Nets Might Be Willing To Offer Pistons’ Duren a Max Contract

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the few cap space teams heading into free agency, and might have the power to pry away a young star from another franchise.

Brooklyn is preparing to pursue Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, and, as reported by John Hollinger of The Athletic, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren has been added to the list. Duren is eligible for a five-year, $287 million rookie-scale extension this offseason.

His annual salary at the maximum would be $57.5 million, a steep price for the Pistons to pay. Duren had an underwhelming playoff run, experiencing statistical declines across the board.

The 6-foot-10 center's postseason performance has likely affected contract extension negotiations. Instead of agreeing to a maximum, the two parties could agree on a more team-friendly extension that is a pay cut for Duren.

Hollinger projects Duren's worth at approximately $44 million annually. It is still an expensive contract, but it's $13.5 million fewer than the max. However, his projection doesn't mean Detroit is willing to offer that money.

Teams with cap space -- Brooklyn, Los Angeles and the Chicago Bulls -- could swoop in and pay Duren the maximum contract he desires. A caveat to that is one less year and approximately $110 million less in earnings.

Duren is also a restricted free agent, meaning the Pistons have the right of first refusal regarding offer sheets. Brooklyn offering Duren a maximum contract could put Detroit at a disadvantage.

The team is either forced to overpay the 22-year-old or lose him for nothing. It is a tough scenario the Nets could force if they want to pursue the young center.

Adding Duren to the roster would continue the organization's youth movement. Although he had an underwhelming playoffs, the former Memphis Tiger is coming off a career breakout year.

He averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and two assists, and scaled up his production when Cunningham was injured. Duren made the All-NBA Third Team in his fourth year with the Pistons.

Brooklyn has the No. 6 overall pick in next week's draft and could select its next lead guard. Pairing an elite, young guard with an elite, young center would cement a solid foundation for the team.

A potential maximum contract offering will have to wait until free agency starts in two weeks. Detroit has an advantage negotiating with Duren, one of its players, but if they do not reach an agreement by the time free agency begins, it could get dicey.

The Nets' cap space this summer could land them a franchise player from another team.

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