DETROIT — Jalen Duren remains a restricted free agent with training camp a week away, and it doesn’t appear the center is close to getting a new deal with the Detroit Pistons.
According to Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic, Duren recently “rebuffed” a five-year, $200 million offer from the Pistons.
“Per league sources, the Pistons upped their offer by $10 million in recent days – from the five-year, $190 million proposal that was put forth in August to a five-year, $200 million deal that has no team or player options and is fully guaranteed,” Amick and Patterson wrote. “Those sources, like others in this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“With Duren known to be displeased during the process, in addition to the prospect of him taking a one-year qualifying offer ($9.6 million) before the Oct. 1 deadline, the move marked the first sign of progress in nearly six weeks. But Duren, who is eligible to receive a five-year, $287 million deal and was known to be seeking a contract worth at least $200 million, has thus far rebuffed the offer. With the two sides having gone weeks on end without communicating during this process, the waiting game continues as the season nears.”
The Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2026 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round in seven games.
Duren, 22, averaged just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game against the Magic and Cavaliers. It was his first NBA playoff run.
Duren played well in the 2025-26 regular season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65.0% from the field. He recorded 41 double-doubles in 70 games and made his first All-Star team and All-NBA team.
A Memphis product, Duren was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft. He holds career averages of 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in the regular season.
“Barring another change in the talks, per league sources, Duren might be missing in action when the team reconvenes in Detroit,” Amick and Patterson wrote. “The team holds its media day on Monday and would have two days of training camp before the Oct. 1 qualifying-offer deadline arrives. The Pistons have the ability to push the deadline back, but it remains unclear if they have any plans to do so if needed. They could also engage with teams regarding sign-and-trade scenarios, but they have been staunchly resistant to that possibility throughout the offseason.”
If Duren plays next season on his qualifying offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Many people around the NBA believe Duren no longer wants to play for the Pistons, who recently signed Ausar Thompson to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension.
Duren has been linked to the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks. It will be intriguing to see how this situation plays out.
