Pistons, Jalen Duren Still Working Towards $60 Million Long-Term Deal
The Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren are still on track for a long-term contract, according to a recent report by Jake Fischer on Bleacher Report. Despite recent reports of negotiations getting "awfully nasty," the two sides are reportedly moving forward towards a deal worth around $60 million.
The Pistons have been insistent on keeping Duren in the Motor City for the long term, but his side has not always had the same plans in mind. At one point in July, Duren and his camp looked for sign-and-trade scenarios to teams like the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, and even the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, according to Fischer, the idea of a Jalen Duren sign-and-trade died for Detroit once Jaylen Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. This change in circumstances left the Pistons without a realistic scenario for a sign-and-trade.
Duren's camp can dig in, but the options have always been clear. They can sign an offer sheet from a team in the open market, but leave upwards of tens of millions of dollars on the table. Since those opportunities have dried up, that's no longer an option.
The most realistic path for Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons has been to come together and make a deal. There are no guarantees that it will happen anytime soon, or that Duren will even be in Detroit for the duration of the deal. But despite what they might be saying in negotiations, both sides badly need each other right now.
Fischer cites that Duren is looking for a deal that is closer to the contract signed this summer by fellow big man Walker Kessler (4 years for $130 million) than the contract signed by another center, Mitchell Robinson (3 years for $47.5 million).
A source close to the situation told Fischer that once the All-Star center signs a long-term deal that secures his financial future, wounds can eventually begin to heal. This suggests that the long-term contract could be a key factor in repairing the relationship between Duren and the Pistons.
The looming extension for fellow Pistons prospect Ausar Thompson is also a factor in the negotiations. Fischer said there are people in the organization who believe that even though Jalen joined Cade Cunningham on an All-NBA team, it is Thompson who's viewed as the better player now and in the long term. Any time that a player hears that they aren't as valued as they thought, that can cause real damage.
The Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren are reportedly working towards a long-term contract worth around $60 million. The negotiations have been contentious, but both sides badly need each other right now. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to come together and secure a deal.
Source: Yahoo Sports