The Detroit Pistons acquired a hopeful shooting threat. The Bulls continued reshaping their roster by adding a young guard. The Minnesota Timberwolves got under the first apron to possibly set up a bigger move.

Here are the particulars:

Detroit Pistons acquire: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, 2026 protected first-round pick swap (as of now, it looks like the Pistons will swap their pick for the Timberwolves)

Chicago Bulls acquire: Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley

Minnesota Timberwolves acquire: Cash Considerations

Let’s dive in!

Detroit Pistons

Incoming salary: $23.4 million in 2025-26

  • Kevin Huerter (SG/SF, one year, $17.9 million), Dario Saric (PF/C, one year, $5.4 million)

Outgoing salary: $10.1 million in 2025-26

  • Jaden Ivey (SG, one year, $10.1 million (RFA this offseason))

The Detroit Pistons have been looking for a way to add shooting. It’s one of the only holes that Detroit has had this season. In theory, Kevin Hueter should provide that. Why in theory?

Well, Huerter hasn’t shot it well the last two seasons. He’s in the midst of third consecutive season of declining accuracy from behind the arc. If Huerter can find the form he showed earlier in his career, he’ll be exactly what Detroit needs. If not, he’s nothing more than expiring contract who won’t see minutes in the postseason.

Dario Saric is little more than a throw-in to make the salary-matching work in this trade. There’s a good chance he won’t last on Detroit’s roster much past the trade deadline. The Pistons need to create a roster spot to convert breakout two-way player Daniss Jenkins.

All of that really makes this trade Jaden Ivey for Huerter and a first-round pick swap. That pick will likely be better than the Pistons, so Detroit should be able to move up at least a few spots in the draft.

So, why did the Pistons give up on Jaden Ivey? The simple answer is that Ivey hasn’t regained the form he showed before suffering a broken leg last season. The more complex answer is that Ivey’s place in Detroit’s rotation was looking less certain with the emergence of Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and the aforementioned Jenkins.

By trading Ivey, the Pistons also remove a potentially awkward situation with his restricted free agency this offseason. Detroit may have best off to non-tender a qualifying offer to Ivey and clearing his $30 million cap hold off the books. Now, they can let that decision be made by the Chicago Bulls.

As far as that near-term future goes for the Pistons, they’re in pretty good shape. Detroit can create up to $30 million in cap space this summer. That would mean clearing the books of all free agents except for Jalen Duren, and the team’s partial/non-guaranteed contracts. So, Detroit may choose to stay over the cap. Either way, the Pistons are in pretty good shape now and moving forward.

Chicago Bulls

Incoming salary: $20.9 million in 2025-26

  • Jaden Ivey (SG, one year, $10.1 million (RFA this offseason)), Mike Conley (PG, one year, $10.8 million)

Outgoing salary: $23.4 million in 2025-26

  • Kevin Huerter (SG/SF, one year, $17.9 million), Dario Saric (PF/C, one year, $5.4 million)

The Bulls are continuing to retool their roster. After agreeing to this trade, the Bulls sent Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons. After years of resisting a rebuild, the Bulls are clearing out some of their veterans and bringing in younger players.

Jaden Ivey is a good upside bet for Chicago. Before breaking his leg last season, Ivey was averaging a career-high 17.6 points per game on 46/41/73 shooting splits. Ivey has also flashed some playmaking skills, as well as playing some solid defense.

The one challenge for Ivey and the Bulls is that this backcourt is overstuffed with options. Expect another trade or two to thin things out, likely involving Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones, or Chicago flipping Simons in another deal.

If Ivey can find the form he showed before getting hurt, and he’s showed signs this year, he’s a nice player to add to the mix for the Bulls. His shooting ability pairs well with Josh Giddey in the backcourt, and he can play on-ball in lineups where Chicago needs additional playmaking.

The Bulls are reportedly going to work with Mike Conley on finding him a new home. If another trade doesn’t materialize before the deadline, expect a buyout for Conley. Because the veteran point guard makes less than the Non-Taxpayer MLE on his current contract, he’ll be able to join any team on the buyout market.

If everything goes sideways with Ivey and the Bulls, Chicago is still in great shape. The Bulls will likely hit the offseason with somewhere between $25 million and $40 million in cap space. That figure could even rise, as Arturas Karnisovas continues to deal ahead of the deadline.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Incoming salary: None

  • The Wolves are receiving Cash Considerations in this trade

Outgoing salary: $10.8 million

  • Mike Conley (PG, one year, $10.8 million)

This one is simple: The Minnesota Timberwolves got themselves under the first apron in this deal. Minnesota will be about $2.5 million under the first apron. That’s not a massive amount, but it does allow the Wolves a lot of flexibility. They can take back a little money in a trade now. They have no worries of bumping up against the second apron. 

This deal is really all about what’s next for Minnesota. Is it a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo? A trade for a point guard? Something smaller that rounds out the team’s depth? Only time will tell. But the Wolves are in a better position to make whatever it is happen now than they were previously.

In the short-term, it looks like Minnesota will lean on Bones Hyland and Rob Dillingham behind Donte DiVincenzo at the point guard spot. Hyland has played well this year, while Dillingham has struggled to find traction in his second year. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Dillingham on the move, if the Timberwolves make a big trade ahead of the deadline.