Copyright M Live Michigan
DETROIT — Above all else, coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants to be direct, honest and supportive of his Detroit Pistons players while they navigate through the toughest part of the NBA — the business side. The Pistons have two players eligible to sign rookie scale extensions in guard Jaden Ivey and center Jalen Duren. Reports suggest that deals aren’t going to be done before the rapidly-approaching deadline. But Bickerstaff doesn’t want to shy away from being open with younger and veteran players as they deal with their respective contract situations. “It’s the hardest part of all of these jobs is the business of basketball. It takes emotion, it’s tough on relationships. It just is what it is,” Bickerstaff said hours before Monday’s 6 p.m. deadline for rookie extension deadline. “And I know people have their representation to try to like be the in-between, but the business of basketball is tough, so you have to have conversations with people and you’ve got to be there to support them. “We give guys opportunities and our responsibility as coaches is to help them get as much as they possibly can.” Duren and Ivey have both shown flashes of excellence in their first three seasons. The former was a crucial cog in the Pistons’ run to the postseason last season and served as the starting center for 84 of 88 total games across regular season and playoffs. Ivey was on the fast track to a breakout campaign when 30 games into the season he broke his left fibula and sat out the rest of the year. Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon would not comment directly about the potential of extending either player last month. “We’re excited they’re both members of the Pistons. They’re going to have huge roles this year and both of them, the way they play will impact our success or not,” Langdon said during Pistons media day in September. “Whether we get deals done or not, I don’t know what that happens, but I’m not going to comment on them unless they do or they don’t, when that time comes. That’s going to be between myself, the player and the agent. But we’re happy that they’re Pistons and we’ll see what happens.” Ivey’s situation has been complicated by another procedure to relieve right knee discomfort last week that will hold him out at least another four weeks and could understandably be cause for apprehension about an extension until he’s back on the court. But the Pistons opting not to extend Duren would surely set up an eager market in restricted free agency next summer if he continues his growth in the 2025-26 season. A report from The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer said that Duren’s representation were seeking “well north” of a hefty $30 million in annual average value to find a deal. Bickerstaff is aware of the frustrations that can come with a player trying to get the right deal amid preparation for the coming season. He says you can often tell if a guy is feeling anxious about it, but that the reaction to the business side varies from player to player. “Different guys handle it different ways. You’ve seen some guys that use it as motivation and have great years. You’ve seen some guys that have a hard time with it and struggle,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s just not younger players. I’ve been around veteran players that have a hard time trade deadline and contract years because of all that goes with it.” Bickerstaff says there are guys that like to have conversations weekly, while others go about their business on their own. The important thing for Bickerstaff and his coaches is being supportive throughout as they focus to the start of the season where Duren and Ivey, eventually, will play key roles in trying to reach the playoffs for a second straight season.
