When the Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey just a month after trading for him, fans groaned. Social media rants sealed his fate. But here's the twist: Sometimes, losing a trade is the smartest move a team can make.
The Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey on Monday afternoon, abruptly ending the evaluation period for one of the trade deadline's biggest moves.
What seemed like a shot at adding a young, explosive guard turned into a reminder that not every deal succeeds short-term. Some trades fail because of overrated talent, others because of unforeseen issues that no front office could predict.
This article avoids opinions on Ivey's social media comments. The focus is whether the Bulls' front office made a defensible move despite its abrupt end.
On Feb. 3, the Chicago Bulls traded guard Kevin Huerter and forward Dario Šarić to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team deal also involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls acquired Ivey and guard Mike Conley Jr.
At the time, the trade made sense for the big picture. Huerter was a solid role player, but Ivey — the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA draft — offered high-upside potential. A player of Huerter's caliber rarely swings a roster from playoff contention to missing it. If Ivey returned to his pre-injury form, even partially, he could become one of the better guards on a playoff team, with rookie-year averages of 16.3 points building to 17.6 as a sophomore.
Ivey suffered a serious leg injury that impacted his speed-based game. For the relatively low cost, a change of scenery made sense for the Bulls.
It did not pan out. A few games into his Bulls tenure, Ivey told reporters he was "not the same player I used to be." Soon after, the team placed him on the injured list to rehab his still-unsteady left leg, and last Thursday, Chicago announced he would miss the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Over the last 24 hours, Ivey made comments some deemed controversial. The Bulls quickly waived him.
Ivey did not meet expectations. Still, trading limited-ceiling pieces for high-upside bets is the type of move the Bulls should keep pursuing.
Judge Chicago not on "winning" the Ivey deal, but on betting smartly with available information. The team swung for talent; injuries and off-court issues proved unpredictable. Outcomes matter, but process does too.
This isn't a total loss. It frees cap space and roster spots. Sometimes losing a trade beats clinging to mediocrity. The Bulls took a calculated risk. That alone merits credit.