The Bulls did not have to give up much for a talented, young player in search of a bigger opportunity.
The Chicago Bulls are wheeling and dealing ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, and Arturas Karnisovas' newest move is certain to have fans excited about the future.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bulls are set to acquire shooting guard Jaden Ivey and point guard Mike Conley Jr. in a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal went down on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the Jazz and Grizzlies opened the floodgates with a blockbuster trade of their own.
In return, the Bulls are sending wing Kevin Huerter and recently-acquired forward Dario Saric to Detroit, which also receives a protected 2026 first-round pick swap from Minnesota.
Huerter is playing on the final year of his contract and will hit unrestricted free agency in the summer. Saric was traded to Chicago on Saturday, along with two second-round picks, in exchange for helping facilitate a trade between Sacramento and Cleveland.
Karnisovas and the Bulls have now turned an expiring contract and cap space into a former top-five pick in Ivey, who turns 24 years old on Feb. 13. Ivey was a key part of the Pistons' rebuild alongside All-Star Cade Cunningham until he broke his left fibula last season, which derailed his career in Detroit.
Jan 15, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) dribbles defended by Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesPrior to the injury, Ivey was averaging a career-high 17.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, as well as 4.0 assists and just under a steal per game. He had also raised his shooting efficiency to 46.0% overall and 40.9% from deep, both the best marks of his young career.
The Pistons made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference without Ivey, and when he returned this fall, the former Purdue star appeared to be the odd man out. Ivey has come off the bench in 31 of his 33 games this season and is averaging just 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 45.0% shooting and 37.2% from three. His playing time has also been nearly cut in half, dropping from 29.9 minutes per game a year ago to just 16.8.
Ivey will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
Conley, 38, is nearing the end of a long career. His inclusion in Tuesday's trade appears to be largely due to financial reasons, as the veteran point guard is making $10.7 million this season. With Conley in Chicago, the Timberwolves reportedly have more flexibility now to attempt to trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, per Charania.
Jan 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesThe one-time All-Star has been a key playmaker across 19 seasons in Memphis, Utah and Minnesota. However, Conley's role has plummeted over the last two years, and he's playing a career-low 18.5 minutes per game this season. Conley will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and will look to provide veteran leadership and spot minutes to the Bulls' lineup.
Chicago's recent trades have shown that Karnisovas intends to be aggressive ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. Ivey is a solid bet on upside for a team that has middled in relevancy for years, and fans can be certain that Tuesday's trade will not be the Bulls' last.