New Jalen Duren Rumors Reveal Pistons' Last Contract Offer amid Qualifying Offer, Kings Buzz

All-Star center Jalen Duren is the only notable NBA restricted free agent who has yet to resolve his contract situation, as he reportedly still hasn't found common ground with the Detroit Pistons.

According to Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic, Duren is seeking a contract worth at least $200 million, but the Pistons' last offer was for five years and $190 million.

There is reportedly mutual interest between Duren and the Sacramento Kings, but the Pistons have refused to engage with the Kings in sign-and-trade talks.

While a sign-and-trade is the only way for the Kings to potentially land Duren right now, Amick and Patterson noted that Sacramento could have the ability to make room to sign Duren to a max contract next offseason should he become available.

Selected 13th overall in the 2022 NBA draft, Duren has shown marked improvement over the course of his four-year NBA career.

Although he averaged a double-double in both 2023-24 and 2024-25, Duren took his game to the next level last season.

The 6'10" big man averaged a career-high 19.5 points per game on 65.0 percent shooting to go along with 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

With Duren as the Pistons' No. 2 offensive option behind Cade Cunningham, the team led the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record and fell one win short of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

As good as Duren was in earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors for the first time, his playoff struggles may have plenty to do with the Pistons' apparent hesitancy to sign him to a huge contract.

Over 14 playoff appearances, Duren's numbers dipped significantly compared to the regular season, as he averaged 10.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting, as well as 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

While Duren is eligible for a contract extension that would pay him $287 million over five years, the Pistons reportedly haven't come anywhere close to that number.

The Kings seemingly view Duren as a max-level player more than the Pistons do, and Sacramento is reportedly Duren's preferred destination should he go elsewhere due partly to the notion that he could "thrive" alongside rookie first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr.

Per Amick and Patterson, Duren did not attend a team minicamp in San Diego set up by Cunningham last month, nor was he in attendance for team governor Tom Gores' Labor Day party.

That seems to underscore the uncertainty of whether Duren will play for the Pistons this season or beyond.

If the two sides can't agree to a long-term deal before the Pistons' regular-season opener on Oct. 20, a short-term deal with player or team options is a possibility, and that could potentially lead to him becoming an unrestricted free agent next offseason, much like what happened with Jonathan Kuminga from last offseason to this offseason.