The Pistons were ecstatic to see Jalen Duren named as a first-time All-Star on Sunday, but it could cost them aplenty. Duren’s selection is no surprise considering his play this season and the candidate pool in the Eastern Conference. However, this does set him up for a massive contract extension in the summer that will make things harder for the Pistons.
Jalen Duren will command a huge next deal
Duren was rightfully chosen as an All-Star reserve from the East. He’s been instrumental in the Pistons’ success on both ends of the court. Without him, the Pistons would not find themselves on top of the East by a huge margin.
But Duren’s play has also forced the Pistons’ hand next summer. He will enter restricted free agency unless the Pistons sign him to a contract extension first. Either way, he has all the leverage to demand a massive contract.
Between his All-Star selection at age 22 and massive growth on both sides of the ball, Duren will be a marquee free agent target if the Pistons don’t re-sign him immediately. Although restricted free agents saw little traction last summer, Duren’s case will be different. Not only is he better than any of last year’s free agents, but there are also more teams with the cap space to lure him away.
The Pistons will likely do everything in their power to retain Duren without even letting him hit restricted free agency. However, extending him at a price north of $30 million per season could hurt their flexibility and depth going forward.
Both elements have been key to building the current team; it’ll be interesting to see how the front office navigates without those advantages. As the Pistons’ young stars take a leap into their next contracts, Trajan Langdon and company will have their hands full.
But Duren can make the contract well worth its value for the Pistons by continuing his upwards trajectory. His dominant physicality and improved self-creation have been the highlights of his season. But his defensive improvement has been arguably even more important.
To prove the Pistons right in his next contract, Jalen Duren will need to dominate the paint on both ends while also relieving pressure from Cade Cunningham. If the Pistons are going to pay him like a star, he needs to solidify himself as a true costar for Cade.
Jalen Duren’s All-Star selection is cause for celebration amongst Pistons fans. But the ramifications could end up hurting his team if he can’t live up to his next contract. Duren has definitely lined himself up for a huge deal in the summer; only time will tell if it’s the right move for Detroit.