Multiple NBA executives told ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill on Friday that Detroit Pistons star big man Jalen Duren could be offered a deal in the range of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun’s five-year, $185 million contract signed in October 2024.
Jalen Duren Among NBA’s Best Centers
Duren, 22, was selected 13th overall by the Pistons in the 2022 draft out of Memphis. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center played a career-high 78 games last season in his third NBA campaign.
Per Basketball Reference, Duren had the league’s second-highest field goal percentage (69.2%), trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen.
Duren also became one of only five players in NBA history to record 100 double-doubles before turning 22.
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Through 19 appearances (all starts) this season, Duren is averaging career highs of 19 points and 29.2 minutes to go with 11.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 65.7% from the field.
In Detroit’s 122-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 1, he recorded a career-high 33 points on 13-for-16 (81.3%) shooting from the field and 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the foul line.
Duren ranks sixth in the league this campaign in total rebounds (218), second in offensive rebounds (83), 12th in defensive boards (135), and sixth in player efficiency rating (24.9).
Pistons Not Looking To Trade
The Pistons were rumored to trade Duren over the summertime.
However, since Detroit is currently leading the Eastern Conference with a 17-5 record, the team needs frontcourt depth for the second half of the campaign.
Injuries could impact the Pistons later down the line, e.g., Isaiah Stewart in the 2023-24 season. The big man was limited to only 46 games that campaign due to right toe sprain and right knee inflammation.
Although Goodwill noted that Detroit has a $14.1 million trade exception it can use, Pistons new general manager Trajan Langdon might not push for a trade if it means altering team chemistry.
“I’m always pushing my group, whether it’s from an analytics or personnel standpoint, on how can we get better?” Langdon told Goodwill. “Can that happen internally? Or do we need to do something, add something, to get better? There’s obviously [the risk of] what those things cost and how they can hamper your future.”
Langdon added that he’s not aggressive right now but will keep his options open.
“Opportunistic, sure. Always opportunistic. If there’s something out there that we feel can make us better, we’ll take a strong look,” he continued.
The Pistons host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
