Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons stay separated by a big monetary hole as September begins, with the edges nonetheless negotiating a long-term extension after the middle’s breakout 2025-26 season. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported Tuesday that Detroit is providing a five-year contract value roughly $35 million yearly, whereas Duren’s camp is in search of a mean wage above $40 million.
The negotiations have continued since final summer time, when the edges failed to succeed in an settlement earlier than the deadline for rookie-scale extensions. Duren then entered the 2025-26 season in a prove-it place and strengthened his leverage by averaging 19.5 factors and 10.5 rebounds in 70 video games at age 22.
Duren was chosen to his first All-Star crew and earned All-NBA Third Team honors as Detroit completed 60-22, the most effective report within the Jap Convention. He was the Pistons’ second-leading scorer and shot 65.0% from the sphere whereas averaging 3.8 offensive rebounds per sport.
His regular-season manufacturing additionally made him eligible for the Rose Rule. Due to his All-NBA choice, Duren can doubtlessly obtain a beginning wage value 30% of the wage cap, which might translate to a five-year contract value roughly $287 million beneath the utmost framework.
That determine, nonetheless, shouldn’t be the benchmark Detroit is at the moment utilizing. MacMahon reported that the Pistons are holding to a proposal considerably under the 25% most obtainable to gamers coming off rookie contracts who don’t qualify for the Rose Rule.
Solely three different gamers from Duren’s 2022 draft class obtained the 25% most on five-year extensions: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ahead Chet Holmgren, Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero and Oklahoma Metropolis ahead Jalen Williams. Every is scheduled to earn $41.2 million in 2026-27.
Duren’s postseason efficiency provides Detroit one other issue to contemplate. After averaging 19.5 factors and 10.5 rebounds throughout the common season, he averaged 10.2 factors and eight.5 rebounds over 14 playoff video games whereas taking pictures 51.4% from the sphere.
The Pistons nevertheless remain committed to keeping Duren as a part of their younger core alongside Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. Cunningham averaged 23.9 factors and 9.9 assists throughout Detroit’s 60-win season and completed fifth in MVP voting.
Detroit additionally has salary-cap issues past Duren’s contract. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is negotiating with Thompson on a possible rookie extension, whereas the Pistons entered September with $36.5 million in room under the luxury-tax threshold earlier than accounting for Duren’s eventual deal.
Duren may settle for his $9.6 million qualifying supply for 2026-27 and grow to be an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer time, however doing so would require him to threat greater than $170 million in assured cash. Jake Fischer has reported that Duren is still expected to re-sign with Detroit, with a four-year contract projected to exceed $160 million.
The eventual settlement will decide not solely Duren’s compensation but in addition how a lot monetary flexibility Detroit retains round a core that produced the Jap Convention’s high regular-season report earlier than shedding to Cleveland 4-3 within the convention semifinals.
