‘Momentum’ In Contract Talks Been Jalen Duren, Pistons?

The team also made a couple of deals during the draft, sent two second-round picks two Oklahoma City in a trade for sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, and let Tobias Harris walk in free agency.

The cost-cutting measures have been made with an eye on re-signing restricted free agent center Jalen Duren, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who provided an update on contract talks between the two sides in a Bleacher Report live stream (Twitter video link).

Fischer contradicted previous reporting from Hunter Patterson of The Athletic, who indicated that little progress had been made between the 22-year-old big man and Detroit. Duren made his first All-NBA team in 2025/26, making him eligible for a max contract worth up to 30% of the ’26/27 salary cap.

“There’s been momentum and positive direction between Duren and the Pistons,” Fischer said. “And ever since that Caris LeVert trade for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, that opened up the cap space for Detroit to give Jalen Duren his 25% max contract that he is looking for.

“I do think they’re getting close. That’s my latest understanding of that situation. I don’t know exactly how close or when to expect it, but definitely closer than when they were before that trade. And I think that trade was indicative of some positive movement between Detroit and Jalen Duren.”

Duren, the 13th pick in the 2022 draft, averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 65.0% from the field and 74.7% from the foul line in 70 regular season games in ’25/26 (28.2 minutes per game). However, he struggled in the postseason, averaging 10.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 2.1 APG while shooting 51.4% from the floor and 67.4% from the line in 14 games (30.1 MPG).