BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Detroit Pistons selected Purdue guard Jaden Ivey with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Thursday night.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore averaged 17.3 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game during the 2021-2022 season.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALL! BEYOND EXCITED TO BE A PISTON❤️
— Jaden Ivey (@IveyJaden) June 24, 2022
Not only could he be a great fit for Detroit, but also Ivey has some strong ties to the city already. Niele Ivey, Jaden's mom and current Notre Dame Women's Basketball head coach, played for the Detroit Shock during her tenure in the WNBA.
This is what it’s about. 💙 https://t.co/wKFpxZ6Sot pic.twitter.com/qT6zHplzwe
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) June 24, 2022
On top of that, Javin Hunter, Jaden's dad, was a three-time basketball state champion at Detroit Country Day, while James Hunter, Jaden's grandfather, played several seasons with the Detroit Lions. Hunter was drafted tenth overall in the 1976 NFL Draft and spent his entire career in Detroit.
This pick follows a big move Wednesday when the Pistons reportedly traded Jerami Grant to Portland for a future first round pick.
Grant was heading into the last year of his three-year contract with Detroit.
The move clears even more cap space for the franchise, which now has a projected $43 million.
As part of the deal, the Pistons reportedly will acquire Memphis center Jalen Duren in a trade, after the Hornets selected him with the No. 13 overall pick. Per the trade, Detroit will send Charlotte the 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee, which it got from Portland in Wednesday's Jerami Grant deal.
Meanwhile, Kemba Walker reportedly landed with the Pistons after a three-way trade with the Knicks and Hornets. Detroit is expected to discuss a contract buyout, allowing Walker to become a free agent.
Detroit is up again in the second round with the 36th overall pick.
Orlando got the top overall pick in the draft, selecting Duke power forward Paolo Banchero.
This is only the fourth time the Magic has held the number one pick. Previously, they’ve selected Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993) and Dwight Howard (2004).
Oklahoma City selected Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren with the second overall pick, while the Rockets (No. 3 overall) took Auburn’s Jabari Smith and the Kings (No. 4 overall) selected Iowa’s Keegan Murray.
