Jalen Duran 'Doesn't... Want To Be In Detroit Long Term': Insider

September 04, 2026
Social Media Feature Preview
The Jalen Duren/Detroit Pistons standoff is getting more and more intense. The Pistons are willing to give Duren $35M a year on a five-year deal. The player wants $40M+. Neither side is budging. It's at the point, per insider Brett Siegel, where Duren doesn't even want to be in Detroit for much longer. 

Siegel wonders, quite frankly, if his future is in the Motor City. Even if they do come to terms on some sort of deal.

"Is his future still with the Detroit Pistons? To me, I think the answer is no. I don't think, even if he signs a long-term contract, that he's going to finish that contract with the Pistons. I think the damage has been done. 

"Jalen Duren and his camp don’t necessarily want to be in Detroit long-term because they don't feel valued. Especially with all these reports saying that Ausar Thompson is actually their No. 2 guy (behind Cade Cunningham) and not Duren."

For context, Duren had an All-Star year and was named All-NBA Third Team at center this past season. He averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 70 games, shooting 65% from the field (though he suffered a massive dropoff in contributions in the playoffs). 

Thompson was a First Team All-Defensive member, and led the NBA in steals at 2.0 per game. He averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.7 rebounds. Siegel feels that Thompson's eventual extension will come in in the $25M-to-$32M range on an annual basis. 

Seeing as the Pistons have no intention whatsoever of entertaining a sign-and-trade to move on from Duren at this point, his options are to take that $175M or so that's on the table, and then, as Siegel suggests, eventually find his way to another team before the contract is up, or just simply take the $9.6M qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent after the season, free to go wherever he wants (or rather, whoever is willing to pay him the max). 

That, friends, would be a $165M gamble. 


Go To: NFL Rumors | MLB Rumors | NHL Rumors