It has been six weeks and 22 games since Jaden Ivey returned from an extended injury absence. The talented combo guard missed nearly 11 months of action after suffering a broken fibula last season, followed by an arthroscopic knee surgery during the 2025 preseason. Understandably, the Detroit Pistons have been bringing him along slowly. Yet, how small Ivey's role has been, especially during Cade Cunningham's absence last week, is becoming a problem.
Cunningham missed the last two games for the Pistons with a wrist injury. In his stead, Ivey took the reins as the starting point guard. However, his playing time was limited to 20 minutes in each game, with head coach JB Bickerstaff trusting Daniss Jenkins more and closing the game with him instead of Ivey.
Jaden Ivey's Time in Detroit May Soon Come to an End
This is especially concerning after Ivey told Omari Sankofa II of Detroit Free Press on Friday that he is not on a minutes restriction and he feels good. Yet, Ivey hasn't played over 22 minutes in any game in 2026. In fact, he only played more than 25 minutes in a game once since returning to action on Nov. 22.
Integrating a player who has been sidelined for almost a year into a team that has played well above expectations and won consistently is difficult. Ivey is not the easiest player to fit onto a team, as he is more effective with the ball in his hands. The Pistons have found success by giving Cunningham the ball and running two-man actions featuring the aforementioned Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Even though Ivey is an improved shooter, he still has to get better at being an off-ball player.
The complicating matter here is that Ivey is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Detroit and the fourth-year player couldn't agree on an extension over the summer. The Pistons have the right to match any offer sheet for Ivey and retain him going forward. Considering that a max-level extension for Duren is looming, the Pistons will understandably be hesitant to give out a lucrative multi-year deal for Ivey.
Jenkins has emerged as a capable backup point guard who can also play next to Cunningham. He will also be on a very team-friendly deal once the Pistons inevitably sign him to an extension. Where Ivey fits on this team long-term becomes a big question. This means that the Pistons must explore trade possibilities before the Feb. 5 deadline. Even if nothing materializes then, it's still hard to imagine Ivey in a Pistons uniform at the start of the 2026-27 season.