Jalen Duren’s contract talks with Detroit remain the biggest wrinkle in this batch of free-agent chatter, and for now the sides are still staring at a wide gap. The Pistons are believed to be aiming somewhere in the $30-35MM range annually, while Duren, an All-NBA third-teamer, is looking for a maximum-salary deal.
That disconnect has made the $9.6MM qualifying offer a theoretical fallback, but around the league, that path is being treated as a bad idea. One Western Conference executive put it bluntly to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints: “You can’t take the qualifying offer coming off an All-Star season,” one Western Conference executive told Siegel.
“It’s almost like a death sentence. Nobody will view you close to the player you think you are again.
Giving up a nine-figure deal for the qualifying offer and risking getting hurt with no long-term security, especially as a center in today’s league, would be extremely reckless and foolish.”
For now, negotiations between Duren and the Pistons are on pause, according to Siegel, with talks expected to pick back up later in August. There’s also a chance this one stretches into September.
Elsewhere, Peyton Watson’s market appears to be shifting. Atlanta has “backed off significantly” in its pursuit because it doesn’t want to meet the price being asked by Watson and the Nuggets, Siegel reports, and there’s also broad skepticism about Cleveland emerging as a landing spot. The Clippers and Bucks, meanwhile, are viewed as more realistic sign-and-trade destinations.
Los Angeles has reportedly signaled a willingness to include Derrick Jones Jr. in a deal, but Denver’s position above the second apron would prevent the Nuggets from taking back Jones using Watson’s outgoing salary. Siegel also says Watson’s camp has felt “disrespected” by Denver’s offers so far, and a sign-and-trade may be the preferred route.
Bennedict Mathurin is another name drawing interest, though the Pistons are no longer in the mix after checking in on the Clippers restricted free agent wing last month. Siegel notes that Los Angeles would likely be willing to take Isaac Okoro and second-round draft capital from the Bulls in a Mathurin deal, although it’s unclear whether Chicago would be willing to put that package on the table.
And in New York, the Knicks are still canvassing the market for help at third center. Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports the club has spoken with several free agents, but if the Knicks were ready to hand out a guaranteed contract, that move would probably already be done. So unless they swing a trade for that spot or a surprise waiver option appears, Begley expects New York to sign multiple big men to non-guaranteed deals and let them battle for the job.
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Knicks Guard Battle Just Took A Turn That Helps Tyler Kolek
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That matters because the Knicks are still looking at how to balance their guards while also keeping an eye on bigger needs elsewhere on the roster. Kolek remains part of that conversation, especially with Mike Brown showing a willingness to trust him in meaningful spots even while acknowledging the defensive issues that come with his game. If the Knicks decide to shift pieces around, Kolek could stay in the mix as more than just a depth guard, with his place in the rotation and his broader value both still very much in play. [Read more 🡒]