Much of the offseason debate around the Detroit Pistons has focused on Jaden Ivey.
Many think he’s the second star the Pistons need, while others think he should be trade bait to land a more complementary and proven star.
Ivey is also extension eligible, so there is ample speculation about how much the Pistons should offer if they do extend him this summer, which has been complicated by the broken leg that cost him most of this season.
Zach Lowe weighed in on a recent episode of the Zach Lowe Show, saying that he thinks the Pistons should absolutely lock up Jaden Ivey to an extension this summer. He also suggested that Detroit might be able to get a better deal, saying:
"Coming off a broken leg, could I go four years $120 million? Could I go four years $100 million?”
I wrote about this topic recently and had the same sentiment, which is that the Pistons might be able to get a more team-friendly deal if they extend Ivey now. If he makes a leap next season and averages 22 points a game, his next contract will be much more expensive. It wouldn’t be the worst problem for the Pistons to have, but it’s one they could potentially avoid in the first place by extending Ivey now.
So, I agree with the sentiment of Lowe’s stance, it’s the numbers that I’m not sure about.
How much is too much for Jaden Ivey in an extension?
This is a tough question to answer, as Ivey is coming off a devastating injury and has had an up and down career so far. He showed improvements in key areas this season, but it was only for 30 games and there are still lingering questions about his long-term fit with Cade Cunningham.
But Ivey was really good before he got hurt and is still just 23 years old, so betting on him now may be smart.
But it has to be a value bet.
For reference, Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets got a 3 year/$105 million extension. He and Ivey are very different players, but should Ivey get as much as Green?
Four years/$120 million would be a steep bet for the Pistons for a guy who hasn’t played since his injury and still has some big question marks, especially defensively.
Knock that down to $100 million and we are getting closer to what should be considered a value deal for Ivey. It is important to note that with the cap steadily rising, $25-30 million will end up being minimum wage for a quality NBA starter.
I think I’d start in the 4/$80 range and work from there to see if I could get something that is a clear win for the team. I’d totally understand if Ivey turned that down to bet on himself and if he blows up and warrants a bigger deal, so be it.
There is an argument for Detroit to get a deal done now and to see if they can find a balance between a team-friendly contract and one that Ivey will be happy to take.