The continuing standoff between Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons took one other massive flip on the finish of September.
In accordance with ESPN’s Shams Charania, Duren isn’t attending Detroit’s media day and has been holding out of coaching camp because of frustration with contract extension talks with the Pistons.
After being named third-team All-NBA final season, the 22-year-old massive man is eligible for a max extension of 5 years and $287 million. He declined a suggestion from the Pistons that will’ve paid him $200 million – and this standoff is displaying no indicators of ending, as Detroit doesn’t wish to pay him over $57 million yearly.
Both Duren is de facto annoyed with this negotiation, or his advisors are. Regardless, stories have indicated that he’d take into account taking the qualifying provide to develop into an unrestricted free agent after this season.
That might be an enormous threat, but when he performs properly, an enormous pay day may await him subsequent summer time. Groups just like the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to Duren, however the Pistons clearly haven’t executed a commerce.
Throughout the common season, Duren was a beast. He was an enormous cause why the Pistons continued to shock the NBA below head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 factors and 10.5 rebounds within the common season, however that manufacturing declined quickly within the postseason.
Duren struggled throughout Detroit’s second spherical NBA Playoff collection towards the Cleveland Cavaliers, the place Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen dominated the frontcourt.
Why this issues for Pistons – and Duren
The Pistons gained 60 video games and had been the No. 1 seed final yr within the Japanese Convention. Duren was an enormous cause why.
With out him, the Pistons undoubtedly would take a step within the incorrect path in a new-look Japanese Convention. They didn’t make an enormous transfer, whereas the Philadelphia 76ers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, the Toronto Raptors added Kawhi Leonard and the Miami Warmth landed Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However they’re in an comprehensible place.
The NBA’s new second apron rule stinks. It punishes groups for compensating their homegrown expertise, like Duren. However the Pistons already paid Cade Cunningham a five-year rookie most deal, and that’s comprehensible as he’s the face of their franchise.
Duren was a participant that light within the postseason, and if the Pistons don’t wish to sabotage their future for him, it’s comprehensible, however this awkwardness ought to hopefully wrap up by some means.
