The Detroit Pistons' contract negotiations with their All-Star center Jalen Duren continue to stall after the 22-year-old reportedly rejected a massive contract offer.
According to The Athletic, the Pistons' latest offer to Duren was for five years and $190 million, but he continues to seek a larger contract.
"Detroit's last offer was a five-year deal in the $190 million range," The Athletic reports.
"Duren, who is eligible to receive a five-year, $287 million contract, is seeking at least $200 million. As is the case with any player's contract negotiation, the use of player or team options in the deal significantly impacts the final number."
Duren won't commit for less long-term
If Detroit fails to come to a contract agreement with Duren, he reportedly would be willing to play out the upcoming season on a qualifying deal.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Duren is open to playing out the year on a $9.6 million qualifying offer rather than settling for an extension below his target.
He is coming off a breakout campaign that yielded his first All-Star nod and an All-NBA Third Team selection, highlighted by averages of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Sacramento emerging as potential trade suitor for Duren
If the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren are ultimately unable to agree on a deal, the Sacramento Kings have been identified as a potential sign-and-trade candidate that could offer Duren a satisfactory contract.
"When Duren began taking meetings with other teams as a restricted free agent and made it clear he was interested in playing elsewhere, the Kings were at the front of that line," The Athletic reports.
"Detroit has been unwilling to engage in sign-and-trade talks with Sacramento and others, but the Kings still have very strong interest in Duren and could make room to sign him on a max-salary deal next offseason if they desire."
"Duren, conversely, is known to be eyeing Sacramento as a desirable destination where he could thrive alongside Darius Acuff Jr. as an established building block," the report adds.
Duren held meetings with the Lakers earlier in the offseason
Before landing Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking at Jalen Duren as one of their main center targets this offseason.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, both sides were engaged in productive meetings back in June.
The Lakers reportedly view Duren as a maximum-salary caliber center, which attracted Duren to potentially sign with the Lakers earlier, although now an extension with the Pistons or a sign-and-trade with the Kings look like the two most likely outcomes for Duren.