Restricted free agent center Jalen Duren remains at a standstill with the Detroit Pistons regarding a new contract.
According to ESPN's Jamal Collier, teams that had cap room this offseason have already used it up, which leaves no clear suitor to put significant pressure on the Pistons with max or near-max contract offers.
Therefore, Duren could face the same fate as Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga last summer, who signed their deals in September and October respectively.
After Duren's first All-Star season, the star is seeking large deal, while Detroit are concerned about his underwhelming postseason performance and are not willing to offer the amount he is seeking.
Jalen Duren
Jalen Duren
Jalen Duren's Pistons rise hit its first major playoff obstacle
Jalen Duren has developed from a promising young center into one of the cornerstones of the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit acquired Duren's draft rights in 2022, and his production steadily grew from 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds as a rookie to 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds in his second season. Even after a quieter third year, he remained one of the league’s strongest rebounders and most efficient interior finishers.
Last season represented the biggest leap of his career.
Duren averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 65.0% from the field across 70 games. At only 22 years old, he earned his first NBA All-Star selection and was later named to the All-NBA Third Team as Detroit won 60 games.
The playoffs, however, exposed the next step in his development.
Across 14 postseason games, Duren's production fell to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while his field-goal percentage dropped to 51.4%. That was a dramatic decline from his regular-season efficiency and scoring output, as Detroit needed two seven-game series before eventually being eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers.