Pistons Put $200M on the Table for Jalen Duren as New Eastern Conference Team Emerges as Suitor

It appears the Detroit Pistons are doing everything they can to bring Jalen Duren back to their roster. Duren is currently a restricted free agent and isn't making things easy for the Pistons. This is because of differences in their salaries. The Pistons are lowballing him, while Duren is fighting for a heftier contract, especially after being named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Initially, Duren and his camp sought a five-year max extension worth $287 million. However, the Pistons were only willing to offer him $190 million. But now that another team has entered the fray, Detroit has seemingly panicked, increasing its offer to $200 million.

"If Jalen Duren signs the qualifying offer this offseason and then signs a four-year max contract elsewhere next summer, his total earnings over that five-year period would be $198.8 million," NBA insider Sam Amick reported on The Athletic. "Detroit is currently offering him a five-year, $200 million deal, which is technically more."

This could be due to the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks emerging as serious next destinations for Duren.

"Still, Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust," Amick added. "The Sacramento Kings have signaled a willingness to pay him a max-salary deal next summer. That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams — including the Milwaukee Bucks — that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer)."

Whatever the case may be, Duren remains in a tricky situation. Being a restricted free agent means that the Pistons still have direct control over what happens to Jalen. The only two ways out for Duren are a sign-and-trade deal or a hostile offer sheet.

NBA Insider Explains Why Jalen Duren Thinks Highly of Himself

Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons are currently in a contract stalemate. This is due to Duren's hefty contract demands. While the Pistons may be set on keeping Jalen around, they aren't willing to offer him the money that he wants.

Despite the Pistons seeing him as a valuable asset, Duren believes he's worth more than the team views him. NBA insider Sam Amick explained on The Athletic why Jalen views himself as a top-tier star.

"Detroit inking (Ausar) Thompson to a five-year, $155 million deal, which will begin paying him an average annual value of $31 million, added a layer to Duren’s contract negotiations," Amick wrote. "As did Thompson’s twin brother Amen, who agreed to sign a five-year, $208 million contract to stay with the Houston Rockets earlier this month.

"While Amen Thompson was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, neither Thompson twin earned an All-Star or All-NBA selection last season, while Duren got the nod on both," Amick continued. "For Duren, it’s quite clear he sees his value in a higher tier than both twins, considering last regular season’s accolades."

In the worst-case scenario, Duren could play the long game and opt for his $9.6 million qualifying offer to play for one more year. Doing so will immediately make him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. However, the caveat is that if Jalen performs poorly in the 2026-27 season, he might lower his value next summer.