The Chicago Bulls have quickly moved on from Jaden Ivey, waiving the former No. 5 pick just weeks after acquiring him in a trade-deadline deal from the Detroit Pistons.
Various reports indicate that there is no love lost in the Bulls camp over this development following his recent social media controversies.
The Bulls officially cited the reason for waiving the 24-year-old on Monday as “conduct detrimental to the team.”
This came mere hours after Ivey posted lengthy Instagram livestreams that included anti-LGBTQ sentiments, criticism of the NBA’s Pride Month celebrations and rants centred on religion.
It was the end of a very short stint for the Purdue University product who was brought in for his athletic upside. Instead, Ivey appeared in only four games for Chicago before being shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with left knee pain.
In limited action, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 41.7% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.
Ex-Chicago Bulls guard had question marks from the beginning
For the Bulls’ front office, the acquisition of Ivey has quickly unraveled despite documented injuries and off-court issues. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has been left with many unanswered questions.
They sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric in a three-team deal to the Pistons to land Ivey and a future first-round pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bulls have hovered below .500 throughout the season and saw this as an opportunity to improve the roster.
Behind the scenes, however, reports suggest not everyone in the Bulls locker room was enthusiastic about having Ivey as a teammate.
Not one Bulls teammate reportedly was taken aback by his waiving, according to Chicago Sun Times’ Joe Cowley.
“It’s great that he has religion, but the relationship between reporter and player isn’t built like that after just few interactions,” Cowley wrote. “While reporters were left feeling like they didn’t need to be preached to from a 20-something kid a few years removed from walking around with a silver spoon in his mouth on the AAU circuit, his Bulls teammates were left shaking their heads at just the latest distraction provided by their front office. Not one Bulls player was shedding a tear for Ivey’s removal from the roster.”
Ivey’s on-court contribution in Chicago was too small to draw firm conclusions on whether they got it right in terms of what he can add to the team. However, his off-court issues were a big red flag, one that Karnisovas and the front office ignored entirely.
Ivey’s controversial exit and immediate response
Ivey’s social media activity proved to be the breaking point. But it had been brewing with the way he handled interviews often swaying towards the religious side of things. Sometimes asking reporters if they have been saved.
Ivey maintained that his opinion could not be deemed harmful when he had barely been around the team. He maintained that his messages centered on faith rather than targeted attacks.
This recent development has sparked a lot of debate about player expression and what can or cannot be said. But what the NBA has always maintained is a strong line between personal beliefs and professional environments.
Ivey, still only 24, will look to latch onto another team when he is back healthy, if he’s ever again extended an opportunity.
Whether any team will be willing to take the risk remains to be seen.
Report: Bulls Players Scoffed at Trade for Jaden Ivey, Glad He’s Gone