Jalen Duren's postseason might cost him serious money

Jalen Duren had a breakthrough 2025-26 season, averaging 19.5 points and making his first All-Star team in his fourth season. But the Detroit Pistons center has struggled mightily in the playoffs, putting up single-digit scoring numbers in half of his team's games.

That was the case in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when Duren scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in Detroit's 117-113 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Duren was shockingly ineffective in a way that could make his team hesitate to make an expensive long-term commitment this summer.

Jalen Duren could cash in with restricted free agency

The Pistons declined to work out a rookie extension with Duren last summer when he first became eligible. According to insider Jake Fischer, Duren wanted "well north" of $30M per season, while the Pistons were hesitant to commit long-term after Duren averaged less than 10 points a game in the first three months of last season.

Duren showed great pick-and-roll chemistry with the Pistons' franchise player, Cade Cunningham. He played strong defense and got to the foul line for 6.1 attempts per game. 

The center also won't turn 23 until November, making him younger than some projected lottery picks this summer. The young center seemed like he could get a deal similar to the five years and $185M the Houston Rockets gave Alperen Sengun — until his playoff woes began.

Jalen Duren's postseason could crater his value

The market for Duren depends greatly on whether interested teams and the Pistons believe his game has room for growth. He's not drawing fouls or finishing well in the playoffs, where he's shooting under 50 percent. Duren struggled against other young elite big men like Paolo Banchero and Evan Mobley.

In the NBA's salary apron era, the Pistons have to be careful about which large salaries they have to go with Cunningham's max, which pays him over $222M over the next four seasons. They don't have many other long-term salary commitments, but Ausar Thompson is eligible for a rookie extension this summer. Would the Pistons lock up two non-shooters like Duren and Thompson when Cunningham isn't a great outside shooter himself?

The Pistons have the right to match any offer for Duren, which could chill his market. However, a team with ample cap space, like the Chicago Bulls or Brooklyn Nets, could offer Duren a max deal and dare the Pistons to match or come up with a trade.

Regardless, Duren needs to play like a $30M player in Game 6 against the Cavaliers, or he's going to have a lousy closing argument in his case for a big contract this summer.