The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the rumor game, and this time the center market is where the noise is building. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Bucks are among the teams showing interest in Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren, who is locked in a contract stalemate.
That alone says plenty about where Milwaukee may be headed. If the Bucks seriously pursue Duren, Myles Turner’s run with the team would likely end after a short stay. The idea seems to be a clean reset in this new era, and Milwaukee’s thinking makes sense on paper.
Duren fits the age timeline. He’s 22, while Turner is 30, and the Bucks are now a youth-driven team after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Milwaukee is building for what comes next, Duren lines up far better with that plan than Turner does.
The talent gap matters too. Turner is coming off a down year, while Duren put together a season strong enough to earn All-Star and All-NBA recognition.
He’s younger, more accomplished right now, and still has plenty of room to grow. In theory, he could walk in and become a centerpiece immediately.
But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one: money.
Amick reported that the Pistons have put a five-year, $200 million offer on the table, and Duren has turned it down. He is eligible for as much as $287 million over that same span, and it’s still unclear what number would actually get a deal done.
Then there’s the trade cost. If Milwaukee wants Duren through a sign-and-trade, Detroit would have every reason to ask for a serious package in return. That means young players and valuable draft picks, exactly the kind of assets the Bucks may want to hold onto while trying to set up their next chapter.
Duren’s playoff performance also complicates the picture. His numbers dropped sharply across his 14 appearances, and that may be part of why Detroit hasn’t rushed to lock him in on the terms he wants. That detail says a lot about where things stand.
For now, nothing is guaranteed. Amick floated the possibility of Duren playing on the qualifying offer, which could open the door for Milwaukee to make a run at him next summer. Until then, the Bucks are left waiting, with a clear sense that they may be searching for Turner’s successor.
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