We have entered Week 4 of free agency, and the Detroit Pistons have yet to end the Jalen Duren saga. The All-Star center remains a restricted free agent as the progress in negotiations has been frustratingly slow.
NBA insider Marc Stein called the progress in contract talks "modest" in his Sunday night column. He confirmed a lot of what we already knew about the situation. The Pistons are unwilling to engage in sign-and-trade discussions and still consider re-signing Duren a top priority. Duren's representatives, despite having limited options on the market, are trying to secure as lucrative a deal as possible for the talented big man.
"Modest" progress in Jalen Duren talks is not what Pistons fans want to hear
At this stage of the offseason, hearing about "modest" progress is certainly frustrating. The sides have had months to discuss what Duren's next contract could and should look like. The Pistons have cleared a ton of cap space to fit Duren into their salary structure while staying under the luxury tax. Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, Caris LeVert, and Tobias Harris are no longer with the team for this reason.
Yes, the Pistons have a ton of leverage as the cap space around the league has dried up. There are no teams left that can sign Duren to an offer sheet. As long as the Pistons don't engage in sign-and-trade offers, they will have the chance to re-sign Duren at a price they are comfortable with.
This strategy carries the risk of alienating Duren. Sure, playing hardball and trying to get as team-friendly a deal as possible is a smart approach, but it can't come at the expense of your relationship with one of your star players.
Duren's leverage is the fact that the Pistons don't have a way to replace him. It's clear that the Pistons cleared the cap space for him, and they don't have anyone else in free agency that they can spend it on. Without Duren, the Pistons' hopes of being a title contender next season are over.
Not only that, but they need Duren to be at his best. If this stalemate prolongs, Duren could grow more frustrated and feel more disrespected. Even if he eventually puts pen to paper, it could sour the relationship he has with the franchise. Is saving a couple of millions per year on his next contract worth potentially alienating him?
Duren will probably not take his qualifying offer and play on a one-year, $9.6 million contract next season. That would be highly risky and ill-advised.
What shouldn't be ruled out, however, is Duren signing a shorter-term contract so that he can hit unrestricted free agency soon. Or, he could sign a long-term deal and request a trade in a year from now. The odds of these scenarios will exponentially increase with each passing day without a new contract.
Add us as a preferred source on Google