Throughout the offseason, there was consensus that the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren would eventually come to their senses and sign a long-term extension. Despite reports that the sides were far apart in negotiations, it always seemed inevitable that the All-Star center would be back in Detroit.
For Duren, taking the qualifying offer seemed too risky. There also weren't any teams with cap space. The Pistons weren't interested in sign-and-trade negotiations, and they desperately needed Duren back to be a title contender.
All of these realities pointed to Duren signing a lucrative new deal with the Pistons. With less than three weeks left before media day and the start of training camp, however, these dynamics have shifted. The latest reporting out of Detroit paints a very different picture.
Time is running out in Jalen Duren-Pistons negotiations
Yesterday, it was NBA insider Marc Stein who said Duren was "increasingly prepared" to play the season on his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. On Friday, The Athletic's Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson essentially confirmed this report.
Amick and Patterson's reporting had a couple of important tidbits. They revealed that Detroit's last offer to Duren was in the five-year, $190 million range. The 22-year-old big man, on the other hand, wants at least $200 million guaranteed. They pointed to Amen Thompson's five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets as the "comp" Duren's camp is pointing to.
They also revealed that Duren currently has "three very serious suitors" if he is to hit free agency next summer. We can assume that one is the Sacramento Kings. The LA Clippers are another likely landing spot.
This certainly increases the chances of Duren taking the qualifying offer and pursuing unrestricted free agency next year. There could even be talks -or a promise- between Duren's camp and one of these teams about next summer.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the reporting, however, is the obvious straining of the relationship between the Pistons and Duren.
Duren reportedly didn't attend the minicamp Cade Cunningham organized in San Diego in late August. He was also not there for team owner Tom Gores' Labor Day party in California.
If the star center saw his long-term future in Detroit, one would assume that he would be attending these events with the rest of his teammates. Sure, distancing himself from the team could be leverage in negotiations, but it's also not a good sign for where things stand between the franchise and Duren.
If this reporting is true, the Pistons and Duren aren't too far apart. We are talking about only a couple of million dollars per year. The Pistons could easily increase their offer and get this deal done.
The real problem is whether the relationship has strained to a point of no return. Could Duren still demand a trade after signing a new contract? Could he push the Pistons to sign-and-trade him to the Kings before the season? Is there a chance the Pistons are fed up with him and want to move on?
All of these questions have to be asked now, and everything is on the table. Duren's departure from Detroit over the next year has never been more likely.
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