With the Kings no longer interested in pursuing him, there is a "threat" that Jalen Duren might pick up his 2026-27 qualifying offer to potentially force his way out of the Pistons.
Right after the Los Angeles Lakers, the Sacramento Kings are no longer interested in pursuing Jalen Duren this offseason out of the Detroit Pistons' firm stance of no sign-and-trade deals around the star big man, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
As such, there is a possibility that Duren could force his way out and instead take a qualifying offer if both he and the Pistons fail to reach a new contract resolution.
Duren will get $9.6 million if he picks up his qualifying offer for the 2026-27 NBA season to rejoin the Pistons, but it will make him an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
"Jalen Duren has been out of the cards for Sacramento from the very beginning. They had interest there, of course, but there’s never gonna be a sign-and-trade that Detroit would have been willing to function," Fischer said on Bleacher Report. " … Still receiving word out of Detroit that the Pistons have zero interest in playing ball in any sign-and-trade scenario that would deliver their franchise center out of Detroit.
"I still think that there is a threat out there that Duren would be willing to potentially take the qualifying offer, depending on how this all gets wrapped up."
Jalen Duren facing uncertainty amid Pistons contract, free agency standoff
Jalen Duren remains stuck in the offseason as a restricted free agent, as recent reports suggest that both he and the Detroit Pistons only made "modest" progress in their contract talks.
A disgruntled Duren pursued the market after feeling underwhelmed by the Pistons' contract offer. He notably met the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, but both teams appear no longer pursuing his play.
Now, it remains to be seen how things will end up for him and Detroit heading into the fourth week of this year's free agency.
Duren saw a breakout outing in the 2025-26 season to anchor Detroit's 60-win season, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 65% from the field in 70 regular season games, being named to his first career All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors.
However, he endured one of the most brutal playoff drop-offs by an NBA star in league history, averaging just 10.2 points throughout Detroit's 14 postseason games.
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