Snakebites wrote:That Jabari extension (5/122) is cold water on hopes of retraining Ivey and Duren without breaking the bank.
Seems like market value to me.
As a #3 overall pick that was likely floated as a smokescreen by Orlando for #1 overall, JSJ has disappointed. He’s also lost touches every year as Houston keeps bringing in guys (FVV, Brooks, now Durant) and drafting other interesting youngsters, most recently Eason and Amen.
But unlike Duren and Ivey, he’s actually a good defender. So you’re getting average efficiency, low-ish volume offense and good defense for an AAV of under 25 mil a year. They’re obviously hoping his shot continues to improve and his defense gets even better.
Ivey shouldn’t get that figure based on one 30 game sample of hot outside shooting and a few game-winners. If his agent asks for that exact contract, I tell him we need to see it on the court this year and we’ll talk in restricted free agency. If he’ll take an AAV of 20 right now for security, I’d consider the early extension, but even then waiting wouldn’t bother me.
Duren is tougher. We all know his struggles as a defender, but also saw some improvement after Ivey went down. He wasn’t that bad in the playoffs vs. New York, either, but it’s true Tobias did a much better job on KAT than Duren could. He’s also a player with major strengths that work with Cade, he’s an elite rebounder, has good touch for a big, that kinda stuff. Again, I wouldn’t offer him the Jabari deal, and I’d explicitly tell him he needs to improve as a defender as the reason. Very similar to Ivey, I’d consider the extension at 20 AAV and wait otherwise.
In the end, with Ausar and Holland coming down the line, I’d be inclined to move one of the two before the 26-27 season for an established player at a lesser number. Because Ivey is more easily replaced (unless he truly is a 40% from three guy, which we’ll get to see this year), he’d be my choice to move, but… if Duren can’t get better on D, it’s a bigger problem. Kinda torn, really. Could move both, I suppose.
