theathleticuk
LAS VEGAS So far this summer, the road for Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons has been a bumpy one.
Duren and the Pistons have yet to come to an agreement in restricted free agency on a new contract, while suitors for Duren have dwindled.
What was once a multi-lane highway for Durens services is now looking more like a two-way street.
For Duren, staying in Detroit looks like the best way forward.
Advertisement Finances will likely play the biggest role, as the 22-year-old was underwhelmed with the Pistons first offer, as The Athletic first reported nearly two weeks ago.
Duren broke out in his fourth NBA season with the Pistons.
His 19.5 points per game were a career high, and his 10.5 rebounds and 65 percent from the field were both the second-most he averaged in the league.
His 21.3 percent usage rate last season was a career high and ranked in the 87th percentile for bigs, per CleaningTheGlass.
His 184 unassisted made field goals last regular season were a career best as well.
But in the playoffs, Duren was abysmal.
He dropped to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4 percent in his 14 postseason games.
Duren couldnt generate quality offense for himself or any of his teammates the way he did during the regular season.
Durens frustration with negotiations led him to seek sign-and-trade opportunities.
The big man met with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, but the Lakers went on to sign restricted free agent Walker Kessler and Detroit reportedly wasnt interested in moving Duren for Kings center Domantas Sabonis.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets are the only two teams in the league with cap space as of Friday, but neither is expected to compete for championships for the foreseeable future.
In addition, Memphis just selected big Cameron Boozer with the No.
3 pick in the June draft and have added him to 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey, former Pistons teammate Isaiah Stewart, and Taj Gibson.
Brooklyn now has five players on its roster who are at least 6-foot-10.
Even if he doesnt reach the $40 to $45 million average annual value range that might have been expected by his camp, based on playstyle and chemistry alone, Duren should look to reunite with All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham.
The two have an off-the-court bond that stretches back to high school and predates their pairing as Pistons teammates.
Advertisement Cunninghams 265 regular-season assists to Duren over the last two seasons are more than Cunningham has dished out to any other teammate during that span.
But a large part of Durens progression last season was his ability to create scoring opportunities for himself.
If Durens long-term goal is to sustain his All-NBA stature and contend for titles, there needs to be a middle ground with the Pistons both sides can agree on.
At 22, Duren should have multiple opportunities to sign max deals if he can stay healthy and improve his playoff play in the future.
Hes in a system and city where hes familiar.
Hes also been outspoken about wanting to end his career with the Pistons.
The stagnation in negotiations was understandable, given that NBA players and teams alike generally tie player value to salaries.
Neither side would want to go into the next season with disdain for one another, where animosity could bleed into the locker room.
Duren has handled adversity relatively well so far.
Detroits acquisition of John Collins is another facet of this offseason that could make life easier for Duren.
Collins shot a career-high 40.6 percent from 3-point range last season and has averaged 39.1 percent from distance during the last three on 3.4 attempts per game.
Hes shot better from long range than any power forward Duren has played with since Bojan Bogdanovic in Durens rookie season in 2022-23.
If Collins can hover around the 40-percent mark from 3, he should free up space for Duren to operate.
One of the biggest issues during Durens postseason slippage, was the lack of space he felt he had to operate offensively.
Collins proven track record as a high-flying, stretch power forward could be a means to unlocking Duren when the playoffs come around, which was the Pistons biggest issue two months ago.
Advertisement There are several reasons staying with the Pistons makes sense.
In addition to becoming one of Detroits pillars, the synergy hes developed on the court with Cunningham, and his teammates, the coaching staff trusted him to keep starting him despite his postseason struggles.
And hed still have a chance to sign a max deal with the Pistons down the road.
As beneficial as returning to the Pistons would be for Durens career, its also beneficial for Detroit.
Given how much the center market has shrunk and the fact that there arent many versatile big men Durens age, it also makes sense for the Pistons.
Its in both parties best interests to see that.