Jalen Duren-Pistons, total breakdown: Kings lurking
Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons appear to be further and further apart despite a $190 million offer. The Kings could try to get involved in the negotiations
Despite a season in which he earned All-NBA Third Team honors, made his All-Star debut and averaged a double-double with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, becoming the second-best player on a team that won 60 games in the regular season, Jalen Duren remains unsigned with training camp just weeks away.
The saga between the player and the Michigan franchise, however, appears to be approaching a turning point. The No. 0 reportedly recently turned down a five-year, $190 million contract, a figure that was still very close to the $40 million per year Duren had been asking the Pistons for.
According to Marc J. Spears, however, the rejection may not be about money, as had been assumed until a few weeks ago. Duren now appears determined to leave Detroit because he reportedly feels betrayed and disrespected by the franchise, with his relationship with the front office now at an all-time low.
A separation between the two sides therefore looks increasingly likely, with the possibility of a sign-and-trade continuing to gain traction. If that solution becomes a reality, one of the teams most interested in Duren would be the Sacramento Kings.
One of the biggest factors that could draw the center to California is general manager Scott Perry, who has a long-standing relationship with the player.
Scott Perry has a relationship with Jalen Duren that dates back to when he was trying to convince the Knicks to draft him, which they ultimately did, before trading him to the Pistons… Duren really likes Scott Perry, he really likes Sacramento […] I just heard that for Jalen, right now, it’s not about the money. He feels disrespected
Marc J. Spears
Even though the direction of the situation now seems fairly clear, it could still take some time to reach a resolution, as Sacramento currently does not have the salary-cap space needed to sign Duren.
To complete the deal, the Kings would first have to find a new home for Domantas Sabonis and his contract, which is worth nearly $100 million over the next two seasons. League rumors have linked the Toronto Raptors to the Lithuanian center, but for now, that possibility is still far from becoming a serious negotiation.
However this soap opera ends, the Detroit Pistons risk coming out of the situation significantly weakened. After a 60-win season that appeared to finally mark the beginning of a new era, Detroit could lose the player who had established himself as the team’s second cornerstone.
And who knows whether such a complicated handling of the Duren situation could eventually affect Cade Cunningham’s assessment and his belief in the team’s real chances of building something significant in Detroit. Because losing your second star immediately after a 60-win season is hardly the best way to maintain momentum for a project that finally appeared ready to take the next step.