The Pistons made a pair of significant lineup changes before their 118-112 loss to the Knicks on Thursday night, benching Jaden Ivey and rookie Ausar Thompson and moving Killian Hayes and Isaiah Livers into their starting lineup. With their 16th straight loss, they became the first team to go winless for an entire month since the 2015 Sixers.
Coach Monty Williams making the decision to bench both Ivey and Thompson is significant. Ivey was a key starter for Detroit last season after being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 draft, averaging 16.3 points in 73 starts last year.
However, his role has been much more suppressed this year under Williams. His efficiency is up (50.8% from the floor this year entering Thursday compared to 41.6% last season), but he’s only started in five of his 15 appearances and was down to 23.4 minutes per night (from 31.1) entering Thursday.
Ivey didn’t begin the year as a starter, with Hayes taking on that role before relenting it to Ivey over the past five games. Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick in 2020, was averaging 8.5 points and 4.4 assists per game entering Thursday but recorded 23 points on 76.9% shooting against New York.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Twitter link), Williams said the decision to start Hayes over Ivey came down to him liking Hayes’ ability to allow Cade Cunningham to play off the ball more and he likes how the fourth-year guard can get the team organized.
As for Thompson, he was a full-time starter before his benching Thursday. This year’s No. 5 overall pick has been one of the most impressive rookies this season, averaging 11.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks. Livers started in his place, recording six points and four rebounds.
Neither Thompson or Ivey played major roles off the bench on Thursday, with both logging just 13 minutes of game time, though Thompson had five fouls. That marks Ivey’s second-lowest minute total this season and Thompson’s lowest in his young career. Marcus Sasser finished with the most minutes off the bench, recording 17 points.
While losing their 16th straight game is obviously disappointing, the Pistons kept it close with the Knicks and seemed to find something with how they utilized Cunningham, tweets Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Cunningham finished with 31 points and eight assists. Mike Curtis of The Detroit News observes that the Pistons’ three-guard lineup of Cunningham, Ivey and Hayes helped kick-start a 13-0 run and when Ivey was subbed out, the Knicks hit back.
We’ll be watching Detroit to see what happens with the team’s young pieces moving forward. So far, their young core hasn’t meshed well and moves could be on the way if their losing ways continue. In the short term, Bojan Bogdanovic is expected back soon, which should help with the Pistons’ spacing issues (they ranked 29th in made threes entering Thursday).
Move them down to the G-League…the whole team.
Our Pistons are broken.
16 losses is very near 20% of an entire season…
Monty be stealing money.
Well he needed money for his wife’s hospital bills
Wiggins and Kuminga for and Thompson and bogdon. I mean if you don’t want the Thompson twin… either one of those twins might be 1 overall in the next draft
Lmao that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard
Gsw 1 also of course
Ausar Thompson is a consistent jump shot away from being an all nba talent one day in my opinion. Think he has insane potential, already a terrific defender and very high IQ player, as he gets comfortable he will get better as a scorer and facilitator just needs time. Cade is great but he also has his flaws, such as poor turnovers and lack of outside shot. Would like to see them trade for a guy like Patrick Williams who can provide them with some spacing and is another good defender but at the same time they need leaders with experience, not just locker room guys like Joe Harris but guys that’ll give them a good 30 minutes and take pressure off the young guys.
Not that Zach LaVine is that guy but I’d look into him. He’d definitely take touches and allow Cade to play off ball if that’s what Month wants. He’s older, he’s a score first player, provides spacing but will also look to play fast and get out in transition. Him and Patrick Williams would be good targets to pair with Cade and Ausar with Jalen Duren locking it all down.
Something along the lines of
Zach, Patty for Bogdan, Bagley, Burks, a 1st and 2nd.
Pistons should only trade a 1st if it’s permanently lottery protected lol
Bulls not gonna make that deal. They need to get Ivey off you get both Pat and Zach or the fans will scream bloody murder.
I mean Pats going to be gone in FA, and Zachs on a hugely overpaid deal so I don’t see what’s to complain about if you get a first and a good young player back ….
What about Bojan and a future 1st(worst one they have) with some 2nds to NO for Jordan Hawkins and Larry Nance.
Or (unlikely) to Atlanta, Bojan, Hayes and a 1st and other picks for Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin, Mills and Bogdon. Or to the Lakers. Bojan and a 2nd for Rui and Max Christie. Trade Wiseman to the spurs for Doug McDermott, or to Washington for Delon wright and Danilo G. Trade Bagley and a pick to Memphis for Luke Kennard? Sign some veterans on the bench like Danny Green, Taj Gibson
Then trade Ivey for Hendricks and a pick
Everything listed there was awful. Why would the Pelicans trade a top-5 rookie for an older injured player?
The pelicans want to win right now. I do agree with you that Hawkins is a top rookie and the pelicans probably won’t trade him for a 20 point scorer and a 1st and picks. I appreciate you not being rude this time and responding to me. I think Bojan and a pick to the Lakers is the best trade, then flip Rui for a young PF and a expiring contract. I do think Hawkins would be great next to Cade
hawkins would be so good but i dom’t think we can realistically get him
He would be great next to Cade
The pelicans want to win right now. I do agree with you that Hawkins is a top rookie and the pelicans probably won’t trade him for a 20 point scorer and a 1st and picks. I appreciate you not being rude this time and responding to me. I think Bojan and a pick to the Lakers is the best trade, then flip Rui for a young PF and a expiring contract
Truthfully, I think someone like Rui is the best fit for the roster. They don’t need more youth, they need stability and to figure out roles. The Pistons system is essentially 90’s ball right now, and it’s a big part of why the Pistons are so bad in terms of turnovers; guys aren’t where they should be and the lanes are clogged to hell and back.
Rui’s a guy who has had to adjust his own playstyle to become better on defense, more perimeter-focused, and less ball-dominant. I don’t know that the Lakers would trade him for Bojan (though he’s a good fit for them), because they are going to be wary of injuries this season. But a guy *like* Rui? Someone fairly young who has adapted their game to fit a system? Would be a good get, imo.
Sounds like somebody(s) may have been late to practices or planes, or both….
Benching Thompson is not the answer. He’s arguably been their best player this season.
Ivey should be getting schooled. He’s a big time talent. He and Cade should be starting. Monty is overrated and overpriced. He’s the reason Pistons are losing.
Since Detroit is horrendous. Start Wiseman at C, 6’9 or 6’10 Duren at PF, Bojan at SF until thr trade deadline, then draft Holland at SF next years draft, Thompson at SG, Cade at PG and Ivey as the 6th man
Trade Bagley for any expiring contract to save his career