Jaden Ivey’s imminent return was supposed to be a big boon for a Detroit Pistons team coming off of a historic turnaround. Instead, they’re preparing to be without the speedy fourth-year guard for at least a month — which brings deeper questions about how they will adjust again.
Ivey underwent arthroscopic surgery in his right knee to relieve discomfort on Thursday, Oct. 16, the team announced ahead of its home preseason finale against the Washington Wizards. It’s another setback for the fourth-year guard who was on the cusp of returning from a nine-month absence, after suffering a season-ending broken left leg on Jan. 1.
The team clarified that Ivey’s right knee issue is unrelated to the previous injury. But he will be re-evaluated in four weeks, meaning he’ll miss at least the Pistons’ first 12 games. In the meantime, they will lean on other players to handle the ball and figure out if they can withstand a weakened point guard rotation, or if they need to look for outside help.
“It was something that was developing over his work,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Thursday afternoon. “Obviously from coming back but in training camp also, he started to feel something and we took precautions and the medical teams did their assessments and those things to make the decision that ultimately led us to where we are today.
“We want to make sure that he’s healthy, make sure he’s 100% and confident in it too,” he continued. “When you go through this and haven’t played since Jan. 1, making sure that you’re confident when you come back and play is just as important as the physical piece of it, too.”
Bickerstaff expressed confidence that the Pistons have enough ball-handling on the roster to weather Ivey’s absence. Ausar Thompson has gotten reps at point guard throughout the preseason, and the coaching staff is looking forward to pairing him with Cunningham and Ron Holland during the season. Thompson is still adjusting to the new role, but the team will need him to step up immediately.
Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser and two-way guard Daniss Jenkins also will share ball-handling responsibilities, though the first two also have battled injuries. LeVert missed the Pistons’ two preseason games leading into Thursday’s finale, and Sasser missed Tuesday’s road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jenkins started Tuesday and continued looking competent with the ball, finishing with 19 points and six assists on 5-for-6 shooting. He may be the closest thing to a “pure” point guard on the roster, following the departure of veteran Dennis Schröder this offseason.
“If healthy, we have the guys that can fill those spots,” Bickerstaff said. “Playing with A.T. with the ball in his hands more, Caris has the ability to do that, we’ve been extremely pleased with Marcus Sasser and how he’s been able to help us. We’ve got guys that we feel confident in, all the way to Daniss. I feel confident you can put Daniss in a game right now and he can be impactful. We’re confident in how we’re going to fill it. We just have to come up with the combinations that we think work best.”
The Pistons have an open roster spot if they need outside help. They also have a trade exception worth up to $14.3 million, if they wish to peruse other rosters instead of bringing in a free agent.
It was a breakout season for Ivey prior to his injury on New Year’s Day. Improved shooting splits enabled him to become a viable second scoring option behind Cade Cunningham — he set career highs in points per game (17.6), 3-point percentage (40.9%) and overall shooting (46%).
The news concerning his rehab and recovery, initially, was good. Bickerstaff and teammates said during training camp that he looked healthy and hadn’t lost any of his trademark speed. But after playing 14 minutes in the Pistons’ preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, he missed two games while dealing with discomfort.
Bickerstaff said Wednesday that Ivey was “day-to-day,” but it appears he will miss their season opener against the Chicago Bulls next Wednesday, as well as the next three weeks after, at least. There’s never a good time for an injury, but it’s a tough break for Ivey after months of diligently rehabbing, ahead of the deadline for his rookie extension on Monday.
“It’s obviously tough for him and that’s what you feel more than anything,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously going through what he went through last year and then working his way back, and then having this happen to him, it’s frustrating for him.
“We talked this afternoon. He just wants to get out on the floor with the guys and go compete with his teammates. I know JI. He’s a resilient person. And all these setbacks, they don’t deter him from what his ultimate goal is and that’s to be a great basketball player and teammate. As difficult as it is for him and for all of us to lose him for these first four weeks, I know that he’s going to come back better for it.”
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons confident in ball-handlers despite Jaden Ivey injury
