Jalen Duren’s next move is starting to look like a costly gamble for the Sacramento Kings.
The Detroit Pistons center is still working through an extension situation that has only grown messier. After a solid 2025-2026 regular season and a rough 2026 offseason, Duren and Detroit have yet to reach a deal, and the hang-up has come down to money and respect. The sides have moved around on the numbers, but not enough to get anything signed.
Duren was originally seeking a max extension worth around $287 million, a figure the Pistons were never prepared to meet. Detroit had been at $190 million over five seasons while Duren wanted $200 million, and the team has since lifted its offer to $200 million. Even so, Duren still hasn’t put pen to paper.
The bigger issue appears to be how Duren views himself. Reportedly, he feels undervalued and allegedly sees himself as becoming a player on the level of Nikola Jokic.
He has made major strides over the past couple of years, but he has not shown anything close to Jokic’s level. Very few players have.
If Duren goes the qualifying offer route after feeling disrespected, he would become an unrestricted free agent in the 2027 offseason. Sacramento is still viewed as the frontrunner if that happens, but the price tag would be steep. If the Kings do not trade Domantas Sabonis, they would likely be looking at a maximum deal allowed by the CBA: $189 million over four seasons, or an average of $47.25 million per year.
The Kings could fit that number once Zach LaVine’s contract expires, but that doesn’t mean they should rush into it. Sacramento would be right back in the same bind it already faces with Sabonis and LaVine, especially when future extensions for key rookies and sophomores come due.
And then there’s the personality piece. Duren is a good player with the chance to become great, but there is at least some concern that his ego could complicate things.
Sacramento already has two young centers in Maxmie Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell who are cheap, hungry, and still carrying high ceilings. From a long-term standpoint, that may be the smarter place to invest.
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Ben Simmons Gives Kings Fans One Huge Reason To Be Intrigued
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Perry said Simmons has been healthy for several months and has shown a strong desire to get back on the floor and help a team. For the Kings, that makes this more than a simple roster add. His health and mental state will shape whether he becomes a useful piece this season, but the opportunity is there for Sacramento to get something meaningful out of a former All-Star who still has plenty to prove. [Read more 🡒]