Throughout the long and drawn-out Jalen Duren saga this offseason, we've seen him and the Pistons constantly go back and forth on the exact dollar amount over a 5-year extension. But an arguably better deal for the Pistons would be getting him for a max extension with just 3 years, thus allowing them to regain flexibility sooner if Duren doesn't live up to the contract.
Detroit has its fair share of concerns about Duren after his most recent playoff showing, so they fear the need for another premier scorer before reaching title contender status. But the best way to combat those concerns in the long run isn't signing Duren on a cheaper 5-year deal. It's signing him on a shorter-term deal instead.
The Pistons should be seeking less years on Duren's extension
Although Duren has proven a lot in the regular season with his rapid growth, he's still never shown anything close to star production in the playoffs. Looking ahead, that's where production will matter most for the Pistons as they try to compete for championships. Without any track record of domination in the playoff, the Pistons have no reason to commit to Duren on a big-money contract for 5 years.
If Detroit can get Duren to sign on a shorter-term deal, it would be beneficial for the team based on Duren's likely ceiling. His playstyle has naturally brought question marks about his playoff impact, since he lacks the shooting or elite defense to be a constant positive when his shots aren't falling. There's arguably lesser centers out there who would be a better fit in Detroit just due to their playstyle.
Signing Duren to a shorter extension will give the Pistons a chance to re-assess his value sooner, rather than being stuck with additional years of overpaying him. Additionally, it also makes him a more attractive trade candidate for other teams interested in a young rising center. 3 years at $45 million per year might be easier to stomach for a rebuilding team than 5 years at $40 million per year.
Duren will naturally push back on the idea
For Duren, securing a massive amount of total money seems to be the goal in negotiations. Of course, a $200 million total contract wouldn't be possible for him in a 3-year deal. But it does also offer him more freedom to decide his own fate.
Duren might be afraid of a shorter contract considering the Pistons' stances during the negotiations this summer and the lack of league-wide interest during restricted free agency. But perhaps the Pistons can get him to come around on a shorter deal with a higher per-year value. In the short term, that would benefit Duren with the potential to add long-term benefit if he outplays the contract.
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