The Detroit Pistons have a real problem on their hands. And it’s not just Jalen Duren.
Duren, the 22-year-old center who made All-NBA Third Team this season, is reportedly unhappy with the contract offers he’s gotten from Detroit. Word is he wants a sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings, where he could get paid more and play for a team that’s been lurking in the West. The Pistons already traded Isaiah Stewart, so losing Duren would leave a massive hole in the middle for a team that won 60 games last season. That’s not ideal.
But here’s the part that might sting just as much. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Tobias Harris has already scheduled meetings with five teams in free agency. And the Pistons aren’t the only ones chasing him.
Harris Brings More Than Stats
Harris isn’t a star. Nobody’s confusing him with a first option on a contender. But at 6-foot-8 with the ability to create his own shot and guard multiple positions, he’s exactly the kind of veteran forward that playoff teams want. This past season he averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. In the playoffs, those numbers jumped to 18.1 and 7.2. That matters.
What matters even more is what he’s done off the court. Harris helped change the culture in Detroit. He brought leadership and stability to a young team that was learning how to win. That stuff doesn’t show up in box scores but it’s real. The Pistons went from a lottery team to a 60-win squad, and Harris was a big part of that shift.
Now Detroit has to decide how much they’re willing to pay to keep him. With five teams lining up to talk, the price is going up. And the Pistons might have to overpay just to get him to stay.
The Duren Situation Complicates Everything
All of this is happening while Detroit is still trying to figure out the Duren mess. If they lose their starting center, suddenly the frontcourt looks thin. Jalen’s camp has been clear: he wants a deal that maxes out his earning potential. If the Pistons can’t offer that, they’ll have to move him. Losing both Duren and Harris in the same offseason would be a brutal blow for a team trying to stay at the top of the East.
The Pistons haven’t commented on any of this publicly. They’re probably hoping they can keep both guys. But the clock is ticking and the meetings are being booked.
Free agency doesn’t start for a few weeks. The drama has already started.
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