As Jalen Duren prepares to test free agency, Pistons have the edge
· Yahoo Sports
On the eve of the start of NBA free agency negotiations, Jalen Duren is preparing to test the market.
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The Detroit Pistons' restricted free agent is preparing to meet with the Sacramento Kings to open the door for a sign-and-trade, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. The Pistons and Duren, 22, remain far apart in free agency talks. Due to restricted free agency limitations, Duren's primary path to increasing his market value is for an outside team to exceed the Pistons' offer.
Duren's camp is also setting up a call with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, per to The Athletic's Sam Amick, . Amick reported previously that Duren was prepared to explore sign-and-trade scenarios. The negotiation period starts at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Duren, 22, is coming off of a breakout season averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% overall shooting. He co-starred with Cade Cunningham on the best Pistons team in nearly two decades – the franchise's third-ever team to win at least 60 games and first to make the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2008. The team repeatedly has signaled that Duren is a priority, a core player to build around – at the right price.
Because he made third-team All-NBA, Duren reached the "higher maximum criteria" that increased the maximum amount of money the Pistons can offer – up to five years and $287 million, a substantial bump from the previous $239 million he was eligible for.
But he's unlikely to see either figure following an underwhelming postseason performance that ended with a seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Through 14 postseason games, he averaged 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 51.4% shooting.
Outside teams are capped to a maximum deal starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total. The Pistons can offer one additional year and more overall salary, even if it averages out to less money per year. For example, a five-year, $200 million contract would exceed an outside team's best offer by $23 million, but fall short in annual value by roughly $4.5 million.
The Pistons have the right to match any offer from another team, and thus still hold the leverage in negotiations. Duren's only other pathway, in that situation, would be picking up his qualifying offer for the 2026-27 season to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The question is if Duren can produce an offer – either from the Kings or elsewhere – that's higher than the Pistons' current offer.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: As Jalen Duren prepares to test free agency, Pistons have the edge