Jalen Duren is a restricted free agent after a strong regular season. Here's how much the Atlanta Hawks should offer in a potential sign-and-trade.
The Atlanta Hawks have been linked to a lot of NBA stars so far this summer.
Jaylen Brown? Check. He's perhaps the most frequently cited Hawks trade target. That said, Trey Murphy III is another popular suggestion.
How about Myles Turner? It's been suggested. Daniel Gafford has been seen as an option. So far, we've covered wings and big men, but heading into the summer, a lot of people suggested that the Hawks needed a point guard.
Interestingly, the Hawks have been linked to players across positions. Having landed a point guard in the lottery in Kingston Flemings, they may consider that area covered. They did draft big man Zuby Ejiofor at 23, but he feels like more of a long-term project. So, the Hawks could still target a big:
What about the Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren?
Hawks Could Target Duren
There are increasingly loud rumors that the Pistons could look to sign-and-trade him.
As of now, Duren is a Restricted Free Agent (RFA). That means that the Hawks (or any team) could simply offer him a contract, but the Pistons can match the offer if they choose. That's why these RFA situations often result in a sign-and-trade. The Pistons have the leverage to say, "If you won't give us anything, we'll simply match your offer."
So, the question becomes: How much should the Hawks be willing to offer Duren?
It depends on how much you weigh the regular season vs the postseason. In the 2025-26 regular season, Duren was revelatory. He averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 65.0% from the field.
Unfortunately, the playoffs were a different story.
Duren managed just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and his field goal percentage dropped to 51.4%. Duren's limitations as a half-court scorer became more prominent when the stakes were higher.
So how much could he really be worth?
Hawks Shouldn't Overpay for Duren
The Hawks shouldn't mind trading Jonathan Kuminga for Duren. If the Pistons don't want him, they could look for a third team. That said, Duren's next deal will cost more than Kuminga's $24.3 million.
That leaves Atlanta with a couple of viable options. They could include Onyeka Okongwu, given that they're acquiring a starting big man. That would bring Duren's Average Annual Value (AAV) to $40.4 million, and the Hawks should not go higher than that.
They could also add Corey Kispert, who, combined with Kuminga, would make for $38.2 million in annual salary. Kuminga and Kispert may not entice the Pistons, but if the Hawks added a future first, a deal could be done.
Perhaps none of that is worth Atlanta's time. If they feel that they can't splurge on a non-shooting big, that's valid. Still, given Duren's incredible 2025-26 regular season, it could be worth considering:
Even if Duren isn't someone they've been linked to (yet).
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