Within a profile on Pistons center Jalen Duren that details the big man’s breakout season and growing bond with star point guard Cade Cunningham, Logan Murdock of The Ringer briefly touches on Duren’s contract situation, noting that the former lottery pick failed to come to terms on a rookie scale extension with the club last offseason and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Duren suggested to Murdock that his physical, “gritty” style of play is a perfect match for a “blue-collar” city like Detroit, adding that he would have liked to reach a deal in 2025 and remains hopeful about working something out in 2026.
“I mean, it was what it was,” Duren said of last year’s negotiations. “I think it’s tough because there is a business aspect to it. Like I said, I would love to be a Piston for life. It was nothing personal. Nothing I took personal with the organization or anything. It was just business. They felt one way, I felt another. And at that moment we couldn’t come to an agreement.”
Last offseason, Duren was coming off a solid but unspectacular season in which he averaged a double-double (11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG) for a second straight year but didn’t significantly improve upon his 2023/24 production.
He has taken a significant step forward in 2025/26, increasing his scoring average to 19.5 PPG, making his first All-Star team, and establishing himself as an indispensable contributor on both ends of the court for a 55-21 Pistons team that sits atop the Eastern Conference. Detroit has a +12.0 net rating when Duren is on the court and a mark of just -4.3 when he’s not.
Still just 22 years old, Duren has also emerged as a locker room leader for the Pistons. Veteran wing Javonte Green said the fourth-year center is “more aware of his voice on the team,” while reserve center Paul Reed said it has been “inspiring” to see the progress Duren has made as a leader and a player.
“It’s not even something I thought of or tried to do,” Duren said when asked about his leadership role. “I think (it happened) naturally, I just f–k with my guys. I’m cool with my guys. … I like to bring guys together. I like to joke. I like to play around. Serious when I need to be serious, though.”
As for Duren’s improvement on the court, Murdock notes that the big man entered last summer determined to prove he could be more than just a lob threat and intent on becoming a legitimate second star alongside Cunningham. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff helped him together a plan to try to make that happen.
“We talked about the offensive stuff and how he can be not only a scorer, but he can be a hub that you can play through and that can create for other people,” Bickerstaff told Murdock. “But defensively, his ability to lock down the paint, protect the rim, rebound the basketball, close possessions, be the anchor of our defense—that’s what the five man’s responsibility is.”
In all likelihood, Duren’s breakout year means his next contract will be worth the maximum salary or something very close to it, which wouldn’t have been the case if he had accepted the Pistons’ best extension offer last offseason. While there will likely be rival suitors curious to see if they can pry him away from Detroit, general manager Trajan Langdon indicated to Murdock that the team reciprocates Duren’s interest in a long-term relationship.
“We want him to be a Piston for life, too,” Langdon said. “(Not working out a deal last offseason) had nothing to do with what he had or hadn’t done.”
Once you make statements like this, the team always trades you lol
He should have been in new york. That’s definitely unfortunate.
Unfortunately though, if they don’t move Kemba’s money in this deal, the Knicks likely don’t create the space to land Brunson.