Pistons Trade Jaden Ivey to Bulls in Three-Team Deal, Land Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric
The Detroit Pistons are shaking things up - and in a big way. In a three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit is sending guard Jaden Ivey to the Bulls, ending a four-year run that once looked like a cornerstone partnership.
The deal brings back sharpshooter Kevin Huerter, veteran forward Dario Saric, and a 2026 protected first-round pick swap via the Timberwolves. Also heading to Chicago is Mike Conley Jr., a steady veteran presence shipped out by Minnesota.
Let’s break it down.
Ivey’s Detroit Chapter Closes
Ivey’s time in Detroit started with promise. Drafted No. 5 overall in 2022, he was seen as a foundational piece alongside Cade Cunningham.
Through his first 181 games - 164 of them starts - Ivey averaged 16.1 points and 4.4 assists. He brought speed, energy, and a fearless approach to attacking the rim.
But the trajectory shifted after a tough injury. A fractured left fibula on January 1, 2025, sidelined Ivey and disrupted his rhythm.
Since returning on November 22 against the Bucks, he’s played in 33 games but started just twice, averaging 8.2 points in 16.8 minutes per game. The explosiveness hasn’t fully returned, and with Detroit’s young core evolving, the front office clearly felt it was time for a new direction.
Ivey leaves Detroit having played 214 games, averaging 14.9 points and 4.0 assists overall. While his time with the Pistons didn’t quite deliver on the early promise, there’s still a lot of upside for the 22-year-old in Chicago, especially alongside a veteran like Conley who can help steady the backcourt.
Huerter Brings Shooting to a Team That Needs It
Detroit’s biggest need? Shooting. And Kevin Huerter, even in a down year, still fits that bill.
The 27-year-old has been one of the league’s more respected perimeter threats since entering the NBA in 2018. Across his career, he’s averaged 11.6 points while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. That kind of spacing is something the Pistons have sorely lacked.
This season, though, Huerter’s touch from deep hasn’t been quite as sharp. In 44 games with the Bulls - including 11 starts - he’s shooting a career-low 31.4% from three. Still, he’s averaging 10.9 points per game and brings a veteran presence that could help balance out Detroit’s youth-heavy rotation.
The Pistons will be Huerter’s fourth NBA stop, following stints in Atlanta, Sacramento, and Chicago. Originally a first-round pick out of Maryland, he’s got the kind of skill set that could thrive in the right system - especially if Detroit can get him back to his usual shooting form.
Saric Adds Frontcourt Depth - For Now
Dario Saric comes in as a bit of a wild card. At 6-foot-10 and with a versatile offensive game, Saric has averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds over 498 career games. He’s a stretch big who can pass, shoot, and space the floor - all valuable traits in today’s NBA.
But his role in Detroit is far from clear. Saric has played just five games this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 8.2 minutes per game. He was recently moved in a separate three-team deal that also sent DeAndre Hunter to Sacramento and Dennis Schröder to Cleveland.
With Detroit already loaded in the frontcourt, it’s possible Saric could be part of a future move. But if he sticks around, he offers a different look than the Pistons’ current bigs - a more finesse, floor-spacing option who can help open up the offense.
The Bigger Picture
This trade feels like a pivot point for Detroit. By moving on from Ivey, they’re signaling a shift in how they want to build around their young core. Huerter gives them a much-needed shooter, Saric adds depth (or trade flexibility), and the 2026 pick swap gives them a potential asset down the line.
For Ivey, the move to Chicago could be a fresh start - a chance to reset and rediscover the dynamic guard play that made him a top-five pick. And with Conley joining him, the Bulls get a mix of youth and veteran savvy in their backcourt.
It’s a bold move by the Pistons. Now it’s up to the new pieces to prove they fit the puzzle.