At one time, we expected NBA stars to spend their whole career with one team. That was the standard. Those days have long passed. In the modern NBA, it’s understood that NBA stars may change locations more quickly than a team’s fans may like.
With that said, a lottery pick will typically see their rookie contract through with one team. That’s still a reasonable expectation. On the other hand, even the likelihood of that outcome has decreased. As players request trades more frequently, teams become more willing to trade players.
With that in mind, we’re not saying that the Detroit Pistons will be trading Jaden Ivey soon. We’re simply saying that it’s possible.
Ivey is going to be relegated to the bench this season. If nothing else, that opens the door for speculation. Could the Pistons send their young guard to the Washington Wizards already?
NBA Trade Proposal — Washington Wizards Land Jaden Ivey
Detroit Pistons Receive: F Danilo Gallinari, 2027 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2029 First-Round Pick (WAS)
Washington Wizards Receive: G Jaden Ivey
Wizards fans may have expected Bradley Beal to spend his whole career with the team. To be sure, this relationship lasted longer than many expected. Beal was part of one of the best backcourts in the franchise’s history alongside John Wall.
When injuries cut Wall’s prime short, speculation that the Wizards could move Beal began. It didn’t end for years. The Wizards did not seem interested in rebuilding. They clung to Beal for dear life. In the end, they’d move him anyway. Perhaps they waited too long.
Fans around the NBA were underwhelmed by the return that the Wizards received from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Beal. There’s a lesson here. This is why teams are quicker to trade players than they used to be.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards Updates
If you hang onto someone for too long, the odds of their trade value declining get higher. The Wizards waited too long to move Beal. Should the Pistons jump to move Ivey?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do This Deal
Not necessarily. The Pistons are at a stage in their rebuild that we’ve seen before. They’ve got a nice collection of talent, but the pieces don’t fit on paper. Perhaps that’s why Ivey is expected to come off the bench this season.
After all, Ivey is a primary ball-handler. So is Cade Cunningham, and Ausar Thompson might also be a primary ball-handler. None of these players project as above-average floor spacers. In time, the Pistons may choose between at least Cunningham and Ivey. Why not make that choice now?
His trade value could depreciate if the Pistons hang onto Ivey for too long. Granted, that’s not a given – if Ivey thrives in a reserve role this year, his value could increase.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards Updates
This deal has the Pistons playing it safe by flipping their recent lottery pick for a pair of future firsts. Should the Wizards give up that draft capital for Ivey?
Why The Washington Wizards Do This Deal
Some Wizards fans are cringing right now. This team is in the infancy stages of a rebuild. Why are they giving up draft capital already?
Simple – they’re getting Jaden Ivey. He was just selected fifth in the NBA draft. Moreover, he was widely held to be the fourth-ranked prospect in 2022. The Kings opted to take Keegan Murray simply because they already had De’Aaron Fox.
Ivey is a blue chip prospect – typically, these players don’t become available on their rookie contract. The Wizards are picking up a potentially foundational piece here. It shouldn’t change their plans, either. Both of these picks are distant.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards Updates
The Wizards should be trying to be in contention by 2027 – they can still tank in the immediate future and pick up some more foundational players. Whether they’ll keep them or not is anybody’s guess.
