Jalen Duren, the Detroit Pistons All-Star center, is not attending Pistons media day on Monday or the start of training camp, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Duren, a restricted free agent, declined the team’s reported five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer, and the two sides remain at a stalemate ahead of Thursday’s deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer.
In four seasons with the Pistons, Duren has grown into a solid presence in the paint for the Pistons. Last season he averaged a career-high 19.5 points to go along with 10.5 rebounds. That effort was enough to earn him his first All-Star selection and Third-Team All-NBA honors.
Duren is eligible for a max extension of five years and $287 million after being named third-team All-NBA last season. Yet the Pistons are apparently unwilling to go that high and devote a portion of their salary cap to a $57 million average annual wage.
Duren’s production declined notably during the playoffs, sliding to 10.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. That was perceived as one of the reasons why the top-seeded Pistons (60-22 during the regular season) lost in the second round of the NBA playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Frustration over the Pistons’ lower offer — whether from Duren himself or his representation — has resulted in the four-year veteran reportedly contemplating taking the qualifying offer and then becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The risk could be considerable. If Duren suffers an injury or puts up subpar numbers, he jeopardizes a lucrative contract from the open market.
Additionally, by taking the qualifying offer then getting a four-year, $189 max contract (only Detroit can offer him more) in the offseason, Duren wouldn’t make more money than the $200 million that the Pistons are reportedly currently offering. (He would max out at $198.8 million, to be exact.)
Yet Duren would be banking on the belief that a max contract awaits him in free agency. The Sacramento Kings are reportedly among the teams that have expressed a willingness to offer that deal. And two other teams, one of them the Milwaukee Bucks, have shown interest, according to The Athletic.
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