Jalen Duren is now the last unresolved restricted free agent left in the NBA, and the gap between him and the Detroit Pistons still hasn’t closed as training camp approaches.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that the two sides remain apart on money, with a rival executive predicting the negotiation will continue to drag well into September.
Where the Money Gap Actually Stands
Detroit is reportedly offering Duren a five-year deal worth roughly $35 million annually.
Duren’s camp is pushing for something closer to $40 million a year or more.
That’s a meaningful gap for a 22-year-old center coming off his first All-NBA selection.
Duren earned Third Team All-NBA honors last season, which entitles him to negotiate for up to 30% of the salary cap under restricted free agency rules.
Detroit Has No Interest in Trading Him Away
Despite the standoff, the Pistons have made their intentions unmistakably clear to the rest of the league.
MacMahon reported that Detroit wants to keep Duren “absolutely, positively 100 percent,” and has told teams exploring sign-and-trade scenarios that they’re wasting their time.
That stance matters because it removes one obvious pressure valve.
With a trade off the table, Duren’s only real leverage comes from either forcing Detroit to meet his number or accepting a shorter-term bet on himself.
The Qualifying Offer Looms as a Backup Plan
Duren could still sign his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer if the stalemate continues.
Doing so would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer, giving him a path to negotiate with any team without Detroit holding matching rights.
That route comes with real risk, since it means playing this season on a shorter-term deal well below what he’s currently seeking.
But it also removes the Pistons’ ability to simply match any offer he receives elsewhere down the line.
Why This Case Looks Different From Past Summers
A year ago, four restricted free agents were still unsigned once the calendar flipped to September.
This year, Duren stands alone as the only one still searching for a deal, a sign of just how far apart Detroit’s ceiling and Duren’s asking price remain.
Duren has spent his entire career in Detroit since the Pistons took him in the 2022 draft, developing into a central piece of the team’s breakout 60-win season last year.
Both sides clearly want him to stay. The question is simply what number finally gets a deal done.
What Comes Next
Training camp is emerging as the first real pressure point in the standoff.
Without a hard deadline forcing either side’s hand before then, expect the numbers to keep circulating without a resolution until camp forces a decision one way or another.
