The Detroit Pistons finally made a move that ultimately brought clarity to Jaden Ivey's future in Motown
The dam has finally broken regarding Detroit Pistons trade news after weeks of silence from the front office as Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon crafted and plotted which move to make.
Eventually, Langdon landed on a deal that would send Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls, while the Pistons would pick up Dario Saric, Kevin Huerter and a first-round pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the surface, the Pistons emerge from this trade looking like winners for solving a roster conundrum. Back in October, Detroit decided not to extend Ivey’s rookie contract long-term, so he was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Instead of parting ways with Ivey for nothing, the Pistons picked up two veterans who may be able to contribute down the stretch.
This season, Huerter is averaging over 10 points per game and nearly four rebounds per night, and he’s served as a secondary playmaker who can distribute the rock if his shot isn’t falling. On that note, Huerter is in a slump right now with a 31% mark from long-range, but his career average is around the 37% range, which could mean a return to form is not out of the question. Now that Huerter is playing on Cade Cunningham's wing, the one-time marksman could provide the type of perimeter gravity that the Pistons need.
Saric, on the other hand, is not expected to have the same type of immediate contribution. In his ninth year, Saric has played sparingly this season with injury issues, but he could provide forward depth if the Pistons happen to run into a rash of injuries closer to playoff time.
From an offensive standpoint, Saric has shown effectiveness working in the pick and roll along with dribble hand-off actions, but he’s noted as having significant limitations defensively. Since the Pistons place a high priority on toughness in the post, Saric might not find himself walking into a situation filled with playing time as Detroit puts the final touches on their roster.
In terms of dishing Ivey to another Central Division rival, the Pistons did not recoup an overwhelming amount of value, which could be indicative of the market more than anything. The Pistons pick swap with Minnesota would boost Detroit's position in the draft by seven spots right now, so that's a marginal improvement but still an improvement nonetheless.
Look for the Pistons to remain active on the trade market if a deal comes across Langdon’s desk that he deems as an improvement for the squad. In Detroit, the thought process is that the Pistons are on the cusp of challenging for an NBA title, and now is the time to lock in a rotation capable of taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder out West.
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