What’s latest on Jalen Duren amid Pistons contract drama?

The Detroit Pistons have had an eventful offseason, watching as Tobias Harris departed to join the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, while signing John Collins as a potential replacement. One huge story still hovering over the team revolves around the future of big man Jalen Duren, who has yet to sign an offer sheet in restricted free agency this summer.

Recently, Pistons advisor and former head coach Dwayne Casey had a simple message amid the contract negotiations.

“We’re happy to have him…hopefully we get things worked out,” said Casey, per SiriusXM NBA Radio on X, formerly Twitter.

Duren and the Pistons are certainly in an interesting position during this free agency period. On the one hand, Duren burst onto the scene during the regular season as a force on both ends of the floor for Detroit, walling off the paint on defense, and showing off solid skill around the basket, in addition to elite rebounding on offense, as well as an ability to run the floor. The fact that he is still just 22 years old and coming off an All-Star season would seemingly make a lucrative contract extension a no-brainer.

Unfortunately, virtually none of those positive traits carried over into the playoffs, as Duren was thoroughly outplayed by Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. and Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen in the Pistons’ two postseason rounds, making some wonder how hesitant Detroit would be to pay him on the heels of that ugly performance.

At this point, it seems that a reunion with the Pistons is still the most likely outcome, but the fact that nothing has materialized as of yet will certainly make some folks antsy.