Coming into this season, the Detroit Pistons' new front office was tasked with a number of things, including the future extensions of both Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
Both players have had injuries and inconsistant play (and minutes) derail some of their previous seasons, and the time has nearly come to decide if they will be a part of Detroit’s long-term plans.
Jaden Ivey has done more than expected during his time before the injury that most people would agree makes him worthy of an extension. His play style can, and does, complement Cade’s very well. He averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 stocks and was shooting 41% from three before his injury, and an extension should be waiting for him this offseason, though his injury may have complicated matters and at least cost him some money. But what about Jalen Duren? Has he done enough to warrant an extension?
Coming into the league, Jalen Duren was somewhat of a mystery. He was a highly recruited high school player, committed to Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers, had some recruiting allegations and found his college career cut short. What was apparent, though, was a young physical specimen who has more potential than 95% of the players in the 2022 NBA Draft. Which is why, when the 13th pick in the draft came around, Detroit agreed to the three-team trade between the Knicks and Hornets that allowed for the Pistons to land Duren.
Not only was Jalen one of the youngest players in the draft, he also had some of the most impressive measurements, standing 6’11, a wingspan of over 7’5 and weighing 250. His leaping and athleticism were obvious, and during his time with the Tigers, he averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over 25.3 minutes per game.
What we wanted to see from him this year
Fast forward to this past offseason, and the Jalen Duren rollercoaster very much had it’s ups and downs. After last season, Duren was averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 62% FG%. There were plenty of times in which you saw the potential of what could be for the young big man.
He was a walking double-double and a true force on the boards. He also showcased the ability to dribble and pass, skills that he was actively proud of. Other times, however, Duren was a defensive liability. He would find himself out of place and disinterested. There wasn’t/isn’t a place for a big man in today’s NBA that has the offensive skill set that Duren has, but no defensive ability.
You can say everyone in Detroit had a down year last season thanks to the player and coaching personnel. You could also say injuries hurt Duren throughout the year and stopped him from playing to his potential. That may be true, but if so, this year we needed to see him take strides all around in order to prove he deserves to be here in Detroit when we emerge from the rebuild.
What we are getting from him now
So now that we are beyond halfway through the year, has Duren done enough to warrant an extension here in Detroit? If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have said no. I actively was trying to see what his trade value would be, and identifying who we could target to replace him. His defense was not improved, actually looking worse at times, and his double-double numbers from last year were happening with less frequency.
To start the year, Duren was averaging just 9.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 stocks, and was just 68% from the field and time was running out. Over the last three weeks, however, Duren’s numbers have boomed. They’ve increased to 14.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2 stocks, and 75% FG% from the field. Furthermore, during the first 40 games of the year, Duren ranked 46th amongst qualified centers in defensive rating. Over the last three weeks, his ranking has improved to 30th. Obviously that still isn’t as high as you would like it, but the improvement is there.
So, to answer the question point blank, if the Duren from the last three weeks is the one Detroit will get moving forward, I think an extension could be in the cards for him. If JB can continue to unlock the young big man and he can finish the year even stronger, his odds of an extension will be vastly cemented, and that extension value will continue to rise.