The Detroit Pistons have a few important options to consider regarding Jalen Duren since he’s still unsigned going into training camp
In less than one week, the Detroit Pistons are going to begin training camp fresh off a playoff appearance that lasted for two rounds. Even though the Pistons took a considerable step forward by winning 60 regular season games and nabbing the East’s top seed in the 2025-26 campaign, their postseason run made it clear that changes are necessary to bring a title to the Motor City.
Throughout the offseason, the Pistons have made savvy trades to bring rotational three-point shooters into Detroit, but their most important business was always going to take place in the negotiating room. To that effect, the Pistons were successful in inking Ausar Thompson to a five-year, $155 million rookie scale extension this summer, but the organization has been unable to find a suitable result for the Jalen Duren camp.
After the 22-year old center’s All-Star season, Duren was expecting top-flight money entering restricted free agency, but his lack of production in the postseason combined with an unsaturated market for big man talent ensured that the Pistons were eyeing a contract well below max value. Therein lies the discrepancy that has stood between Duren, the Pistons and a proper long-term contract for the All-NBA Third-Teamer.
Since Duren has even threatened to accept his qualifying offer and hit unrestricted free agency next offseason, the relationship between JD and the Pistons has taken at least a non-zero hit. So, if the Pistons want to recoup value for their investment rather than losing him for nothing next summer, there is a possibility that Detroit opts for a sign-and-trade involving Duren even though they’ve previously rebuked those deals.
With that as a possibility, most of the momentum regarding potential sign-and-trades has involved the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks. Although the Kings have been involved for the longest, the Bucks may have a more attractive package to offer with Myles Turner as the forefront of their offer.
Last season, Turner spent his first year with the Bucks after a 10-year stint with the Indiana Pacers to start his career, but the 6-11 vet had a slight decline in production since Milwaukee was in flux for the entire campaign. Turner averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Bucks, just three years removed his peak at 18 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Indiana.
But unlike Duren, the Bucks center is more than comfortable popping behind the arc to hit three-pointers, and he’s made it a dangerous part of his inside-outside game. Turner is a career 36.5% shooter from long-range who drilled triples at a 38.3% clip a season ago. If this potential deal were to come to fruition, Turner would serve as a proper floor spacer for Detroit with the ability to still work with Cade Cunningham in the two-man game with screens at the second level.
From a defensive perspective, Turner has stood as one of the NBA’s better shot blockers for the past half decade. Turner has seven seasons with at least two blocks per game through his career, so the Texas product could help serve as a shot-swatting replacement for Isaiah Stewart as well.
From a stylistic standpoint, there is a chance that the Pistons offense functions more cohesively since Turner is a strong shooter for a five, and Ausar Thompson still hasn’t found his outside jumper quite yet. The Pistons might need to take a few more assets back for the deal to be palatable since Duren is young, talented and still improving, but it’s a move that could benefit both sides if JD actually plans to accept his qualifying offer in the next week.
