Caris LeVert will remain sidelined due to illness for tonight’s matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets-a game that’s shaping up to be a battle of attrition more than anything else.
The Nuggets, already walking a tightrope with injuries, will be without Nikola Jokic, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun. Jamal Murray, Jonas Valanciunas, and Peyton Watson are all listed as probable, but even if they suit up, Denver’s depth chart is looking razor-thin.
For Detroit, while no one ever roots for a player to be out, LeVert’s absence has given head coach JB Bickerstaff some unexpected clarity in a season that’s been anything but predictable. With a roster full of young talent and overlapping skill sets, Bickerstaff’s had to juggle rotations all year. Now, with LeVert out of the mix, he’s finding a bit more stability-and that’s been especially good news for Daniss Jenkins and Jaden Ivey.
Let’s start with Jenkins. The rookie has looked increasingly comfortable running the second unit.
He’s playing with more poise, more control, and most importantly, he’s starting to look like a true floor general. That’s no small development for a Pistons team still trying to establish its identity.
Then there’s Ivey. With Jenkins handling more of the playmaking duties, Ivey has been freed up to operate off the ball-and the results have been impressive.
Over his last five games, he’s been lights out from deep, knocking down nearly half of his 3-point attempts. That’s exactly where Detroit wants him: spacing the floor, attacking closeouts, and picking his spots without being burdened by the responsibilities of a primary initiator.
The chemistry between Ivey and LeVert just hasn’t clicked. When they’ve shared the floor, the offense has often bogged down.
Ivey’s decision-making has taken a hit, especially now that he’s not consistently beating defenders off the dribble. He needs a steady point guard next to him to be effective-and LeVert, who’s more of a combo guard than a true facilitator, hasn’t been able to provide that.
With LeVert out, Bickerstaff has been able to give Jenkins and Ivey clearly defined roles. That’s been a hallmark of his approach: give players structure, let them know what’s expected, and then let them thrive within those boundaries. It’s a lot easier to do that when you’re not trying to force fits or juggle too many similar skill sets.
All of this leads to a bigger question: where does LeVert fit into the Pistons’ plans moving forward?
Right now, it’s hard to make the case that he does. He hasn’t delivered the secondary ball-handling or scoring punch the team hoped for, and with younger guards showing signs of growth, his role is becoming increasingly redundant. As the trade deadline approaches, LeVert could be a candidate to be moved-not necessarily because of what he’s done wrong, but because of what the team’s younger guards are doing right.
Of course, moving him won’t be easy. He’s under contract for another season, and his trade value isn’t exactly peaking. Unless he’s packaged in a larger deal, Detroit may not get much in return-if anything, they could even have to attach assets just to make a move happen.
That puts the onus back on Bickerstaff to keep navigating this rotation puzzle. If LeVert sticks around, the challenge will be finding a way to integrate him without disrupting the rhythm Jenkins and Ivey are starting to build. But if recent games are any indication, the Pistons may already be leaning toward a future that doesn’t include LeVert in the mix.