Jalen Duren Gets Crushing Leverage in Pistons Contract Standoff as Kings Eye Max Deal

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Jalen Duren could join the Sacramento Kings in 2027 if he doesn’t agree to a deal with the Detroit Pistons.

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Duren and the Pistons have not reached an agreement, and neither side wants to back down. Detroit offered the big man a five-year, $190 million contract extension. However, the one-time All-Star wants $10 million more in the deal and to earn $200 million over five years.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Duren is highly interested in joining the Kings next offseason. To accomplish that, he would need to accept his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer and enter unrestricted free agency in 2027. The Pistons big man is confident Sacramento will give him the extension that he wants.

Dec 16, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) and forward Domantas Sabonis (10) box out Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

“Jalen Duren is emboldened to some degree to potentially take that qualifying offer, because he knows that the Sacramento Kings have a lot of interest in potentially giving him a maximum salary contract next summer, if he were to reach unrestricted free agency,” Fischer said.

A key reason Jalen Duren favors a move to the Kings is his pre-existing relationship with general manager Scott Perry. Perry originally wanted to draft Duren during his tenure as general manager of the New York Knicks. Although the Knicks acquired Duren from the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in 2022, they ultimately traded him to the Pistons.

“Scott Perry has a relationship with Jalen Duren dating to when he was trying to get the Knicks to draft him, which they did, but they traded him to the Pistons … Duren likes Scott Perry a lot, he likes Sacramento a lot,” Marc J. Spears said on Tuesday’s “NBA Today.”

Duren had a promising 2025-26 campaign, earning his first All-Star appearance and averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. The big man was also named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Jake Fischer Expects the Jalen Duren-Detroit Pistons Saga to End Soon

The contract standoff has gone on for roughly two months, and it looks like it won’t end. However, Jake Fischer believes Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons will agree to a deal soon.

“I think they are going to come to terms here ultimately,” Fischer argued. “I will really be surprised at this point in time if he ends up taking the qualifying offer.”

Duren is viewed as an important member of the Pistons’ roster and is one of the reasons why they have been successful in recent years. Last season, he was the team’s second-best scorer and the only player who averaged double digits in rebounding.

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