Prior to Detroit’s 21-point victory over the Washington Wizards to go 2-2 in the preseason, the Pistons announced that fourth-year guard Jaden Ivey would be sidelined at least four weeks due to arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. From a wider lens, Ivey was thought to be completing his recovery from a season-ending broken leg last year, so this setback comes at a precarious time, especially with the Oct. 20 deadline to extend rookie contracts, which Ivey is eligible for, looming around the corner. 

“It's obviously tough for him, and that's what you feel more than anything,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before the game Thursday. “You know, obviously going through what he went through last year, and then working his way back, and then having this happen to him, it's frustrating for him.”

The Pistons plan to take four weeks before evaluating Ivey, so the Purdue product may very well be on the shelf for longer than one month, but that’s a decent baseline to work with right now. And since Ivey will be out of the equation for the start of the regular season, the Pistons will have to lean on some of the guard depth that Bickerstaff has been looking to build throughout the preseason with his focus on multiple ball handlers in Detroit’s offense.

“He just wants to get out on the floor with his guys and wants to go compete with his teammates,” Bickerstaff said. “But I know JI– he's a resilient person, and all these setbacks don't deter him from what his ultimate goal is and that's to be a great basketball player and a great teammate.”

According to coach Bickerstaff, Ivey’s knee injury is not linked to a specific play in the lone preseason game in which he featured in nor is it associated with a concerning movement during training camp. Instead, Bickerstaff suggests that Ivey’s been feeling a bit of discomfort growing for some time now. 

Jalen Duren’s Rim-Rattling 20 Points Push Detroit Pistons Over Washington Wizards, 119-98 Cade Cunningham also returned to action in the preseason victory.

“It was something that was developing over his work,” Bickerstaff said. “You know, obviously from coming back, but in training camp also, you know, he started to feel something. And then, you know, again, we took precautions, and then the medical team did their assessments and those things, and then had to make the decision that ultimately led us to where we are today.”

Since Ivey’s been out of the lineup for the Pistons past three preseason games, Detroit had an opportunity to work some other guards into the mix, and Daniss Jenkins has been the most productive recipient of that adding playing time. In the Pistons 18-point loss to the Cavs on Tuesday, Jenkins tied for a team-high 19 points on the night and added six assists to the table in the standout effort from the 24-year old point guard. 

To be certain, Caris LeVert and Ausar Thompson are expected to receive additional opportunities to carry the ball up the floor and run the Pistons offense with Ivey recovering, and Marcus Sasser should be called upon to do the same when Cunningham needs a breather during the regular season. 

The Pistons have options when it comes to replacing Ivey right now, but any further injury troubles surrounding Detroit guards would cause a bit of concern in the depth department with the regular season less than a week away.

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