Detroit Pistons fans should brace for a messy summer. Jalen Duren wants out, or at least wants to test the market, and the team has a lot more to think about than just an extension.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Duren plans to explore sign-and-trade scenarios after being underwhelmed by Detroit’s initial offer. The gap between the two sides is reportedly so big that Duren prefers to find a new home rather than wait for an offer sheet the Pistons would inevitably match.
This is the kind of news that derails a rebuild. Detroit just made the playoffs. They have Cade Cunningham locked in. Duren was supposed to be the long term frontcourt anchor. Now he is signaling the door is open.
The numbers tell the story of why this is complicated. Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the regular season. He turned into one of the best young centers in basketball. Then the playoffs hit and he averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds, which is a meaningful step backward when teams need their stars to elevate.
The Pistons are offering less than the projected 5-year, $287.1 million max extension Duren is eligible for. He is not blowing up over a minor gap. He is blowing up because the gap is large enough that he would rather walk than sit still.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line dropped the most interesting wrinkle. Detroit is reportedly weighing a sign-and-trade that sends Duren to Boston for Jaylen Brown. That is a fascinating swap on paper. The Celtics get a 22 year old restricted free agent center with All-Star upside. The Pistons get a Finals MVP and a star wing to pair with Cade.
If that deal actually happens, it is the trade of the summer. Boston gets younger and cheaper while running back a championship infrastructure. Detroit gets a top 15 player to accelerate the Cade Cunningham era.
The problem is the contract math. Duren has to agree to a number that Boston can swallow. Brown has to be willing to play in Detroit. Both of those things are non-trivial.
The Pistons publicly said they wanted to keep Duren after the season. Reality has a way of changing those plans. If Detroit cannot close the gap, the front office will either lose him to an offer sheet or flip him before he ever signs a long term deal. Either way, the offseason just got a lot more interesting in Motown.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
