The wait is over. Jalen Duren is coming back to the Detroit Pistons on a five-year, $200 million contract.
The negotiations that have dragged on all offseason went down to the wire. With only a few hours left before the qualifying offer deadline, Duren accepted Detroit's contract offer.
It is undoubtedly a good sign that Duren is still a Piston. There was no way for the Pistons to replace him, and you just don't let a 22-year-old player who just made an All-NBA team walk for nothing.
At the same time, just because a contract is signed, the drama is not over. There is still plenty of work for the Pistons to do to try to mend the relationship between them and Duren.
Jalen Duren is still a Piston, but the drama isn't over
In his announcement of the news, ESPN's Shams Charania had a notable report. He said, "The 22-year-old skipped media day and the start of training camp mulling over the QO and hoping for a potential sign and trade, but the Pistons stood firm awaiting a decision and the sides lock in long term on a massive deal."
The fact that Duren was hoping to be traded until he eventually signed a new deal with the Pistons is not ideal. Even though he never explicitly said it himself, there were plenty of reports throughout the offseason that Duren would welcome a move out of Detroit. Nothing materialized because the Pistons never seriously considered trading him.
Does this mean that Duren is unhappy and will continue to want out of Detroit? Probably not. But it certainly complicates matters in terms of his relationship with the fans and the front office.
GM Trajan Langdon had a couple of pointed remarks towards Duren in his presser earlier in the week. He said that he wasn't going to let Duren's feelings get in the way of business negotiations and essentially called him "not easy to deal with," like Zion Williamson. It's very rare that we see general managers talk about their own players in this manner.
Both sides will surely say and do the right things now. Duren already posted a story on Instagram with the caption "Locked In," suggesting that he is happy and ready to get to work. The coaching staff and his teammates were nothing but positive about the prospects of Duren's return during Media Day.
If things go south, however, this contract standoff will become a talking point. Duren will be an easy target for fans. He will be more prone to scrutiny. A slow start to the season could create even more tension between him and the fanbase.
Could this eventually lead to Duren demanding a trade? Is it possible that this relationship has been strained to a point of no return?
Even if the answers to these questions are "yes,' winning fixes everything. If the Pistons continue being one of the best teams in the league in the regular season, all of this will be swept under the rug. If they don't, then Duren drama will re-emerge with vengeance.
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