The Pistons have made only “modest progress” toward reaching a new contract with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, sources briefed on the talks tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required).
However, Stein hears that Detroit remains unwilling to consider a sign-and-trade that would send the 22-year-old center to another team. He notes that Pistons officials have repeatedly said that re-signing Duren is the main priority of the offseason, which has already seen John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince added to the roster.
As Stein notes, Duren’s options remain limited with no rival teams possessing enough cap space to sign him to a competitive offer sheet. If negotiations continue to stall, Duren could consider accepting Detroit’s $9.6MM qualifying offer, which will remain in effect through October 1, as a path toward becoming unrestricted next summer. However, that move carries huge risks and it ensures that he’ll be playing for well below his market value during the 2026/27 season.
“Momentum” in negotiations with Duren was cited last week, but Stein’s report indicates that any progress has been minimal. After making the All-NBA third team, Duren is eligible for a 30% max deal that would pay him about $49.5MM next season and $287MM over five years, but the Pistons are hoping to convince him to accept a more team-friendly contract.
Stein shares more information from around the league:
- The Lakers met with Duren at the start of free agency, but Stein states that their main target was always Walker Kessler, even though they understood the price would be high. L.A. parted with fully unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 in the sign-and-trade, which gave Kessler a pricey new deal worth $130MM over four years. Sources tell Stein that the Lakers were willing to pay a premium cost for Kessler because they only had to part with one first-rounder (in 2029) when they acquired Luka Doncic from Dallas in February of 2025.
- Stein notes that L.A.’s front office has been promising Doncic that it would acquire a high-level center since last summer, and they believe Kessler will be the best big man that Doncic has teamed up with throughout his career. Stein adds that Doncic commented on the Lakers’ offseason Sunday in a Golf Channel interview while attending the British Open, saying, “I think we have a really good team. I’m very excited to start a new season. Obviously last season didn’t end how we wanted, so I’m very excited for the new one.”
- Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, senior advisor Kurt Rambis and assistant coaches Nate McMillan and Greg St. Jean attended a private workout by Ziaire Williams in Las Vegas before signing him to a one-year minimum deal that became official on Sunday, sources tell Stein. The L.A. contingent wanted to watch Williams in person to gauge his overall progress and the work he has done to improve his long-distance shooting.
- The Thunder’s motivation to trade Luguentz Dort to Atlanta on Sunday may have extended past the financial benefits. Stein cites a chart from Lev Akabas of Sportico (Twitter link) showing that OKC was far more effective in the Western Conference finals against San Antonio when Dort was on the bench.
Kessler salary set a mark for Duran’s. Duran should take it with extra fifth year with player option.
I think that one of reasons for Pistons not wanting s&t, is that other team not looking at Duran as max player either.
Kessler is better than Duran, especially defensively, and is 4 inches taller. Kessler’s contract is the max the Pistons should offer Duren.
I agree that he’s better, but his availability is problem, so I rate their value the same.
Kessler’s availability needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Utah was purposely sitting out their impactful players for all the years Kessler has been in the league because they were tanking. A player needs a week to heal from injury, they sat him 3-4.
This isn’t coming from me, but reporters and analysts assigned to cover the Jazz. And he got the surgery last year for an injury from his college days, again cause Utah was not going to play him much anyway.
“Jalen Duren made his first All-Star appearance and All-NBA (Third Team) selection during a breakout 2025–26 season. Kessler, who was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers via sign-and-trade, has not earned these specific regular-season honors in his career.“
Both of them aren’t worth the max. In what Universe is Kessler better than Duren. The Bizarro world.
That’s because Kessler was playing for a team focused on losing. You’re not going to get recognition when a team sits you out when you’re not injured, and when they do play you, will sit you out if your team goes ahead at any point.
Again in what world is Kessler better than Duren. One day he could be. Not there yet.
In this world, the earth. If you want a more specific realm, then the NBA world!!!
If EVER Kessler makes an all NBA team and ajj star team. Come back to this world a d tell us all about it.