Is Jaden Ivey now expendable?

[1984Echoes]

Would trading him be a wise move?

Does the Pistons' future salary structure improve if Ivey is moved?

What kind of package in return would be possible?

Just floating some questions here...

[gehringer_2]

Ivey was shooting .410 from three. That's probably never expendable.

[1984Echoes]

Definitely noteworthy. But the big question coming up soon will be... How does the team afford both he and Cade...?

 

[Deleterious]

I mean, they are a .500 team without a lot of talent.  Everyone not named Cade has a good shot of being moved.

The Pistons have full Bird rights on their young players so affording them will never be an issue.  Beasley is only an issue because he is on a one year deal, kind of a special situation.  

His trade value got hosed a bit when he was injured.  Had he finished the season with the stats he currently has, he would have been a nice trade piece this summer.  When a team trades a star they want draft capital and an up and coming young player.  IMO Ivey would have fulfilled that up and coming player spot if we wanted to take a swing at someone.  

Just traded alone without any other picks or players?  He would bring back a 5th starter type, maybe 4th plus a heavily protected 1st round pick.  

I would listen to any offer but not actively try to trade him.  If you can get him to play slightly plus defense he turns into a real nice player.  

[casimir]

19 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

I mean, they are a .500 team without a lot of talent.  Everyone not named Cade has a good shot of being moved.

The Pistons have full Bird rights on their young players so affording them will never be an issue.  Beasley is only an issue because he is on a one year deal, kind of a special situation.  

His trade value got hosed a bit when he was injured.  Had he finished the season with the stats he currently has, he would have been a nice trade piece this summer.  When a team trades a star they want draft capital and an up and coming young player.  IMO Ivey would have fulfilled that up and coming player spot if we wanted to take a swing at someone.  

Just traded alone without any other picks or players?  He would bring back a 5th starter type, maybe 4th plus a heavily protected 1st round pick.  

I would listen to any offer but not actively try to trade him.  If you can get him to play slightly plus defense he turns into a real nice player.  

Ivey was showing some good improvement this season, including on the defensive end.  If he’s worth only a 5th starter type, I’d prefer to hold onto him at this point.

[Deleterious]

10 minutes ago, casimir said:

Ivey was showing some good improvement this season, including on the defensive end.  If he’s worth only a 5th starter type, I’d prefer to hold onto him at this point.

Do you disagree?  I just think a 3rd starter type is a bit rich for Ivey.  You are getting into the Chet Holmgren and Darius Garland's of the world then.  

[1984Echoes]

12 hours ago, Deleterious said:

I mean, they are a .500 team without a lot of talent.  Everyone not named Cade has a good shot of being moved.

... Just traded alone without any other picks or players?  He would bring back a 5th starter type, maybe 4th plus a heavily protected 1st round pick.  

I would listen to any offer but not actively try to trade him.  If you can get him to play slightly plus defense he turns into a real nice player.  

The flipside is...

Even if it's a 4th or 5th guy... but he fits the team much better than Ivey does... 

And given what else might be included in a trade package...

Yes... I would be listening.

It would at least have to include said player... plus that 1st. I'm not certain what else, in either direction... makes it work...

But I also think even despite the injury... his trade value is on the upswing. And if he can come back before the season is done and doesn't "miss a beat" when he gets back... I think it at least has to be considered...

And I definitely want to sign Beasley.

[buddha]

i'd much rather have ivey than beasley if that's the choice.

ivey is dymanic and improving.  this is likely the best you'll ever see of beasley.

the fact that the pistons have risen to the amazing heights of a .500 team in the east after 10+ years of awfulness and 1) dont have any assets other than a few players; 2) are likely to have negative draft assets after this season; and 3) are likely capped out, is a testament to how poor troy weaver was as a gm.

Edited February 14 by buddha

[Deleterious]

I think I only trade Ivey as part of a package for a legit star.  I was pretty happy with his play this season.

[casimir]

21 hours ago, Deleterious said:

Do you disagree?  I just think a 3rd starter type is a bit rich for Ivey.  You are getting into the Chet Holmgren and Darius Garland's of the world then.  

Well, I guess I think there’s room for Ivey to grow.  We’ve seen that this season.  He’s picked up his 3 point efficiency as an example.  I guess I’d like to see what else he’s capable of.  A (3 man) perimeter of Cunningham, Ivey, and Thompson could be awfully fun to watch.  Bring back Beasley.  Holland as an energy guy.  That’s a good rotation for 1-3 and some time at 4 in small lineups.

And @1984Echoes brings up a good point about fit.  If they move Ivey for a player that’s a better fit, ok, I get it.  If a team wants to overreach for him (or anyone), I get it.  Maybe a team offers up a similar talent that is more cohesive to the backcourt, maybe a better defender given Cunningham’s defense.

So, I’m not saying he’s untradeable.  I think the Pistons should listen to any deal.  But I think there’s more potential to tap with Ivey.  The fluke injury sucks for him and the team, it’s a shame.

Edited February 14 by casimir

[Deleterious]

Jaden Ivey is currently #2 on the team in drives with 295.  He hasn't played since Jan 1st.

3rd place is Tobias at 198 drives.  Ivey will have missed 50+ games and still might end up #2 on the team in drives.  

[Hart]

On 2/14/2025 at 11:01 AM, buddha said:

i'd much rather have ivey than beasley if that's the choice.

ivey is dymanic and improving.  this is likely the best you'll ever see of beasley.

the fact that the pistons have risen to the amazing heights of a .500 team in the east after 10+ years of awfulness and 1) dont have any assets other than a few players; 2) are likely to have negative draft assets after this season; and 3) are likely capped out, is a testament to how poor troy weaver was as a gm.

He was terrible but there is a level of irony that his first round picks/acquisitions are finally showing promise and are now the backbone of our rebuild.  Even Cade aside, which was close to a gimme.  The Killian Hayes pick was just so bad that he will never get enough credit for the other picks.  

You never rule out seeking a trade to make the team better but the current core is a lot more promising now that Ausar is starting to show what kind of upside he truly has.  I don't think there needs to be urgency to make a big move and get Cade more help.  Cade, Ivey, Duren, and Ausar are all still getting better year after year.

I also think losing Beasley without a replacement to fill a similar role would be a big blow.  

Edited February 15 by Hart

[Betrayer]

Even though I wanted Ivey more than almost any other player in that draft, I've been on the "find a good trade" for him bandwagon for over a year now. We have very few assets (thanks SVG and Weaver) and Ivey is a good, young asset who also isn't the best fit for the team I'd want to build. Add some draft picks to that (which will be available starting this offseason) and you might be able to score your second All-Star next to Cade.

I'm not giving him away or accepting a bad return, but I'm probably actively looking for the right deal. My reasons are simply:

- I see his ceiling as a great 6th man on a championship team. That's fine if you already have your two (or three) All-Stars, but we don't. We can't afford to pay all these rookies their money leaving us with no cap and no assets to bring in actual stars. We'll also be paying him #2 money, when he's not a #2 in my opinion. That comes with expectations of starting, which I'm not sure is the right answer because...

- You have a 6'6" PG. Why give away one of the benefits of that by starting a smaller SG when you have the opportunity to have Cade be the smallest guy in a switchable lineup? Give me Ausar at the #2 and go find an All-Star SF or PF to pair with Cade. Then add a 3 and D guy at the other Forward spot.

- Both the offense and defense have been better with Ausar in the starting lineup instead of Ivey. Take from that what you will, but it's simply a fact. What hasn't been good has been the offense when Cade goes to the bench due to the lack of other creators - again, this is just another case for Ivey as 6th man.

Ivey has value, but I see him as a luxury we're not in a position to keep. We need that second All-Star and he's one of the few assets we can use to get one.

[NYLion]

I just don't think Ivey has enough value to warrant trading him now. I do think he was on a nice trajectory before the injury and would have been a nice piece to add into a trade for a more proven star especially now that they have full control of their picks most likely after the season but with the injury, I think it puts a damper on his value until he comes back 100% and proves that the injury is behind him completely.

The Pistons are in an interesting position. They have young guys surrounding Cade that have all shown signs of progress (not coincidentally the moment Monty was shown the door) but how much of a ceiling do they have and are there any legit #2 options blossoming among any of them? I think Ausar has the highest ceiling of the bunch but he'll likely never be a knock down shooter so that caps his ceiling.

 The other issue is that Ivey and Duren are closing in on the end of their rookie deals so are they worth signing that 2nd contract because once you do, you're sort of locking into them as the core and running mates for your budding superstar. Ivey is a big part of that discussion and I'm honestly not sure what the right move is whether to keep developing him or trade him and find a better running mate for Cade.

Also, the aprons are confusing where teams like the Celtics with double the payroll of the Pistons are able to navigate it while we're talking about the impending Pistons cap crunch with one large contract on the books and among the lowest tier of cap committed salary this offseason.

Edited February 18 by NYLion

[buddha]

who gets you more in a trade, ivey...

or ausar?

[RandyMarsh]

I'd probably lean towards Ausar, if for no other reason than he is younger and is a  year further away from an extension. 

[1984Echoes]

4 hours ago, Betrayer said:

... I'm not sure is the right answer because...

- You have a 6'6" PG. Why give away one of the benefits of that by starting a smaller SG when you have the opportunity to have Cade be the smallest guy in a switchable lineup? Give me Ausar at the #2 and go find an All-Star SF or PF to pair with Cade. Then add a 3 and D guy at the other Forward spot.

... Ivey has value, but I see him as a luxury we're not in a position to keep. We need that second All-Star and he's one of the few assets we can use to get one.

This is where I am most at.

It's what keyed me to this idea.

And you just verbalized it straight outta my head.

So... Simply...

THIS.

[1984Echoes]

4 hours ago, NYLion said:

... (A) I do think he was on a nice trajectory before the injury and would have been a nice piece to add into a trade for a more proven star especially ...

(B) The other issue is that Ivey and Duren are closing in on the end of their rookie deals so are they worth signing that 2nd contract ...

I think two things:

B) I don't believe that Ivey will be worth the 2nd contract... to the Detroit Pistons. Based on how he would be ideally used on the Pistons. I think he is worth far, far more to another team that is willing to take a chance that Ivey blossoms into their #1 or #2, guy. But to us... 6th man?

A) I think despite the injury... teams will take a chance on Ivey specifically because of the "other team" factor in (B). There's a chance he gets to be that #1 or #2. On another team.

I think there are teams that will take that chance.

But I'm just guessing.

[Betrayer]

10 hours ago, NYLion said:

I do think he was on a nice trajectory before the injury and would have been a nice piece to add into a trade for a more proven star especially now that they have full control of their picks most likely after the season but with the injury, I think it puts a damper on his value until he comes back 100% and proves that the injury is behind him completely.

Agreed, the injury really put a kink in my plans. If he doesn't come back this year (doubtful) to prove he's healthy, you might have to wait until next year to get the right value out of a trade. The injury also probably saved the Pistons from having to make an extension decision this summer, so they might simply have to kick the can down the road a bit on the trade and the decision both.

[Deleterious]

Is it an injury that requires him to prove it wont impact him down the road?

I thought the big problem is getting injured didn't let us see if he finished the year shooting 40% from three or not.

[gehringer_2]

3 hours ago, Deleterious said:

Is it an injury that requires him to prove it wont impact him down the road?

All things are possible, few are probable. Ordinary fracture of a long bone has a really high probability of a zero deficit recovery.

Edited February 19 by gehringer_2