Jalen Duren may have cost himself tens of millions in the playoffs. He went from being the projected No. 1 center in free agency to not drawing much interest all summer, and he only has himself to blame for that.
The Detroit Pistons desperately needed Duren to be the same physical driving force in the playoffs, but that wasn't the case. His scoring average dropped by nearly half, and he got manhandled even by lesser and softer competition.
That's why, now that Victor Wembanyama has given the San Antonio Spurs a hometown discount, Duren should have no choice but to take a deep look in the mirror and do the same to return to the team that believed in him.
Jalen Duren has to cut it out and just sign with the Pistons
The Pistons have said all the right things about wanting to bring Duren back, as they should. Yes, he got exposed in the playoffs, but he was spectacular in the regular season, and he may only need that reality check to fuel his inner fire and get better in years to come.
But now, Duren has lost all the leverage. The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Walker Kessler, and the market for non-shooting big men is rather limited. As such, it's hard to believe someone will even consider giving him as much as he's asking for.
Instead, the Pistons and Duren should work something out. If a generational player like Victor Wembanyama can take less than the maximum, then, with all due respect, Jalen Duren can also put pen to paper.
He's a restricted free agent, and the Pistons will most likely match any offer he gets anyway. There's no point in dragging this story much further, especially knowing that no team in the league will give him a max deal.
These negotiations can get ugly, and that won't do anyone any favors. The Pistons hold the right to bring him back, regardless of how he may feel about the team, so it's in everyone's best interests to find a friendly resolution in a timely manner.
If anything, Duren should have a chip on his shoulder the size of Michigan and an eagerness to get back on the court and pay his team back after letting them down in the playoffs. He got himself into this situation, so it's only right that he digs himself out of this hole.
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