Jalen Duren isn't going anywhere

The Detroit Pistons still haven't worked out a contract with restricted free agent Jalen Duren. That won't mean he won't be a Piston when the season begins.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Pistons have offered their 22-year-old center a deal worth $35M per season, while Duren is seeking more than $40M per season. That's not a big enough difference for the two sides to split up.

Jalen Duren has less leverage than Detroit Pistons

After a season where he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, Duren made the All-NBA third team, which makes him eligible for a five-year maximum contract, worth $287M over five years. His dreams of a max deal disappeared in the playoffs, when he averaged on 10.2 points as the 60-win Pistons struggled to get past the No. 8 Orlando Magic and lost in the second round.

That's only one bad playoff series for a young player who was only legally able to drink six months before the playoffs. In the second apron era, the Pistons may be overly cautious with financial risk, especially with Cade Cunningham on a max deal of his own.

Duren may feel like he deserves more than the Pistons are offering, and may in fact have earned it. But as a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match any contract offer Duren receives. And since they've refused to engage in sign-and-trade talks, Duren's options are to compromise with Detroit, or take a risky one-year qualifying offer.

Detroit Pistons can wait out Jalen Duren

Duren may want over $40M per year, but his qualifying offer for next season is just $9.6M. Taking that deal would make him an unrestricted free agent next fall, but he'd be giving up more than $25M less than what the Pistons are offering. It's a big risk, and the risk is almost solely on Duren's shoulders.

The most likely result is that both sides budge. The Pistons get closer to $160M over four seasons with their offer, while Duren relents on his desire to get more than $40M annually. Both sides don't need to budge until the Oct. 1 deadline, so the standoff could last weeks.

Duren should realize that last year's playoffs are proof that a player's value can go down quickly. The Pistons don't want to trade Duren. He should take a life-changing nine-figure offer.

And if he really believes he's worth more, he can always become a free agent again at age 26. Until then, the Pistons are his only option. Luckily, they're still offering him a ton of money. Not a bad consolation prize.