It appears that Jalen Duren will be risking everything just to free himself from the Detroit Pistons and earn the payday he thinks he deserves.
As both sides remain stagnant in their restricted free agency situation, the star big man is reportedly considering the possibility of taking his 2026-27 qualifying offer, per NBA reporter Evan Sidery.
Duren's qualifying offer is worth $9.6 million, and exercising the deal would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Jalen Duren, Pistons still not making free agency progress
Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons have yet to make any significant progress in their free agency standoff.
Coming off a breakout 2025-26 season wherein he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists en route to his first career All-Star and All-NBA nod, Duren is disgruntled by the Pistons' hesitancy to give him his desired deal, where he is eligible to sign a five-year max deal worth $287.1 million.
Instead, the Pistons are reportedly seeking to pay Duren $35 million and $38 million annually to keep the team's long-term team building flexible.
Duren drew the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings' free agency interest, but neither team ultimately contested the Pistons by handing a max contract offer.
While Detroit stands steadfast in keeping Duren, departed Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart called out his former team and claimed that the 22-year-old should be rewarded.
An NBA executive recently warned Duren for taking his qualifying offer, describing it as a "death sentence."