NBA Trade Deadline: Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden Ivey Sent to Bulls in 3-Team Trade
Jan 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bulls made a big splash before the trade deadline by acquiring two new players in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, this complex transaction redistributes four players and includes a draft pick exchange.
A Double Boost for Chicago with Conley and Ivey
The Bulls acquire point guard Mike Conley Jr. from Minnesota Timberwolves and guard Jaden Ivey from the Pistons. Conley, 38, is in his 19th NBA season and brings his experience after four years with the Timberwolves. The former All-Star has career averages of 13.7 points, 5.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 three-pointers made in 1,216 games.
Conley’s on-court production has dipped this season — 4.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds across 44 games — but the appeal isn’t statistical. His value lies in organization, decision-making, and leadership, traits that still matter for a Chicago team trying to steady itself in the playoff picture.
Jaden Ivey, 24, represents a future investment for the Bulls. Selected 5th overall in the 2022 draft out of Purdue, the young guard has seen his playing time drastically reduced this season in Detroit. After a promising 2023-2024 campaign averaging 17.6 points before his left fibula injury in January, Ivey is now only averaging 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.8 minutes per game.
Detroit Focuses on Experience with Huerter and Šarić
Detroit, the surprise leader in the Eastern Conference at 36–12, added Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric from Chicago, along with a protected 2026 first-round pick originally belonging to Minnesota. The move adds shooting and frontcourt depth without disrupting the Pistons’ broader flexibility.
Huerter, 27, brings steady offensive production, averaging 10.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while hitting 1.6 threes per game. The efficiency has been uneven — 45.5 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from deep — but his spacing and movement fit cleanly into a functional offense.
Šarić, 31, arrives in Detroit days after being moved from Sacramento to Chicago as part of a separate three-team deal. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, all four players in the transaction are on expiring contracts, and Šarić remains trade-eligible ahead of the deadline because his salary fits into an exception rather than being aggregated.
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