The Detroit Pistons have traded guard Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal that brings two new players to the Motor City roster. The complex transaction, confirmed Tuesday, sends the former fifth overall draft pick away from Detroit after more than three seasons with the franchise
Ivey heads to Chicago alongside veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr., who was shipped from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, the Pistons acquire guard Kevin Huerter and forward Dario Saric from the Timberwolves, plus a 2026 first-round protected swap, according to ESPN.
Ivey’s departure follows injury-disrupted tenure in Detroit
The move closes the book on what appeared to be a cornerstone player for Detroit’s rebuild. Ivey, selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 assists across 214 career games with the Pistons. Through his first 181 games, he had posted 16.1 points and 4.4 assists while starting 164 contests.
“It’s tough. This is where the building of relationships matters,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Trying to build relationships with people and trying to communicate with people all throughout the season and the summer, it makes times like this a little less difficult.”
The trade comes at a particularly challenging time, given Ivey’s injury-plagued recent history. The guard was having a breakout 2024-25 campaign before suffering a broken left fibula on New Year’s Day 2025 that derailed his season.
Injury troubles derailed breakout season
During the first 30 games of the 2024-25 season, Ivey was playing at career-best levels. He averaged 17.6 points on 40.9% shooting from three-point range, along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The performance established him as Detroit’s second-best player and put him in near All-Star consideration.
Ivey had emerged as the Pistons’ clutch performer, connecting on game-winning shots against the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings. He led the team with 2.5 points per game in clutch moments before the fibula injury ended his breakout campaign.
“My mind was so focused on winning, but I was enjoying every second of playing, leading up to the injury. I was in so much enjoyment that I did not think that could actually happen to me,” Ivey told The Detroit News in December.
His return this season never materialized as expected. After missing the remainder of last season, Ivey suffered a knee injury during training camp that delayed his comeback. He finally made his season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 22, but never reclaimed his previous role.
Struggles to regain form this season
This season, Ivey appeared in just 33 games with only two starts, posting career lows of 8.2 points in 16.8 minutes per game. The reduced role marked a stark contrast from his pre-injury trajectory as a key piece of Detroit’s young core.
“I don’t think a lot of times, people on the outside looking in see the real world implications of what it means to guys at this time of the year,” Bickerstaff said. “It is one thing if you are asking to be moved. But, when it happens, you normally like where you are … It’s not an easy time of the year. We understand that and try to be sensitive to that. Try to create a place where guys feel comfortable expressing their feelings and having conversations.”
Detroit adds shooting with Huerter
The Pistons address a key need by acquiring Huerter, a respected three-point shooter since entering the league in 2018. The 27-year-old has averaged 11.6 points on 37.1% shooting from behind the arc during his career, though he’s struggling this season with a career-low 31.4% from three-point range.
Huerter is averaging 10.9 points per game this season across 44 games with the Bulls, including 11 starts. Detroit becomes his fourth NBA team after Atlanta selected him 19th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Maryland.
Saric joins Pistons with role yet to be defined
The addition of Saric provides frontcourt depth, though his role remains unclear given Detroit’s current roster construction. The 6-foot-10 center has averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds through 498 career games, but has seen limited action this season.
The 31-year-old Saric appeared in just five games for the Sacramento Kings this season, averaging 8.2 minutes per contest. He was part of a three-team trade over the weekend that sent DeAndre Hunter to the Kings and former Piston Dennis Schröder to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What the trade means for Detroit and Ivey
With Detroit’s roster now featuring additional depth at guard and forward positions, attention shifts to how the new pieces will fit alongside the team’s existing core. The protected first-round swap provides future flexibility, though the immediate impact depends on how quickly Huerter can regain his shooting touch.
For Ivey, the move to Chicago offers a fresh start after injuries derailed what appeared to be a promising trajectory in Detroit. The Bulls acquire a young guard with demonstrated upside, but his recent health setbacks and limited role this season are still part of the equation.