The Detroit Pistons thought they had two sure things this offseason. One was locking up Cade Cunningham long-term. The other was keeping Jalen Duren around.
Now, only one of those looks guaranteed.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Duren was not impressed by the Pistons’ first restricted free agency offer. So unimpressed, in fact, that he’s already planning to explore sign-and-trade deals as soon as Tuesday, when teams are allowed to negotiate them.
This is not ideal for a team that just finished with the best record in the East and thought its core was set.
What Went Wrong With Duren
Duren put up 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during the regular season, anchoring a Pistons team that went 60-22. But when the playoffs hit, his numbers dropped hard. He averaged just 10.2 points and 8.5 boards in the second-round loss to Cleveland, and he never really looked like the same force around the rim.
That inconsistency made the Pistons hesitant to throw a max-level deal at him. Duren, on the other hand, apparently felt like the offer he got was more of a slap than a show of faith.
Pistons Have Other Options
Detroit has been linked to a bunch of names this summer. Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard have been mentioned as potential targets. So have Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. The Pistons were also reportedly trying to clear cap space to go after Austin Reaves before he re-signed with the Lakers.
If the front office sees a path to upgrading the roster, they might not fight too hard to keep Duren. But letting a 21-year-old with that kind of raw production walk is risky, especially when there aren’t many big men his age who can do what he does.
Teams That Could Make a Move
The Lakers have shown interest in Duren for a while, but after the Reaves deal, their cap situation is tight. Other teams with cap flexibility will almost certainly come calling. Duren is young, durable, and already proven he can be a double-double machine when he’s locked in.
The Pistons still have time to come back with a better offer. But the fact that Duren is already looking for an exit before restricted free agency even really gets started tells you everything about how he feels about the situation.
If Detroit doesn’t sweeten the deal soon, there’s a real chance their starting center walks out the door in a sign-and-trade before the summer is over.
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