Fresh off a playoff berth last season and teeming with ambition, the Detroit Pistons are at an inflection point right now. The organization is eager to become a playoff mainstay in the Eastern Conference, and the team is still young enough to keep the core together for several seasons.

Just yesterday, the Pistons decided not to extend the rookie contracts of guard Jaden Ivey and center Jalen Duren, who are both entering their fourth season with Detroit. As a result, the pair will enter the offseason as restricted free agents if the Pistons decide to extend a qualifying offer, which is usually just a formality at that point. 

Now, that move provides the Pistons with a healthy amount of roster flexibility moving forward. In a sense, Detroit is allowing the rest of the NBA to set the price tag for the explosive swingman and the powerful 6-10 center. If the Pistons think the going rate for Ivey and Duren is manageable, then the organization has the option to bring them back, keeping the core of the squad together for even longer.

From afar, a popular criticism of the Pistons is that the squad does not have a true No. 2 scoring option after Cade Cunningham. If the Pistons move on from Ivey and/or Duren, it would allow the Pistons to spend that money on an established scorer who could help lighten the offensive load from Detroit’s All-Star point guard.

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In any event, the discussion surrounding whether the Pistons should go all-in or not is indicative of the state of the organization overall. The Pistons have a superstar in the making with Cunningham. The team is loaded with athletic, dynamic players like Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland. Another reliable scoring threat could be exactly what the team needs to solidify itself as a contender in the Eastern Conference. 

According to Vince Ellis of NBA.com, Pistons owner Tom Gores is conceptually consistent with that train of thought and recognizes how close Detroit is to reaching the next level. 

“We got to keep the same sense of urgency, and that goes for every single person throughout the organization,” Gores said. “The toughest thing about success is you can get complacent, but I’m really confident that’s not going to happen. I see a team that’s still hungry, and we can do a lot this year. Let’s go kick some [expletive] this year.”

The Pistons will receive their first opportunity to do just that tomorrow when the team assembles for a road matchup against the Chicago Bulls. 

“I’ve never felt as good as where we’re at today,” Gores said. “We just have to keep going, there are no limits.”

Tip-off between the Pistons and Bulls is scheduled for 8 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

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