Jalen Duren
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Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren during a game against the Indiana Pacers in January 2025
The Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls met for the first time since making a trade deadline deal.
In the trade, the Pistons dealt away one of their former first-round picks in Jaden Ivey. When the two teams met on Saturday, February 21, Ivey got to see his former teammates for the first time since the deal went down. Although Ivey wasn’t a part of the action, he had a chance to catch up with everybody on the Pistons.
Several Pistons stars showed love to the veteran guard after the game, and the All-Star big man Jalen Duren got emotional while discussing his former teammate after the game.
“Man, that’s my brother, man,” Duren said. “I came into the league with him since day one. That’s my brother, man. That’s my favorite player. I love that guy, man.”
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Jalen Duren got emotional talking about former Pistons teammate Jaden Ivey 🥺❤️
“That’s my brother man, came in to the league with him. That’s my favorite player I love that guy.”
Why Was It Time For The Pistons To Move On From Jaden Ivey?
There is a free agency period looming for Ivey.
Typically, when NBA players reach the final year of their active contract, teams tend to scour the market for potential deals if a long-term future isn’t guaranteed. It’s better to get value for a player who might not be around for the long haul, rather than losing them to the free agency market for nothing.
More Bulls News: Jaden Ivey Sends Powerful Message After Surprising DNP
The Pistons didn’t sign any of their high-upside former first-rounders to a new deal during the 2025 offseason. Jalen Duren entered the season fighting for a new contract as well. The difference is that he was able to stay healthy and has absolutely thrived through his fourth season.
Ivey, on the other hand, struggled. With injuries catching up, leading to fewer minutes, the former Pistons standout didn’t maintain his impressive numbers from the 2024-2025 season. The Bulls showed an interest in Ivey, and the Pistons took on Kevin Huerter while moving away from their homegrown talent.
In Chicago, Ivey is expected to get an extended look once again, but an injury has halted his progress.
Jaden Ivey
GettyJaden Ivey reunited with his former Detroit Pistons teammates on February 21.
Ivey Is Battling Another Setback In Chicago
In just a few games, Jaden Ivey is dealing with a knee-related concern once again. The Bulls ruled him out for an extended period ahead of his reunion with the Pistons.
More Bulls News: Bulls Get Major Jaden Ivey Update After Concerning Comments
Before going down, Ivey played in four games, starting in three of them. The veteran guard shot 41 percent from the field and knocked down 38 percent of his threes, taking 5.3 attempts per game. Ivey posted averages of 11.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.
The Bulls might not be a long-term fit for Ivey, but Chicago will have plenty of opportunities for him down the stretch when he returns to the court. The final few weeks of the season will be critical for the former Piston, as he works to drive his value back up before free agency.
Through four years, Ivey has averaged 14.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds.