The Lakers aren’t done chasing Jalen Duren, and they’re making it clear how badly they want him.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, L.A. met with the 22-year-old center on Tuesday and told him they view him as a maximum-salary level player. That message apparently landed well enough that both sides scheduled an immediate follow-up meeting for Wednesday.
Duren is arguably the most sought-after center in this free agency cycle after a breakout season in Detroit. He averaged career-highs of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field — fourth-best in the NBA. That got him his first All-Star nod and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. His postseason numbers dipped noticeably, but teams are betting on the trajectory, not the sample size.
Sacramento is pushing just as hard
The Kings also met with Duren on Tuesday and delivered a similar message about their interest, per Amick. Sacramento is reportedly exploring sign-and-trade scenarios to make it work. They have the pieces to get creative, though prying Duren away from Detroit won’t be easy.
The Pistons have their own offer on the table, though initial reports suggested Duren wasn’t thrilled with it. The actual dollar amount hasn’t been disclosed, but league projections have him landing somewhere between $35 and $40 million annually. That’s max-adjacent money.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line noted that Detroit is determined to keep him. Team officials have been whispering about their reluctance to engage in sign-and-trade conversations at all. That might matter more than any external offer.
The Lakers need a backup plan
If Duren picks the Kings or stays in Detroit, the Lakers have other names on their board. Stein and Fischer mentioned Walker Kessler of the Jazz as a potential insurance option. Utah has been open to conversations about Kessler before, though they’re not exactly giving him away either.
L.A. has also been linked to Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III. Both are defensive-minded centers who’d fit a different need, but neither has Duren’s offensive ceiling or youth. The Lakers clearly want a center who can grow with the roster, not just plug a hole for a year.
One thing is obvious: Duren has leverage. Two teams are telling him he’s a max guy. A third is trying to keep him from leaving. At 22, with his production curve pointing up, he’s about to get paid. The question is where.
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