Jaden Ivey

Central Notes: Ivey, Bulls, Turner

June 1st, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Pistons guard Jaden Ivey had a very promising 2024/25 season — for the 30 games he was on the floor, at least.

Keith Langlois of Pistons.com reviews Ivey’s third pro season and considers what’s next for him, noting that the third-year pro evolved as a jump shooter and a creator under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Across the aforementioned 30 healthy bouts, Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 boards and 4.0 dimes per game ahead of becoming extension-eligible this summer. Bickerstaff has been an ardent fan of Ivey’s play, according to Langlois, who writes that the 6’4″ guard can thrive both off-ball alongside All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham and as a lead ball handler without Cunningham.

Langlois observes that Ivey’s role leading bench units could hinge on what happens with reserve guard Dennis Schröder in free agency.

There’s more out of the Central Division:

The Bulls are potentially interested in selecting BYU guard Egor Demin with the No. 12 pick in this month’s draft — if he’s still available at that point, as Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reiterates in a story breaking down four potential lottery targets for the team. Cowley, who previously reported Chicago’s potential interest in Demin, also takes a closer look at Derik Queen, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Asa Newell.
The Pacers, now back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, face a major decision this summer when it comes to the future of free agent center Myles Turner, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. While Indiana is considered likely to retain the 6’11” big man, he could become a hot commodity this summer. A unique three-and-D center, the Texas alum has been a critical contributor to his team’s two straight Eastern Conference Finals runs, and will prove integral if it hopes to fend off Oklahoma City in the Finals. Indiana holds a $2.9MM option on his backup, Tony Bradley, while third-stringer Thomas Bryant will also hit unrestricted free agency.
In case you missed it, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam was honored as the club’s Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his performance against New York, in a narrow 5-4 vote.

Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Ivey, Duren, Celtics Trade Targets

May 24th, 2025 at 8:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Cade Cunningham earned a significant raise by landing a spot on the All-NBA team, but the extra money will limit the Pistons‘ options in building around him, writes Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Cunningham’s salary for next season will now be worth 30% of the cap rather than 25%, pushing the value of his five-year extension to $269MM instead of $224MM.

As Patterson notes, Detroit is left with about $17MM in cap room to work with this offseason. Considering the non-taxpayer mid-level exception is projected at $14.1MM, it’s less likely that any cap space will be used to add or re-sign players, as the Pistons may simply operate as an over-the-cap team.

Patterson states that the Pistons are still in position to bring back free agents Malik Beasley, Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Reed without exceeding the second apron. However, with Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren both eligible for rookie-scale extensions, the organization will have to consider its long-term financial obligations when deciding how to handle its free agents.

Cunningham finished seventh in the Most Valuable Player voting, Patterson adds, and owner Tom Gores believes he might be able to capture that award as the Pistons continue to improve.

“I am focused on MVP for him,” Gores said. “He has that. Everyone saw it this year that he is a superstar in the making. His ability. His poise. I’ve talked to Cade throughout the season to remind him that so much of the character of this team revolves around his ability to stay strong.”

There’s more from Detroit:

Ivey’s return from a broken fibula might be the equivalent of a major free agent signing for next season’s team, observes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required). The last medical update from the Pistons, issued April 26, said Ivey was engaged in shooting and skill work, along with strength and conditioning, in preparation for a return to five-on-five competition.
It may be advantageous for Ivey and Duren to wait for restricted free agency in 2026 rather than negotiate extensions this summer, Sankofa states in a mailbag column. Ivey can improve his bargaining position by bouncing back strong from the injury, while Duren excelled during the playoffs and can become more valuable by playing an entire season at that level.
The Celtics are expected to make several players available in trade as they try to reduce salary, but it’s too much of a risk for the Pistons to take on the contract of Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, Sankofa adds in the same piece. He views Sam Hauser, who’s about to start a four-year, $45MM extension, as a more reasonable target.

Pistons Notes: Schröder, Draft, Free Agency, Ivey, Duren, Gores

May 20th, 2025 at 7:07pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Dennis Schröder played steady rotation minutes after being acquired by the Pistons at the trade deadline. Re-signing the veteran point guard could be a tricky proposition, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com notes.

Schröder was needed to fortify the backcourt after Jaden Ivey suffered a fractured fibula at the start of the New Year. Ivey should be 100 percent by training camp and the Pistons have prioritized re-signing sixth man Malik Beasley, one of the league’s premier three-point shooters. The Pistons will have to determine whether there’s enough of a role for Schröder to warrant the type of contract he figures to command.

We have more on the Pistons:

In his latest mailbag, The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson expresses doubt that the Pistons are eager to get into the first round via trade. The Pistons conveyed their first-round pick to Minnesota to fulfill a prior obligation. Patterson believes the front office is content with the team’s early second rounder at No. 37. Patterson also anticipates the Pistons will look to add a power forward in free agency, perhaps targeting a player like Naz Reid or Santi Aldama.
Prioritizing continuity in free agency and taking the long view on extensions for Ivey and Jalen Duren would make for a successful offseason, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. Schröder, Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Reed are all candidates to be re-signed, depending on the market. The Pistons could wait on new deals for Ivey and/or Duren until they reach restricted free agency next summer.
A letter from owner Tom Gores was posted on the team’s website on Monday, expressing gratitude to the fans and praising the players, coach J.B. Bickerstaff and lead executive Trajan Langdon. He pledged the organization will continue to build off its surprising success. “I promise our urgency will not stop. Our players and coaching staff are focused on continuing our positive momentum,” Gores wrote. “Trajan and his team will act with urgency to strengthen our roster. And I will continue to ensure this organization has the necessary resources to succeed. I believe in what we’re building. I’m excited about this journey and hope you will stick with us as we continue to build on this foundation for success. I look forward to seeing you next season.”

Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Langdon, Ivey, Trade Assets

May 11th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Now that Cade Cunningham has established himself as one of the NBA’s best guards, Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon believes he’ll become a target for other players, writes Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News. Cunningham earned his first All-Star appearance this year, averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 70 games, and is considered a strong candidate for All-NBA honors.

“He was looking at other players and had a target on their backs, and now, he is going to have a target on his,” Langdon said. “Players are going to be like, ‘Man, I am going against Cade Cunningham tonight. I’m going to get my rest because people are going to be watching.'”

Davis adds that Cunningham’s exit interview with Langdon and coach J.B. Bickerstaff focused on the increased attention he’s likely to get from opposing defenses. He got a taste of that in the playoffs as New York took a physical approach with Cunningham and utilized multiple coverages, limiting him to 42.6% from the field in the six-game series.

“The big thing for him, and we talked to him about it, get into elite shape,” Langdon added. “He is incredibly skilled and talented. He understands the leadership of it. He now has a little bit of late-season and playoff experience, he knows how it feels. So, now, he has an understanding of what he is training for in the summer. If you have never experienced playoff basketball, you don’t understand the level you have to go to. He should be training for the first and second rounds of the playoffs. Not just Game 45 (of the regular season) anymore.”

There’s more from Detroit:

Jaden Ivey is looking forward to a fresh start after missing most of the season with a broken left fibula he suffered in a New Year’s Day game, Davis adds in a separate story. There was some optimism that Ivey could return by the end of the season, but the Pistons decided not to take that risk. “This has been painful for him,” Langdon said. “He is an incredible human being, teammate; he has been supportive. But it has been hard for him to watch our run.”
Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press doesn’t expect the Pistons to pursue a star this offseason, but he notes that the organization has the assets to consider that route. The team is finally free from the restrictions of the Ted Stepien rule and can freely part with multiple future first-round picks in a trade for the first time in five years. Sankofa states that Langdon could offer up to four first-round selections and three first-round swaps if he decides to chase an elite player.
Unless they can somehow land Giannis Antetokounmpo or Devin Booker this summer, the Pistons’ best strategy is to keep their young core intact, contends Shawn Windsor of The Detroit Free Press.

Pistons GM Trajan Langdon Talks Free Agents, Extensions, More

May 7th, 2025 at 9:15pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Pistons veterans Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Paul Reed and Dennis Schröder will all be unrestricted free agents this summer. The additions of Beasley, Hardaway, Schröder and forward Tobias Harris; the growth of Detroit’s young core; and the hiring of new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff sparked a 30-win improvement between 2023/24 and 2024/25, and saw Detroit return to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

The Pistons gave the higher-seeded Knicks all they could handle in a hard-fought first round playoff series, but were ultimately defeated in six games and now face a summer full of possibilities.

Pistons team president Trajan Langdon seemed to be relatively open-minded about the aforementioned free agent quartet’s future in town during his end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, writes Omari Sankofa II Detroit Free Press.

“Maybe some of them don’t want to come back, maybe some of them get bigger offers elsewhere,” Langdon said. “It takes two to tango with our free agents and they have decisions to make. All of them were great for us. I think they’d all be great for us coming back here in terms of what they did for us and how they fit the roster that we have. I can’t give you an answer of which ones because again, it takes both sides to come together on a deal.”

Will the Pistons seek to upgrade the club’s roster around All-Star Cade Cunningham via trades? Langdon seemed to suggest that he would be receptive to trade proposals, but wasn’t looking to muck up his club’s developmental timeline after the first round playoff exit, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.

“I’ve always said ‘stay patient’ and I’m not going to change in that regard,” Langdon said. “We’re going to listen to calls, we’re going to see opportunities. We’re always going to look at avenues to get better that we think make sense for us to improve. A big thing for us this summer is going to be to develop the guys we have – the young guys we have that are 19 to 22, 23 years old and have them continue to grow. If those guys take steps, we get better. That’s what we’ve focused on and putting people with those guys that can make them better. It was a pretty good formula this year, so we’ll look at everything out there.”

Here are a few more of Langdon’s notable comments from Wednesday’s press conference, via Sankofa and Langlois.

On the team’s massive single-season turnaround:

“After a couple days [to] reflect, hell of a season for us… I don’t know another way to put it. Surprising, gratifying. Guess it creates different expectations going into next year for us. We can see that both ways, positively and negatively. But I think there’s way more positives.”

On emphasizing offseason continuity with the club’s youth movement:

“All these guys will come back and that continuity with this, not only the roster but the coaching staff and his philosophy that this group has never had before… That will be a positive through the summer and through next season as well. The questions will be there, about what we do. Do we add another person or do we just build from within? Like I said before, we’ll look at all avenues and decide what the best avenue is for us.”

On wing Ausar Thompson‘s development in two abridged seasons:

“Ausar – it’s his second season and he had a shortened first season and a shortened second season because it didn’t start on time and he really didn’t have a summer, either, because of his blood clots. It’s exciting for us that he’ll have a full summer to train as a professional that he hasn’t had yet. To have the season he had without a full summer or training camp is incredible.”

On guard Jaden Ivey‘s possible rookie scale extension:

“He had an incredible first two months of the season and he helped this turnaround… I’m excited to see what his summer looks like and what he’s gonna look like coming back in the fall as well. He’s a guy that impacts the game on both ends of the floor and in-between and in transition. Adding him to the roster we have, I think, will create an even more explosive dynamic and something else that our coaches and players can use to help us win games and have even more success. I think he’s going to come back a better version than he was last to year.”

On Jalen Duren‘s midseason growth and his own potential extension:

“JD took a huge step after the first 25 games…. He was a different player the last 50, 60 games of the season. He got off to a slow start. We’re hoping we’re going to push him this summer as well and I think he’s willing to take that up to another level. If those guys take steps, we get better.”

Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Bickerstaff, Gores, Beasley

May 2nd, 2025 at 12:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pistons didn’t advance past the first round, but they’ve revived the culture of Detroit basketball and figure to be a playoff contender for many years to come, writes Eric Woodyard of ESPN. This season marked a 30-game improvement over last year, when they were a league-worst 14-68. They proved they belong in the postseason by playing six competitive games against New York before bowing out due to Jalen Brunson‘s heroic performance.

“We felt good about this series,” Cade Cunningham said after Thursday’s loss. “So to not pull it out hurts, but that feeling will stick with us throughout the summer in our workouts, conversations and everything. We will be back and better.”

The turnaround was orchestrated by J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over as head coach last summer shortly after being dismissed by Cleveland. Bickerstaff, who was named as a finalist for Coach of the Year honors, was invigorated by the opportunity to guide a talented young roster, saying it gave him a “renewed sense of purpose in this profession.”

“It’s great experience,” he added. “You don’t get playoff experience until you get playoff experience, but I thought the guys did a tremendous job of learning from moment to moment, game to game and trying to figure out how you can have an impact on winning.”

There’s more from Detroit:

In a session with the media before Game 6, owner Tom Gores admitted that the Pistons exceeded his expectations for this season, Woodyard adds. Gores said the future looks promising and thanked Detroit fans for their support. “How they’ve been able to get through adversity is so impressive. I don’t get inspired by a lot, I’m really inspired by them,” Gores said. “They have excited the city. I’ve done everything I could for this city. We buy hospitals, we try to make sure kids are OK. We do all the things that we do. I’ve never got the city that excited before this team showed up and they’re just showing it on the floor. I’m sure a lot of people still are not going to predict us to get anywhere, but we’re here.”
Malik Beasley, who was a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year Award in his first season with the Pistons, expressed interest in re-signing with the team in free agency. The 28-year-old shooting guard came to Detroit on a one-year, $6MM contract last summer, and the Pistons only hold his Non-Bird rights. “In my whole nine years in the NBA, I never had this much fun coming to the gym,” Beasley said (Twitter video link from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). “I’ve been through a lot of stuff just this year alone. Every day coming in was probably the best thing that happened to me. … It’s definitely a place I want to be.”
Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart are the only Pistons currently with non-rookie deals that stretch past the 2025/26 season, but that figures to change soon, per Christian Romo of The Detroit Free Press. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder are also headed for free agency this summer, while Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren will both be eligible for rookie scale extensions.

Pistons Notes: Schröder, Beasley, Stewart, Ivey, Game 3

April 27th, 2025 at 10:59am CST by Rory Maher

Veteran guard Dennis Schröder struggled with his shot after the Pistons traded for him in February, averaging 10.8 points on .378/.302/.833 shooting in 28 regular season games (25.2 minutes per contest).

However, as Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press writes, the 31-year-old has played a critical role for the Pistons in the playoffs, making timely shots and serving as a secondary ball-handler alongside All-Star Cade Cunningham. Through three playoff games (28.3 MPG), Schröder is averaging 15.3 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds on .556/.615/.800 shooting.

“He’s played in so many big games, and when you go back and watch his history, he’s clutch in big games,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after Game 2, when Schröder made the winning basket, securing Detroit’s first playoff victory in 17 years. “We talked about it early on when he got here, he’s just fearless. There’s no moment, there’s no crowd, there’s no noise that’s too big or that’s gonna rattle him. Works his tail off on his game, but a lot of people in that situation don’t have the courage and he’s got the courage to take big shots.”

Schröder will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, Sankofa notes.

Here’s more on the Pistons:

While Schröder has caught fire in the playoffs, the opposite has been true for Malik Beasley, another impending free agent. After averaging 16.3 points and converting 41.6% of his three-point tries in the regular season, the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up has posted 13.7 PPG while shooting 30.0% from long distance thus far in Detroit’s first-round series vs. New York. “I think he’s getting his looks. They just haven’t fallen for him … we know he’s capable of making those shots,” Bickerstaff said of Beasley (Twitter link via Sankofa).
Big man Isaiah Stewart battled through a right knee injury in Game 1 and missed the second and third games of the series. He’ll also be sidelined for Sunday’s Game 4 due to ongoing right knee inflammation, as Hunter Patterson of The Athletic relays (via Twitter).
Although the Pistons technically didn’t rule out Jaden Ivey for the remainder of the postseason when they provided an update on his status last night, Bickerstaff sounded skeptical about the third-year guard’s chances of playing again in ’24/25, per Patterson (Twitter video link). “Our aim will always be to protect our guys,” Bickerstaff said. “This would just be a very difficult situation for a guy to come back into after dealing with the injury. … The more he progresses, we’ll take a look.” Ivey is recovering from a broken fibula in his left leg.
Both the Pistons and Knicks were frustrated by the officiating following a controversial ending to Game 3, writes Chris Herring of ESPN. Detroit was livid that Jalen Brunson wasn’t called for a backcourt violation in the closing seconds, though the NBA supported that non-call, notes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. The Knicks, meanwhile, were angered that Detroit got possession of the ball after Brunson intentionally missed a free throw with 0.5 seconds left.
Despite finding themselves in a 1-2 hole, the Pistons remained positive after the Game 3 loss, as Patterson writes for The Athletic. “We won’t be deflated,” Bickerstaff said when asked about the mood in the Pistons locker room. “Our guys are too committed to one another. We’re not results-driven. We’ll show up Sunday and we’re going to lay it on the line. We’re going to fight like hell and see what happens.”

Pistons Provide Medical Update On Jaden Ivey

April 26th, 2025 at 9:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jaden Ivey, who has been sidelined since January 1 with a broken left fibula, is taking part in “a progression of basketball shooting and skill work” in addition to ongoing reconditioning and strength exercises, the Pistons announced (Twitter link). The team stated that another update will be provided in two weeks.

The third-year shooting guard was in the midst of his best NBA season when he suffered the injury during a New Year’s Day game against Orlando as Cole Anthony landed on his leg while they were chasing a loose ball. Ivey underwent surgery on January 2.

Ivey seemed to regain his confidence under new coach J.B. Bickerstaff after struggling last season when Monty Williams tried to adjust his role. In the 30 games he played this season, Ivey averaged career highs with 17.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while posting career-best shooting numbers of 46% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. He regained his status as a full-time starter and logged 29.9 minutes per night.

Ivey was ruled out for the rest of the regular season in mid-March, but the Pistons haven’t confirmed that he won’t be able to return at some point in the playoffs. However, it appears that it will take a long postseason run for that to be considered, and Detroit is currently trailing 2-1 in its series with New York.

Ivey is a solid foundation piece for the improving Pistons, who went 44-38 after winning just 14 games last season. The fifth pick in the 2022 draft, Ivey will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer that could ensure his long-term future in Detroit.

Injury Notes: Ivey, Ingram, Wells, T. Jones

April 10th, 2025 at 12:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Jaden Ivey continues to progress in his recovery from the broken left fibula he suffered on New Year’s Day, according to the Pistons, who announced on Thursday (via Twitter) that the third-year guard has been cleared for basketball activities.

Ivey is entering the initial phase of his reconditioning program and will continue to progress in his on-court work, the team stated, adding that he’ll be reevaluated in two weeks.

While Ivey obviously won’t make it back during the regular season, it’s worth noting that the Pistons have yet to formally rule him out for the postseason. Detroit has clinched a playoff spot and will be in the midst of the conference quarterfinals in two weeks.

Of course, there’s still no guarantee that Ivey will be able to return and contribute in the playoffs, but the longer the Pistons can stay alive, the better the odds are that he’ll have a chance to play again this spring.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

Raptors forward Brandon Ingram has been shut down for the rest of the 2024/25 season after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his injured left ankle this week, head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters on Wednesday (story via Ian Harrison of The Associated Press). Ingram, acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline, has yet to make his Raptors debut, having been out with his ankle injury since early December. “It’s what he needs,” Rajakovic said of the injection, adding that Ingram is expected to be good to go for training camp in the fall. “He’s been recovering really well.”
After being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells was in attendance at the team’s shootaround on Thursday, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Wells, who fractured his wrist and sustained a facial laceration as a result of the hard fall he took in Tuesday’s game, won’t be able to return to action anytime soon, but was “in decent spirits” on Thursday, according to Grizzlies wing Vince Williams.
Bulls point guard Tre Jones, who sprained his left foot last month, still doesn’t appear close to returning to action. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link), Jones was still wearing a walking boot as of Wednesday night. While the team hasn’t provided an official update recently, it seems increasingly unlikely that the veteran guard will have a chance to return this season unless the Bulls advance beyond the play-in tournament.

Pistons Notes: Bickerstaff, THJ, Thompson, Offseason, Cunningham

March 30th, 2025 at 6:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons have become the first team in NBA history to triple their win total in back-to-back 82-game seasons. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is one of the league’s top candidates for Coach of the Year with his main competition being his successor with the Cavaliers, Kenny Atkinson.

After going 14-68 last season, Detroit swept a three-game homestand to reach the 42-win total despite the absence of star Cade Cunningham. That should bolster Bickerstaff’s candidacy, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic notes.

“The way we play is his style, brand of basketball and his attitude,” Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “He’s done an amazing job of giving guys that confidence, giving guys that ability to go out there and compete on both ends of the floor. No matter if you make a mistake here or there or multiple mistakes in a row, as long as you’re competing and moving on to the next play, that’s all he cares about.

“And when you have a coach like that, and a coach that also communicates to each one of his players like he does — goes up to each one of them before practice, after practice just to ask how your day is going — that goes a long way. We want to go to battle for him. We want to go to war for him, and I feel like that’s what makes him the Coach of the Year.”

We have more on the Pistons:

Ausar Thompson‘s rookie season ended abruptly due to blood clotting issues. In his second season, the 2023 lottery pick has emerged as a defensive stopper and steady contributor for the league’s most surprising club. Thompson told Grant Afseth of RG.org that physicality is the key to his defensive approach. “I think being physical off-ball,” Thompson said. “When they pass the ball — if they cut, hit ’em a little bit because then it’s gonna slow down the cut. They might try and talk to you. So yeah, just be physical with them, not let them be comfortable and slow ‘em down.”
Keith Langlois of Pistons.com doubts the front office will pursue an in-his-prime star this offseason to pair with Cunningham. Langlois anticipates the Pistons will be focused on ensuring there are enough solid veterans around Cunningham, since Malik Beasley and Hardaway will be free agents. Langlois also notes that Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson all have a chance to blossom into legitimate No. 2 options alongside Cunningham.
Cunningham missed his fourth straight game on Sunday due to a left calf contusion. Bickerstaff feels as though the point guard’s teammates have embraced the challenge of playing without him, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press tweets. “He’s earned so much of their respect in putting this team together and helping it evolve and grow …they’ve individually gone out and tried to be the best version of themselves,” he said.
Tobias Harris was a late scratch on Sunday, the team’s PR department tweets. He’s dealing with an Achilles injury and also missed Friday’s win over Cleveland.

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