Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are eligible for contract extension after the 2025-26 season. In the case of Ivey, and potentially Duren as well, the Pistons’ front office will want to see how they play in the season prior to extending qualifying offers to them. Even if an extension is not reached, both players will be restricted free agents - meaning that the Pistons have the right to match any offer that is extended by other teams - but the current offseason has shown us how nasty that can get.
Detroit Pistons want to avoid the headache of restricted free agency
There are four major holdouts in the current restricted free agency class - Josh Giddey, Cam Thomas, Jonathan Kuminga and Quentin Grimes. All four have shown flashes of high potential, but have not been consistent enough for their teams to pay them what they’re looking for. With the new CBA, teams are increasingly hesitant to offer huge contracts for players who are good but not good enough to get them over the hump to become a legitimate contender.
Restricted free agency sounds great for a team on paper: they get to match any offer made to the player and essentially get all the leverage in negotiations. But the back-and-forth between team and player can derail the momentum of an offseason and affect the entire team chemistry.
The Warriors have gotten a lot of flack this offseason for not making any big moves despite having an aging core that might be coming up on its last real chance at a ring. Stephen Curry is 36 and Jimmy Butler is 35; the Warriors should be doing everything they can to win a championship while those players are still elite. Instead, they have seen potentially useful free agents and trade targets go to other contenders as they figure out what to do with Kuminga.
Restricted free agency is also not good for team chemistry. Players aren’t exactly happy to learn their teams don’t value them as highly as they expected, and can sometimes end up throwing teammates under the bus during the public negotiation process. Either way, the Pistons should seek to resolve their situation with Duren and Ivey as early as possible in the next season rather than letting it drag into restricted free agency.
Extending them soon would also allow the Pistons to lock two key players into contracts now, a cost that could be higher next offseason if they big years.