have more opportunity to audition himself ahead of restricted free agency this offseason.
The Pistons didn’t use the rest of their trade exception now worth less than $9 million after absorbing Dario Saric’s $5.4 million owed this season. The exception expires on July 7, giving them a window during the offseason to include it in a trade.
It’s unclear if Saric will remain on the roster. The veteran forward is on an expiring contract, and the Pistons will have to create a roster spot in order to promote two-way guard Daniss Jenkins to a standard contract. Jenkins is inactive for their home game Thursday against the Washington Wizards, as he’s played 49 games and only has one more game of eligibility on his current two-way deal.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.