Detroit Pistons aim to retain center Jalen Duren with long‑term contract

The Detroit Pistons remain confident they will secure a long‑term deal with restricted‑free‑agent center Jalen Duren, despite stalled negotiations. A league source said both sides are still working toward a mutually beneficial contract, and all signs point to Duren re‑signing with Detroit.

Duren, who entered free agency hoping for a max contract after an All‑Star season, has seen his leverage shrink after the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Walker Kessler, ending their interest. The Pistons have not pursued a sign‑and‑trade, leaving Duren with two options: accept the multi‑year offer on the table or take the qualifying offer, a one‑year deal worth roughly $10 million. The team also explored trades for veteran stars, but those talks fell through and the roster was bolstered with players such as Isaiah Joe and Gary Harris.

Analyst Marc Stein noted that while the situation is not yet a dead end, Duren would need considerable risk tolerance to reject a longer, higher‑value contract in favor of the short‑term qualifying offer.