Jalen Duren’s contract standoff with Pistons finally ends

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pistons offered Duren the deal two weeks ago and kept it on the table as the deadline neared for Duren’s nuclear option — the one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. Duren reportedly mulled taking the QO, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

The Pistons were initially offering Duren between $170 million and $190 million before raising the number to an even $200 million in recent weeks.

Duren was one of last season’s breakout stars, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games. He provided the rugged interior play that helped define the Pistons’ identity en route to a 60-win season.

The 22-year-old looked destined for a max contract up until his disappointing playoff run, which many fans blamed for Detroit falling short of the Eastern Conference Finals. His averages fell across the board, dropping to just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, with worse shooting splits and more turnovers.

Duren’s massive contract means even bigger expectations for the All-Star, who cannot afford another postseason stinker while making $40 million a year.