The standoff between the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren has to come to an end over the next few days. With training camp and the deadline to accept the qualifying offer right around the corner, the clock is ticking for Detroit and Duren.
Even if Duren isn't signed and traded by the Pistons, the chances of his long-term future belonging in Detroit have fallen significantly. Regardless of whether he signs a new contract or accepts the qualifying offer, the relationship between the two sides may have strained to a point of no return. He will be a flight risk for the duration of the contract or when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Would this be a disastrous scenario for the Pistons? Could Detroit actually be better in the short and long run without Duren?
As is often the case in these questions, the answer is, "it depends".
Pistons can wave their championship hopes goodbye if they lose Jalen Duren
Detroit isn't going to be able to replace Duren right away. It's going to be nearly impossible to find a young, All-Star caliber center immediately.
What they could find, however, is a temporary solution that would allow them to remain a solid playoff team. With the additional flexibility and assets they have, they could then upgrade the roster to a point where they have a better team than they would have had with Duren.
Let's say the Pistons trade Duren before the start of the season. Keeping in mind that the Bucks and the Kings are the top suitors, let's assume they take back Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis, plus draft capital.
Turner's three-and-D skill set is a very good fit on this team, but he will turn 31 during the season and is on a bad contract. Sabonis may be the better player, but he is a defensive liability and a non-shooter. He has never been on a team with serious postseason aspirations, making him difficult to trust.
If the Pistons can get multiple unprotected first-round picks in these potential trades, they could eventually end up better off. In the short run, however, it's difficult to see how the Pistons are a contender if they downgrade from Duren to Sabonis or Turner.
Of course, the additional draft capital will give the Pistons the ammo to make more upgrades. They could even use those to eventually flip Sabonis or Turner and get a better center.
The problem is, they will never get one who has Duren's upside. Duren made an All-NBA team as a 22-year-old last season. He has improved every single season he has been in the league. He is now a solid defensive player after being a liability on that end. He has gotten better as a shot creator and managed to stay one of the most efficient scorers in the league.
Teams that are trying to win a championship don't lose players of Duren's caliber. They definitely don't lose them for inferior players. Losing Duren simply jeopardizes Detroit's title hopes too much. That is why the Pistons will likely end up having to bite the bullet and give Duren what he is looking for.
Add us as a preferred source on Google