Timing is everything when it comes to NBA contracts and the timing couldn’t be worse for Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren in their extension talks with the Detroit Pistons.
As a player, you want to hit free agency when your value is high, but also when there are teams with money to offer, something there were precious few of this offseason, when we’ve seen restricted free agents linger in limbo as teams are increasingly cautious with their money.
Hit free agency at the right time, and you can cash in, which is what happened in the 2015-16 season when the salary cap shot up unexpectedly and teams suddenly had more money at their disposal.