The Detroit Pistons' postseason arrived and vanished in a flash, ending with a first-round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks. It's been nearly a week since the Pistons endured that soul-crushing Game 6 loss, leaving time to tell how the front office will learn from the experience this offseason.
There are various paths the Pistons can travel down this offseason, with free agency and the 2025 NBA draft opening the door to a world of possibilities. Having said that, Detroit's first move of the offseason shouldn't involve adding new talent, but rather locking down one of the franchise's top players.
Pistons Must Work on Jalen Duren Extension to Begin Offseason
When it comes to the upcoming summer, it's a no-brainer that the Pistons must immediately start working on an extension for Jalen Duren. The former Memphis center just finished his third NBA season after being drafted 13th overall in 2022, meaning he'll finally be eligible to sign an extension this summer.
Duren took his game to the next level in 2023-24, and fans were hoping his ascent would continue into Year 3. Although his point and rebounding totals took a hit, the 6-foot-10 frontcourt specialist still averaged 11.8 points, 10.3 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals while shooting a career-best 69.2% from the floor across 78 games.
Duren continued making an impact in the postseason, putting up 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a 65.0 FG% across six outings. That includes averaging the most offensive rebounds (4.3) across the league in Round 1, further highlighting his upward trajectory.
Even though the playoff run ended on a low note, Duren proved that he's a Pistons leader by scoring a postseason-high 21 points in the Game 6 loss, trailing only Cade Cunningham (23) on the team.
With the likes of Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland not going anywhere soon, extending Duren is a no-brainer decision for the Pistons this offseason. He's one of the NBA's top up-and-coming centers, and it's in Detroit's best interest to lock him down before his asking price soars even more.
Besides, signing Duren to a long-term contract would help the Pistons further prove that they're serious about maintaining a winning brand of basketball in Detroit. One playoff appearance after five years without one isn't enough to satisfy Motor City fans forever, which is why the Pistons must lock down their top center to help ensure the city won't have to wait that long again.