Jaden Ivey has missed the beginning of the season after undergoing a knee surgery, but he will have a crucial role to play immediately when he returns to the court. The Pistons' offense has been bogged down this season, especially when Cade Cunningham is off the floor, and Ivey will be tasked with elevating it. Ivey wasn't able to secure his desired contract extension this summer, but he can show his value by taking the Pistons offense to another level.
Ivey can be the missing piece for the Pistons offense
Overall, the Pistons are just 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating at 113.0. But without Cade on the court, that number drops to 104.8, which would only beat out the Dallas Mavericks. The Pistons are desperately searching for ways to improve the offense in Cade's absence, but the options on the active roster have not yielded great results so far.
Cade Cunningham is good enough to carry the offense to wins by himself at times. But it is not sustainable to fully rely on him as the only competent offensive initiator. He's bound to burn out over the course of a long season, and might slow down by the playoffs at this rate. Ivey showed some improvement as a solo creator last season, and will certainly be asked to fulfill this role when he returns this season.
We've already seen the Pistons' reliance on Cade lead to inconsistent results over the course of games. The Pistons' offense has come and gone as Cade's shot does, which has so far been automatic in the fourth quarter but lacking in the first quarter. This has led to the Pistons consistently putting themselves in a hole to start the game, which Ivey can also help.
Adding Ivey as another scoring and playmaking option in the starting lineup will give the Pistons more offensive versatility. Ivey can not only give the Pistons a boost with his own scoring, but also make life easier for Cade by drawing defensive attention. His off-ball shooting improved greatly last season, and his quick first step gives him a great advantage against closeouts.
Ivey has reportedly asked for a contract extension worth upwards of $30 million per season, but he won't be getting it until he can show his importance to the Pistons offense. If he can prove himself as the Pistons' missing piece that takes the full-strength offense to elite levels and keeps them afloat without Cade, he will get handsomely paid as a proper costar should. Without that development, the Pistons will struggle to find consistent offense and continue to occupy the middling position they've had so far this season.