The Pistons and Jalen Duren are staring at a contract standstill that keeps getting more uncomfortable by the day, and the next move may come down to a one-year bet worth $9.6 million.
Detroit has already put a five-year deal in the $190 million range on the table, but Duren’s side has held firm. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the center is eligible for a five-year, $287 million contract and is seeking at least $200 million.
“Per league sources, Detroit’s last offer was a five-year deal in the $190 million range. Duren, who is eligible to receive a five-year, $287 million contract, is seeking at least $200 million,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote.
With training camp only a few weeks away, the pressure is rising. Evan Sidery reported that Detroit does not plan to bump up its offer before camp starts, while Duren’s camp is now floating the qualifying offer as a real possibility if a max deal never comes.
“The Pistons have no plans to increase their extension offer to Jalen Duren before training camp begins in a few weeks. Detroit believes they've offered Duren a fair long-term deal for both sides. Duren's camp is threatening the qualifying offer soon, if a max isn't presented," NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.
That path would strip a lot of control away from Detroit. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus believes Duren could go that route, especially since the market may not give him another obvious exit.
“He was less productive throughout the playoffs, but he should still get a sizable raise to stay as one of the more talented young centers in the league. Clearly, the Pistons aren't willing to max him out, but he has no obvious alternative as a restricted free agent, given that no other team has the cap room to issue a viable offer sheet. If Duren and Detroit cannot reach a long-term deal, he would need to take his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer,” Pincus wrote.
The issue is pretty straightforward for Detroit: add about $10 million more to the offer, or risk watching the situation drag into next offseason with Duren no longer under the team’s control. The Pistons have made it clear they aren’t moving higher, but the qualifying offer threat may be enough to force a different conversation.
There’s also a clear backdrop to all of this. Duren’s role in Detroit’s success last season was major, but his playoff quiet stretch changed the tone of the negotiation.
If he had produced at the same level in the postseason, this deal likely would already be settled. Now, with camp approaching, the stalemate has become the story.