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A new rumor adds more momentum to Jalen Duren taking the Detroit Pistons‘ qualifying offer and returning to NBA free agency next summer, unrestricted.
In April, the Pistons All-Star was set up to get a huge raise this summer despite the limitations of being a restricted free agent. Then he severely damaged his negotiating power with an awful showing in the 2026 Playoffs that gave the team much more leverage. Now, with just a few weeks before the start of training camp for the new season, Duren remains on the open market.
Detroit is unwilling to give him the deal he is looking for, and despite strong interest from the Sacramento Kings, they have also stood pat on their stance that they will not engage in sign-and-trade talks. It means Duren is at a crossroads. He can either lock himself into a nice extension from the Pistons (reportedly for five years and around $175 million) that will pay him good but not great money. Or take their $9.6 million qualifying offer for 2026-27 and be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Jalen Duren has incentive to take Detroit Pistons qualifying offer?
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Jan 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) dunks the ball against the Miami Heat in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
There is certainly risk in both options, especially the latter if he suffered a serious injury next season. However, a new rumor may make the gifted big man lean toward the less lucrative deal. According to Kings insider James Ham, Sacramento can get a ton of cap space next summer, and general manager Scott Perry “has Jalen Duren’s name in highlighter pen looking at next summer’s free agency, if Duren is willing to take the qualifying offer.”
Ham notes that Perry and Duren had dinner in Miami during the early stages of free agency, and it seems like the center liked what he had to hear. Reports suggest he would like to sign with the Kings — despite their sad history — but the Pistons have turned down all conversations about a sign-and-trade.
Would Duren really be willing to wait until next year and hope that offer is still on the table? It is certainly possible. As long as he puts up similar numbers as he did this past season, there is no reason to believe Perry’s interest would change. The GM is looking to rebuild the team, and that will require another down year next season so he can get Zach LaVine’s contract off the books and hopefully Domantas Sabonis can improve his value to be traded next summer.
If Duren and his representatives have a handshake agreement that he will get a max deal next summer, while it is a risk, it is probably worthwhile to put up another good season and get the deal he really wants. Even if the Kings don’t give him that max offer, he will be one of the best values on the open market next summer nonetheless.