One of the Pistons’ biggest question marks this offseason has been the lack of rookie extensions for Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. Both are eligible for extensions until the beginning of the season, but no progress has been reported thus far. Jalen Duren is a proven commodity, and I am surprised to see that the Pistons haven’t locked him up yet.
Jalen Duren: A Proven Role Player
Reluctance to sign Ivey to a long-term deal is more understandable. He only played 30 games last season before a season-ending injury and it’s still unclear how exactly he fits with the rest of the young core. Due to unfortunate timing, the Pistons will likely want to take more time to evaluate his value before agreeing to a long-term extension.
However, Duren is the opposite. He has proven consistent in his role and played 78 games, plus the entirety of the Pistons’ playoff series against the Knicks, as a starter. Duren averaged a double-double across the season and was a reliable contributor on the boards and in the paint.
Duren has incredible chemistry with Cade Cunningham which makes him one of the premier lob threats in the NBA. Duren’s end of this partnership is often taken for granted, and much of the credit is given to Cunningham’s excellent passing.
But Duren is a genuinely great finisher. Last season, he converted 72 percent of his shots from within five feet, which puts him in the upper echelon of play finishers in the league. His strength and skill are on full display when it comes to scoring in the paint.
Duren is also one of the top offensive rebounders in the NBA. Last season, he was 5th in the league in offensive rebounds per game and continued this trend in the playoffs. He averaged a whopping 4.3 offensive boards per game against the Knicks. Offensive rebounds are some of the most valuable possessions because they can lead to easy putbacks or open shots for teammates while the defense is out of position.
Offensively, his value is clear and establishes a baseline for his contributions. A defensive leap will truly cement him as a top center, but even last season he was able to anchor the defense to great levels when Ausar Thompson was in the lineup.
Of course Ausar was the driving force of the incredible defense but Duren proved he can coexist alongside Ausar very well. If the Pistons consider Ausar a key long-term piece, it makes sense to secure Duren assuming their defensive partnership will continue to blossom.
Duren’s market should be clear as a top role player from his draft class. There shouldn’t be too much of a disconnect between him and the team on his worth, and the Pistons should extend him before restricted free agency rears its ugly head.