The October 20th deadline to extend 2022 draftees has come and gone, and the Pistons did not agree to a deal with either of their candidates. Both Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren will enter restricted free agency next summer, but there is still a path for them to secure their desired long-term contracts. They need to prove their worth towards Pistons success this season.
Ivey and Duren are entering the biggest season of their careers
Overall, it was a down summer for rookie contract extensions. Only 9 first-round picks signed rookie extensions to avoid restricted free agency. Of those, the non-max contracts were generally solid bargains for their respective teams - and well short of the $30+ million per season that Ivey and Duren are both allegedly seeking.
But restricted free agency doesn't have to be the death knell of a player's financial dreams. There have been recent examples of restricted free agents inking huge deals, including Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickly signing 5-year deals both worth upwards of $162 million in the summer of 2024. Hugely lucrative options are still available for the young Pistons, but they will need to have strong seasons.
For Ivey, that will mean erasing the uncertainty surrounding his health status. He's in danger of being labeled injury-prone after his most recent surgery, and his recovery will determine his next contract. Once Ivey is healthy, he will need to remain on the court and excel in multiple roles. The Pistons will need him to be an excellent complementary star for Cade Cunningham and also run the offense himself without Cade.
Duren, on the other hand, needs to continue his upwards trajectory from last season and the preseason. He's ready to showcase his offensive improvements in the regular season, but his biggest growth will be on defense. Fortunately for Duren and the Pistons, he was very active defensively in the preseason and gets to start the season with a healthy Ausar Thompson next to him. Ausar's reintroduction into the starting lineup last season helped Duren become a much better defender in the final 50 games.
The Pistons will not be eager to hand out huge contracts next summer if they have a disappointing season. The team is expecting a regular season improvement and, more importantly, a deeper playoff run than last season. Ivey and Duren must make their impact felt on both ends and contribute to team success if they want to earn big deals.
Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren may have missed the deadline to sign an early contract extension, but they have not missed the chance to be on the Pistons long-term by any means. This season will be their biggest to date as they try to prove themselves in the young core.