New NBA Rumors on Jalen Duren's Contract Talks With Pistons, Timeline for Potential Resolution

Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons are seemingly entering the home stretch of their contract standoff given the Oct. 1 deadline for players to accept the qualifying offer, but it may not be resolved until closer to that date.

Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon , one executive from an opposing team explained there remains a "gap" between Duren and the Pistons on a long-term deal.

"There's still a gap," the exec said, "and it's going to drag."

MacMahon noted the Pistons have been willing to offer Duren a five-year deal "in the range" of $35 million per season, but Duren's camp is seeking a contract worth more than $40 million annually.

Duren was one of six members of the 2022 draft class who received a qualifying offer this summer. The others — Mark Williams, Bennedict Mathurin, Tari Eason, Walker Kessler and Peyton Watson — have all signed multiyear deals.

Kessler and Watson left their original team in sign-and-trade deals. It doesn't seem like that's ever been a consideration for the Pistons, who have not shown any interest in trading the 22-year-old.

The qualifying offer would pay Duren $9.6 million for the 2026-27 season. He would also be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.

A contract worth in the range of $35 million per season would make Duren the 10th highest-paid center by average annual salary in the NBA, sandwiched between Rudy Gobert ($36.5 million) and Bam Adebayo ($32.6 million).

Adding to the complicated nature of the contract negotiations is the apron, which MacMahon wrote has led the Pistons to take a "relatively tough stance" with Duren.

The Pistons already have Cade Cunningham on a supermax extension . They are also trying to work out a long-term deal with Ausar Thompson, which some projections suggest could range anywhere from $33-40 million per season.

If Thompson and Duren each get roughly $40 million annually, the Pistons are locked in with them and Cunningham as their main trio for the next few years.

Despite coming off a breakout 2025-26 regular season that earned him a spot on the All-NBA third team, Duren hurt his value with a rough playoff showing. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 14 playoff starts, scoring fewer than 10 points in seven of those games.

Duren was much better in the regular season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 70 starts. He helped keep the Pistons going strong when Cunningham missed three weeks late in the season due to a collapsed lung.

Detroit's 60 wins in the regular season were the most for the franchise since 2005-06.