Former NBA veteran Brendan Haywood urged Jalen Duren to accept the Detroit Pistons' reported contract offer instead of following Jonathan Kuminga.
Former NBA veteran Brendan Haywood believes Jalen Duren should simply accept the Detroit Pistons' reported contract offer.
In his appearance on Gil's Arena, the 13-year NBA veteran urged the star big man to sign his deal with the Pistons instead of being disgruntled and risking himself next NBA season.
"Don't miss out on $190 million trying to chase that extra $10 million. If you got $190 million, you're going to live the same life. But if you don't get to $190 million, things can be a little different," Haywood said. "If he goes into the season, we have to worry about injuries. Injuries can change what they offer you. If he goes into the playoffs again and this happens again, not only will his team not want to offer him $190 million, nobody else will want to offer it to him either.
"The first year, when you're young, they'll say it's your first time experiencing the playoffs and you're going to grow. But if it happens again, they start thinking, 'That's who he is.' Jalen Duren can't afford to risk that. I've seen way too many guys mess up their bag because they wanted to pocket-watch."
Jalen Duren rejects Pistons strong contract offer
With two weeks remaining before Media Day and more than a month before the new NBA season, Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons remain stuck in a complicated free-agency situation.
Recent reports suggest that Duren has rejected the Pistons' five-year, $190 million offer and is seeking more than $200 million on a potential new deal.
Duren feels disrespected by the franchise despite putting together a career-best 2025-26 season, earning his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod. However, the Pistons consider his disappointing playoff drop-off and the team’s long-term flexibility to their firm contract offer.
Jalen Duren warned not to follow Jonathan Kuminga contract situation
According to Brendan Haywood, Jalen Duren should reconsider everything and finally accept the Detroit Pistons offer in order not to follow what happened to Jonathan Kuminga.
After turning down the Warriors' reported multiple significant offers last year, Kuminga spent this offseason hunting for a major payday, only to ultimately settle for a short-term, two-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"If that guy's getting $42 million a year and you're getting $38 million a year, take the $38 million a year. I understand you're leaving a little bit of money on the table, but on your first mega deal, please get the $190 million," the NBA champion center argued.
"I don't want to hear about Jalen Duren looking like Jonathan Kuminga in a couple of years. I think Duren needs to take the money right now. It's a great contract, $38 million over the next couple of years."
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