Young teams often need to go through growing pains and heartbreak before reaching the mountaintop. The Detroit Pistons have had their fair share of that, but they've gotten better from every bitter situation.
From setting a new record for the most consecutive losses in NBA history to winning the most games in the Eastern Conference, this Pistons' core has proven to be resilient. They couldn't keep the foot on the gas in the second round of the playoffs, but they will lick their wounds and get right back on their feet.
That's why watching the very same team that ended their season make such a big mistake was music to their ears. The Cavaliers gave Donovan Mitchell a max contract extension for four years and $273 million, which will age like milk.
The Pistons will reap the benefits of Donovan Mitchell's contract extension
For starters, Mitchell is a great player, but that reputation of a playoff riser has taken a big hit in recent years. If anything, he wasn't much of a factor against the Pistons or during their entire postseason run.
The Pistons were another shot-maker and a good Jalen Duren performance away from taking them down in the playoffs. Again, they will learn from those mistakes and should get right back at them with an improved supporting cast.
More than that, the Cavs will now commit most of their cap space to a handful of players, none of whom is reliable in the postseason. Only Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley are signed through 2030, with James Harden and Jaylon Tyson potentially joining that list soon.
Other than that, Sam Merrill and Tyrese Proctor are the only other players under contract. The new CBA creates big problems for teams stacking up lucrative contracts, and Mitchell's extension has made the Cavaliers a ticking time bomb.
The Pistons, on the other hand, are a team on the rise. Of course, they will also have to make some big moves of their own at some point, but they should be on their way up while the Cavs come to their senses and realize that they just cannot win with this core.
This team doesn't need to trade for Kevin Durant or add overpriced veterans to keep up with other contenders in the East. They just needed to be battle-tested, and now that they know the bitter taste of defeat, they will do whatever it takes to ensure that doesn't happen again next season.
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