There’s no question that the Pistons’ rise has been due in part to Jalen Duren’s growth, so the team should take re-signing him seriously. Detroit has already traded Isaiah Stewart away and then lost Tobias Harris to free agency. At this point, their offseason is starting to feel more like a struggle to keep what worked together than to build towards the future. As such, the Pistons cannot afford to let Duren leave for another team without a plan to replace him.
Do the Pistons Need Jalen Duren to Thrive?
It’s hard to deny how great a regular season Duren had in 2025-2026. He averaged a double-double made up of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. That was on 65.0% shooting from the field. His efforts did not go unnoticed, as he was named a first-time All-Star and to an All-NBA team for the first time. It was a good year for Duren. The Pistons are still looking for a true co-star for Cade Cunningham, but he was pretty close to filling that role.
Then the postseason hit, and Duren’s situation changed rather drastically. He played slightly more minutes, but his production absolutely tanked. Duren was down nearly 10 points per game on average. The Pistons desperately needed that scoring in every game. It would have made a huge difference in their second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
To be fair to Duren, he’s only been in the league for four seasons. He had incredibly limited playoff experience before the 2026 postseason. This was incredibly important to his overall development as a player, not to mention as a Piston. It would be a shame if Detroit lost the four seasons of work they have put into Duren, but that’s what may be about to happen.
The Duren Situation is Becoming More Complicated
With the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season came the end of Duren’s rookie contract. He is eligible for a five-year, $287.1 million supermax extension thanks to making the All-NBA Third Team. If he played as well in the postseason as he did in the regular season, that probably would have been a no-brainer for the Pistons. That’s not what happened, so Detroit offered Duren what some have described as a lowball deal. In response, Duren has been meeting with other teams, most notably the Lakers and the Kings.
Since Los Angeles just went on a shopping spree that included acquiring Walker Kessler, they do not have the money for Duren. He’s looking for $40 million per year. Unless Sacramento can pull off a sign-and-trade that includes Domantas Sabonis, they cannot afford Duren, either. That’s something that the Pistons are reportedly not interested in doing, which is probably the right choice.
While the Lakers and the Kings might not be serious spots for Duren, that doesn’t mean other teams aren’t. Duren being a restricted free agent means that Detroit has the option to counter any offer made to him. It seems they’re prepared to do just that, but they need a number in mind as a line they can’t cross. When it comes to Duren, that number should be rather significant.
Detroit and Duren Need Each Other
There is no way that Duren has earned a supermax deal of that magnitude. It’s out of the question. Even $40 million per year is pushing it, though far more acceptable. Reportedly, Duren is willing to go as low as $30 million a year. That makes a lot more sense considering his progression and his tough playoff run. The Pistons want to be contenders, but Duren can’t turn in performances like the 2026 playoffs for them to actually be one. Supermax contracts should be reserved for players who are where their franchise needs them to be.
In the Duren negotiations, $30 to $35 million would make sense for where he is. He would probably like a shorter contract or a player option at the end of the contract to take advantage of improvements in his game over the next few years. If Duren pushes for $40 million or more, the Pistons will want a team option in place and rightfully so.
However this deal gets worked out, it has to get worked out. The only players more important to this roster right now are Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. If the Pistons end up parting ways with Duren, they need a plan in place to replace him as soon as possible. That might mean going back to the Kings to get Sabonis on the roster. He’s a much different center than Duren, but he also might turn out to be a solid fit given his scoring and rebounding prowess.
Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski, Imagn Images via Reuters
