Ivey and Duren Extensions

[MrBigShot]

OK... I'm as big a Duren critic as anybody... but he's put up a couple of monster performances. He's attacking aggressively and finishing at a high rate, but more importantly he's playing much harder at the defensive end. His help D had looked much better recently. Like he *really* wants that bag.

And there it is. He really wants that bag.

I'm always skeptical when a player only boosts their numbers substantially in a contract year. Why didn't they do it before? What will happen when they have 3-4 guaranteed years? Consistent effort and growth has been a criticism of Duren before. Give me someone that tries hard all the time (Stew, as an example) over someone who only grows when there's money on the line.

Big athletic dunkers are always available, and teams almost always regret overpaying for a big athletic dunker without any other substantial skills.

I mean, the guy is in his 4th season....it's expected that players will improve every year within the first ~5-6 years in the league.

And if he does want the bag, why is that a bad thing? $$ is an excellent motivator, certainly has been for me personally. Duren has shortcomings but I have little concern about potentially paying him and then him just mailing it in.

[Mr Peanut]

The Duren detractors on the board have been awfully quiet recently. He has his flaws like any player but there's no denying his importance to our winning team currently.

[LSV]

I believe it's undeniable that our future right now consists of Cade, ..., Ausar, ... and Duren/Stewart.
The rest will have to try, but these four are, for me, the only untouchable ones at this moment.

[bstein14]

I also feel like with Stew and Cade here, they aren't going to let players just go out there and coast night to night. Stew plays way too hard. Same goes for guys like Ausar and Holland. You've got hard working players in the rotation.



26-27 Season

Cade $50
Duren $30
Ivey $17.5
Duncan $16
Stew $15
LeVert $15
Thompson $11
Holland $9
Reed $5.5
Sasser $5
2026 First Round Pick $3.5
Lanier $2

That's 12 guys under contract before we resign Tobias at about $180 million.
26-27 Salary Cap is projected to be at $166 million. 26-27 Luxury tax projected to be at $201 million so we'd still have about $21 million to finish out the roster giving some to Tobias as well but likely not having MLE $ to spend unless we decide to go into the luxury tax.

That's where these contracts start to matter. When your owner won't pay tax, or when you can't use your MLE because your overall payroll is too high.

We would have options though. Would we rather have Duncan Robinson or have that money to use the MLE, etc.


Most good teams also stack their contracts for their top 6-7 players and then finish out the rotation with a few guys still on rookie contracts and vet min contracts. Bad teams have guys as the 10th player making $15 million per year.

[BadMofoPimp]

I don't think Duren gets $30 mil per, but maybe $20-25 mil per. Same with Ivey if he comes back playing like he should. Harris be lucky to get 3 years $75 mil. I would be happy with 3 years $60 mil tho. No other team would probably offer more than that.

[DetroitSho]

I also feel like with Stew and Cade here, they aren't going to let players just go out there and coast night to night. Stew plays way too hard. Same goes for guys like Ausar and Holland. You've got hard working players in the rotation.



26-27 Season

Cade $50
Duren $30
Ivey $17.5
Duncan $16
Stew $15
LeVert $15
Thompson $11
Holland $9
Reed $5.5
Sasser $5
2026 First Round Pick $3.5
Lanier $2

That's 12 guys under contract before we resign Tobias at about $180 million.
26-27 Salary Cap is projected to be at $166 million. 26-27 Luxury tax projected to be at $201 million so we'd still have about $21 million to finish out the roster giving some to Tobias as well but likely not having MLE $ to spend unless we decide to go into the luxury tax.

That's where these contracts start to matter. When your owner won't pay tax, or when you can't use your MLE because your overall payroll is too high.

We would have options though. Would we rather have Duncan Robinson or have that money to use the MLE, etc.


Most good teams also stack their contracts for their top 6-7 players and then finish out the rotation with a few guys still on rookie contracts and vet min contracts. Bad teams have guys as the 10th player making $15 million per year.

Duncan Robinson will not be back on this team next year at his current projected salary. And not $30 mil for Duren. Even if we let him go out and obtain a contract, I'm thinking max $24-25 mil per year.

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[Canadafan]

I also feel like with Stew and Cade here, they aren't going to let players just go out there and coast night to night. Stew plays way too hard. Same goes for guys like Ausar and Holland. You've got hard working players in the rotation.



26-27 Season

Cade $50
Duren $30
Ivey $17.5
Duncan $16
Stew $15
LeVert $15
Thompson $11
Holland $9
Reed $5.5
Sasser $5
2026 First Round Pick $3.5
Lanier $2

That's 12 guys under contract before we resign Tobias at about $180 million.
26-27 Salary Cap is projected to be at $166 million. 26-27 Luxury tax projected to be at $201 million so we'd still have about $21 million to finish out the roster giving some to Tobias as well but likely not having MLE $ to spend unless we decide to go into the luxury tax.

That's where these contracts start to matter. When your owner won't pay tax, or when you can't use your MLE because your overall payroll is too high.

We would have options though. Would we rather have Duncan Robinson or have that money to use the MLE, etc.


Most good teams also stack their contracts for their top 6-7 players and then finish out the rotation with a few guys still on rookie contracts and vet min contracts. Bad teams have guys as the 10th player making $15 million per year.

Duncan Robinson will not be back on this team next year at his current projected salary. And not $30 mil for Duren. Even if we let him go out and obtain a contract, I'm thinking max $24-25 mil per year.

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Agree about Duncan. No way he's not trade fodder or we just outright don't pick up the remaining 2yrs with pretty much all of it unguaranteed
Agree Duren won't get as much as people assume
And Tobias, he's looking at MLE at most money

[DetroitSho]

I also feel like with Stew and Cade here, they aren't going to let players just go out there and coast night to night. Stew plays way too hard. Same goes for guys like Ausar and Holland. You've got hard working players in the rotation.



26-27 Season

Cade $50
Duren $30
Ivey $17.5
Duncan $16
Stew $15
LeVert $15
Thompson $11
Holland $9
Reed $5.5
Sasser $5
2026 First Round Pick $3.5
Lanier $2

That's 12 guys under contract before we resign Tobias at about $180 million.
26-27 Salary Cap is projected to be at $166 million. 26-27 Luxury tax projected to be at $201 million so we'd still have about $21 million to finish out the roster giving some to Tobias as well but likely not having MLE $ to spend unless we decide to go into the luxury tax.

That's where these contracts start to matter. When your owner won't pay tax, or when you can't use your MLE because your overall payroll is too high.

We would have options though. Would we rather have Duncan Robinson or have that money to use the MLE, etc.


Most good teams also stack their contracts for their top 6-7 players and then finish out the rotation with a few guys still on rookie contracts and vet min contracts. Bad teams have guys as the 10th player making $15 million per year.

Duncan Robinson will not be back on this team next year at his current projected salary. And not $30 mil for Duren. Even if we let him go out and obtain a contract, I'm thinking max $24-25 mil per year.

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Agree about Duncan. No way he's not trade fodder or we just outright don't pick up the remaining 2yrs with pretty much all of it unguaranteed
Agree Duren won't get as much as people assume
And Tobias, he's looking at MLE at most money

The dream would be to trade Tobias in a package for JJJ and then resign him in the summer for the MLE for a couple years.

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[Fennis Dembo]

OK... I'm as big a Duren critic as anybody... but he's put up a couple of monster performances. He's attacking aggressively and finishing at a high rate, but more importantly he's playing much harder at the defensive end. His help D had looked much better recently. Like he *really* wants that bag.

And there it is. He really wants that bag.

I'm always skeptical when a player only boosts their numbers substantially in a contract year. Why didn't they do it before? What will happen when they have 3-4 guaranteed years? Consistent effort and growth has been a criticism of Duren before. Give me someone that tries hard all the time (Stew, as an example) over someone who only grows when there's money on the line.

Big athletic dunkers are always available, and teams almost always regret overpaying for a big athletic dunker without any other substantial skills.

Dude, he hasn't even turned 22 yet. It's far more likely he's having his best year so far because he's simply not as good as he's going to be yet.

Edit: And if all you think he is is an athletic dunker you need to watch the games closer.

[VicVinegar]

I don't think Duren gets $30 mil per, but maybe $20-25 mil per. Same with Ivey if he comes back playing like he should. Harris be lucky to get 3 years $75 mil. I would be happy with 3 years $60 mil tho. No other team would probably offer more than that.

a 34 year old Tobias Harris is not getting 3x $20M. He's probably a MLE guy on a 1-2 year deal.

[Canadafan]

Duncan Robinson will not be back on this team next year at his current projected salary. And not $30 mil for Duren. Even if we let him go out and obtain a contract, I'm thinking max $24-25 mil per year.

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Agree about Duncan. No way he's not trade fodder or we just outright don't pick up the remaining 2yrs with pretty much all of it unguaranteed
Agree Duren won't get as much as people assume
And Tobias, he's looking at MLE at most money

The dream would be to trade Tobias in a package for JJJ and then resign him in the summer for the MLE for a couple years.

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Duncan Levert Reed and boatloads of draft picks works cap wise
Get Beasley back and we win a title fo sho

[Snakebites]

JJJ would command an extremely high price. He's improved his offensive game and is one of the best rim protectors in the league.

The only thing that might mitigate that price is his high salary. But that's a skillset that is very valued.

[DetroitSho]

JJJ would command an extremely high price. He's improved his offensive game and is one of the best rim protectors in the league.

The only thing that might mitigate that price is his high salary. But that's a skillset that is very valued.

I mean, if the player is "cheap" to acquire, would it even be worth the time at this point in our timeline?

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[Snakebites]

JJJ would command an extremely high price. He's improved his offensive game and is one of the best rim protectors in the league.

The only thing that might mitigate that price is his high salary. But that's a skillset that is very valued.

I mean, if the player is "cheap" to acquire, would it even be worth the time at this point in our timeline?

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Sometimes an extremely high price is worth paying.

Just making sure we're clear on that. Look what the Grizzlies just got for Bane. Even if you consider that an overpay (and I do), that's probably the starting point in terms of speculating on possible prices given JJJ is a lot more valuable than Bane.

[Rip32]

The Duren detractors on the board have been awfully quiet recently. He has his flaws like any player but there's no denying his importance to our winning team currently.

Facts! His bball IQ is improving as well.

[BadMofoPimp]

I don't think Duren gets $30 mil per, but maybe $20-25 mil per. Same with Ivey if he comes back playing like he should. Harris be lucky to get 3 years $75 mil. I would be happy with 3 years $60 mil tho. No other team would probably offer more than that.

a 34 year old Tobias Harris is not getting 3x $20M. He's probably a MLE guy on a 1-2 year deal.

Alot of players get 3 year contracts lately in their old age. I hope he gets 2 year $20-25 with a 3rd year team option on a declining contract like give him $25mil first year etc.

[Billl]

Duren has looked solid defensively ever since Ausar played himself back into shape. I don't think he's ever going to be a defensive anchor that makes up for everyone else's shortcomings , but he eats space inside and generally can control the paint and the glass. If ausar and holland are going to continue to harass guys on the perimeter, duren is more than capable of doing the cleanup work to finish the play. I also don't think he's ever going to be a decent perimeter defender, so it's going to be important to have guards that fight over screens and don't just leave him switched out on an island repeatedly.

Anyway, if he keeps this up, he's going to get paid. He's putting up 18/11 on 62% for the field , blocking shots, and generally causing havok. He bet on himself, and so far it's paying off.

[DetroitSho]

JJJ would command an extremely high price. He's improved his offensive game and is one of the best rim protectors in the league.

The only thing that might mitigate that price is his high salary. But that's a skillset that is very valued.

I mean, if the player is "cheap" to acquire, would it even be worth the time at this point in our timeline?

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Sometimes an extremely high price is worth paying.

Just making sure we're clear on that. Look what the Grizzlies just got for Bane. Even if you consider that an overpay (and I do), that's probably the starting point in terms of speculating on possible prices given JJJ is a lot more valuable than Bane.

Now subtract the difference in their contract situations and Orlando's desperation to add a player of Bane's skillset (a desperation we don't have) and I'd say the Bane deal would be the ceiling we'd need to go.

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[Snakebites]

I mean, if the player is "cheap" to acquire, would it even be worth the time at this point in our timeline?

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Sometimes an extremely high price is worth paying.

Just making sure we're clear on that. Look what the Grizzlies just got for Bane. Even if you consider that an overpay (and I do), that's probably the starting point in terms of speculating on possible prices given JJJ is a lot more valuable than Bane.

Now subtract the difference in their contract situations and Orlando's desperation to add a player of Bane's skillset (a desperation we don't have) and I'd say the Bane deal would be the ceiling we'd need to go.

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Do you consider JJJ’s contract to be significantly worse than Bane’s?

[bstein14]

Right now Detroit has the #3 defense in the league behind only OKC and San Antonio. It's going to be hard to crap on Duren too much about his defense if we remain in the top 3 this season.

Side note: It'll also be interesting to see how much the defense falls off once Ivey is back in the rotation.