Trade Proposal Sends Jaden Ivey To Nets, Cam Thomas To Pistons

One NBA analyst proposed that the Detroit Pistons trade Jaden Ivey to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Thomas.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the mock trade.

“Ivey might be a blur with the basketball, but his shaky shooting and limited off-ball value have hurt this partnership,” Buckley wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “The Pistons could have interest in seeing whether Thomas, a superior shooter and something-out-of-nothing scorer, proves a better complement to Cunningham.

“This would functionally be a challenge trade, as each side would wager it could bring more out of the incoming player than his previous employer had. If the Pistons guessed right on Thomas, they’d give their offense some badly needed scoring punch while also improving the spacing and taking some heat away from Cunningham.”

The Nets and Pistons are in rebuild mode. Brooklyn went 32-50 this past season, while Detroit went 14-68. 

For the Pistons, Ivey averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks this past season while shooting 42.9% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 74.9% from the free-throw line in 77 games. 

For the Nets, Thomas averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 44.2% overall, 36.4% from 3 and 85.6% from the foul line in 66 games. 

Brooklyn can sign Thomas to a rookie-scale extension this offseason. Thomas becomes a restricted free agent next offseason if an extension isn’t reached. 

“You definitely think about it, but it’s not something I’m pushing for,” Thomas told NBA reporter Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “Whatever happens with the organization happens. I can’t control that. The only thing I can control is going out there and playing the best basketball I can play. Whatever happens will happen. I’m not really pressed on it. Whatever happens will happen. You never know what could happen. As of right now, I’m not really pressed on it. I want to keep improving my game to get ready for next season.”

Ivey has career averages of 15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks, while Thomas has career averages of 14.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks.