The Detroit Pistons enter the offseason with a clear priority, and nearly everything else will have to wait until it is resolved. Restricted free agent Jalen Duren is due for a new contract, and by all accounts, getting that deal done is proving to be anything but straightforward.
A new report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick on Friday shed light on the situation.
“All-NBA forward Jalen Duren was underwhelmed by the Detroit Pistons’ initial offer in restricted free agency and is planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when they are permitted on Tuesday, league sources told The Athletic”
Duren is eligible for a five-year, $287.1 million max extension, but finding the right number has been tough. Because of this money gap, he plans to explore a sign-and-trade on Tuesday.
“League sources say the gap between the two sides is large enough that Duren is now considering ways to land elsewhere,” Amick wrote.
It is understood that the Pistons currently carry roughly $20 million in cap space, but that figure has to stretch considerably further than it might appear at first glance. The Pistons still need to re-sign forward Tobias Harris, who was their second-leading scorer in the playoffs and is now an unrestricted free agent. They also need to secure a few more players to complement Cade Cunningham, and simply fielding a full roster next season will require careful planning even before Duren’s new deal enters the equation.
Jalen Duren’s Playoff Struggles Could Be a Reason for Stalled Contract Talks
Jalen Duren put together a phenomenal regular season, averaging a double-double with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. However, his numbers took a sharp nosedive during the playoffs. Over 14 postseason games, Duren averaged just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. The drop off was massive, especially on the offensive end. His struggles ultimately weakened the team, making them look completely different from the dominant squad that took the floor during the regular season.
It makes sense for Detroit to take its time with negotiations. Duren is only 22, and testing a sign-and-trade could create a highly competitive market for him. By trading him now, the Pistons would be selling high on his value.
So far, Detroit’s only major move has been trading Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three second-round picks to clear cap space. However, this trade also begs the questions about what the front office plans to do next. The Pistons will likely need to clear more salary or restructure the roster before Duren’s contract situation can be fully resolved.
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