We have entered Week 3 of NBA free agency, and the stalemate between the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren continues. The Pistons are seemingly playing hardball with Duren due to the fact that there are no teams with cap space left that can make him an offer sheet. They are also not interested in sign-and-trade scenarios, which shrinks Duren's market.
The 22-year-old center, on the other hand, is adamant on cashing in on his All-NBA season and wants a contract commensurate with his production.
With neither side willing to budge, the possibility of Duren taking his qualifying option increases. What does this mean for the talented big man and the Pistons?
Would Jalen Duren really play on his qualifying offer next season?
To make a player eligible for restricted free agency, teams have to extend a qualifying offer for him. Otherwise, they become an unrestricted free agent. This is basically a one-year deal with a predetermined salary depending on the player's years of service and prior contract.
The Pistons obviously had extended the qualifying offer to Duren, which is a one-year, $9.6 million contract. This would allow Duren to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, and he would have the right to veto any trade until then.
This is clearly a very risky proposition for Duren. NBA insider Chris Haynes discussed this in his NBA TV appearance and advised Duren against it. He said, "If he takes that offer, [it means] he really wants out, he is fed up, and doesn't want to be there. Even if that's the case, I would say do not do that."
The Athletic's Hunter Patterson also mentioned the risks in his Thursday column. While it's understandable that Duren wants to bet on himself and believes that he can get a better offer next summer, there is no guarantee that will be the case. He would be one injury or another disappointing playoff performance away from costing himself tens of millions of dollars.
On paper, it seems like having Duren on that type of salary for next season would be beneficial for the Pistons. It would allow them to maintain some financial flexibility for other moves to improve the roster either this offseason or at the trade deadline. They would be getting another year to evaluate Duren and make a decision next summer.
In reality, however, this scenario would likely alienate Duren to such a degree that the Pistons may not get much out of him. Do you really want to have one of your best players be so upset with the organization that he is willing to leave over a hundred million dollars of guaranteed salary? Even if the Pistons are willing to give him a max contract next year, Duren would likely explore other options.
It would be ill-advised to be sure, but there is a small chance that Duren ends up playing on his qualifying offer. Preventing this outcome would be mutually beneficial for both the Pistons and the star center. A new contract worth around $40 million per year seems like a potential win-win scenario for both sides.
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