Central Notes: Haliburton, Lillard, Cunningham, Prince, Bulls
Tyrese Haliburton wants to repair his relationship with Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, ESPN relays. It’s been fractured since the Pacers guard stole Lillard’s Dame Time celebration during the 2023 in-season tournament.
“I think what I do regret more than anything is what me and Dame’s relationship has become,” Haliburton said on “The Zach Lowe Show.” “Because he was a guy who checked on me a lot early in my career, especially when I got traded [from the Kings to Pacers in 2022].”
Both players missed last season while recovering from Achilles tendon injuries.
“I would love to have a conversation [with Lillard] because I just think it became more than it ever needed to be,” Haliburton said. “Put it on me. I was young, in the moment, I was having fun with it, but it was probably a little much. And whatever happened from there happened.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- The Pistons are looking to put the ball in the hands of Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren more often this season, in part to prevent Cade Cunningham from wearing down, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “Just relieves pressure,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Teams have the idea that they just want to wear Cade down. They want to pick him up, they want to double-team him, they want to be physical with him. It makes a huge difference when sometimes you just need to jog to a corner without having to worry about the double-team or pick up full court or wrestling. It just can allow him to be fresher and then, again, it’s a different look when all 10 eyes are staring at you as opposed to when you get a chance to go high and then come back and play, it gives you advantages earlier coming off of screens and those types of things, also.”
- The Pistons acquired forward Taurean Prince in a trade with the Bucks this offseason. Prince may not have a rotation spot but his veteran leadership has been a plus in training camp, Coty M. Davis of the Detroit News writes. “He’s a pro. He’s a veteran. He is one of our most vocal guys. I love watching him because he grabs the young guys all the time and has conversations with them,” Bickerstaff said. “It is great to have a veteran who can do that and can play. He can make shots. Defensively, he sacrifices his body. Those are things that can set the tone. It is great to have veteran players who can do that.”
- Injuries are piling up in the Bulls’ frontcourt and coach Tiago Splitter is concerned, the Chicago Sun Times’ Alissa Hirsh writes. The Bulls’ two centers, Zach Collins (quad) and Nic Claxton (hamstring), haven’t participated in training camp. Now, Jalen Smith is dealing with soreness in his left foot. ‘‘It is a concern,’’ Splitter said. ‘‘I’ve gotta be honest with you. We’ve gotta be careful with their minutes throughout the season. We probably do have to have every night, like, a three-man rotation at [center]. It’s a little bit what the league is also asking, the way the league is playing — physical, fast. Sometimes a 7-footer cannot play for 35 minutes, so you’ve gotta divide those minutes with three big men running up and down.”
Warriors, Knicks Top 2026 NBA Franchise Valuations
For a sixth straight year, the Warriors lead Sportico’s list of the NBA’s most valuable teams, according to Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico, who unveiled the website’s updated NBA franchise valuations for 2026 on Friday.
Badenhausen projects the Warriors’ value at $14.5 billion, which represents a whopping 28% increase from last year’s $11.33 billion valuation. The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, at $15.5 billion, continue to be the only global sports franchise whose valuation comes in higher than Golden State’s, per Sportico’s projections.
According to Sportico, the average value of an NBA franchise is at $6.64 billion, up 21% since 2025, and no team is worth less than $4.2 billion. The average valuation has nearly tripled since 2020, when it was $2.35 billion, and the NBA’s 30 teams are worth a collective $199 billion. That estimate takes into account team-related businesses, including WNBA franchises, as well as arenas owned by NBA teams, Badenhausen clarifies.
The NBA’s 30 teams generated a total of $13.7 billion in estimated revenue last season, per Badenhausen, which works out to roughly $456MM per club. That total includes non-NBA events that took place at buildings which teams own and/or operate.
As Badenhausen outlines, the Warriors led the NBA in revenue by a significant margin, having generated an estimated $895MM last season. That figure is 26% higher than the Knicks’ estimated revenue, despite the fact that Golden State missed the playoffs while New York had nine home postseason games en route to a championship.
After placing third a year ago, the Knicks have returned to second place on Sportico’s 2026 list at $12.8 billion. They move slightly ahead of the Lakers, whose valuation comes in at $12.5 billion, which is based on the price that Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner recently agreed to pay for a majority share in the team.
Of course, it’s worth noting that figures from Sportico or any other media outlet are just estimates and often don’t quite match up with the sale prices for franchises that change hands. But these projections are usually in the right ballpark and remain useful for getting a sense of the league’s most and least valuable teams.
As Badenhausen notes, Sportico’s projections are based on a control sale price, rather than limited stake purchases.
Here’s Sportico’s full list of NBA franchise valuations for 2026:
- Golden State Warriors: $14.5 billion
- New York Knicks: $12.8 billion
- Los Angeles Lakers: $12.5 billion
- Los Angeles Clippers: $8.21 billion
- Chicago Bulls: $8.13 billion
- Miami Heat: $8.05 billion
- Boston Celtics: $8 billion
- Brooklyn Nets: $7.45 billion
- Philadelphia 76ers: $7.15 billion
- Houston Rockets: $6.92 billion
- Toronto Raptors: $6.47 billion
- Dallas Mavericks: $6.35 billion
- Phoenix Suns: $6.32 billion
- Atlanta Hawks: $6.08 billion
- Cleveland Cavaliers: $6 billion
- Sacramento Kings: $5.71 billion
- Washington Wizards: $5.56 billion
- Denver Nuggets: $5.51 billion
- San Antonio Spurs: $5.3 billion
- Indiana Pacers: $5.26 billion
- Milwaukee Bucks: $5.14 billion
- Oklahoma City Thunder: $5 billion
- Utah Jazz: $4.92 billion
- Orlando Magic: $4.9 billion
- Charlotte Hornets: $4.85 billion
- Detroit Pistons: $4.83 billion
- Minnesota Timberwolves: $4.5 billion
- Portland Trail Blazers: $4.4 billion
- New Orleans Pelicans: $4.25 billion
- Memphis Grizzlies: $4.2 billion
Central Notes: Haliburton, Toppin, Jaquez, Duren, Pistons
Nearly 16 months after he last suited up for an NBA game, Tyrese Haliburton returned to action in the Pacers’ preseason opener on Wednesday following his recovery from an Achilles tear. As Jamal Collier of ESPN writes, getting back up to game speed wasn’t a concern for Haliburton vs. the Timberwolves — in fact, the star point guard felt like he was moving too fast in his first game back.
“It’s the first game, but just got to slow down,” Haliburton said. “There was just a lot of adrenaline. I was hyped to be out there, excited, but I just got to slow down a little bit.”
While it was an important milestone in the recovery process for Haliburton, who had seven points, six assists, and a pair of blocks in 16 minutes of action, the game was special to him for another reason. It was played at the 26-year-old’s alma mater, Iowa State, and he bought out the student section at both ends of the arena, making those tickets available to students on a first come, first serve basis, Collier notes.
“It’s the loudest preseason game I’ve ever been a part of,” Haliburton said. “But had a lot of fun, a lot of special memories I’ve made here and that just adds to it.”
We have more from around the Central:
- Sharing his takeaways from the Pacers’ preseason opener, Tony East of Circle City Spin observes that Obi Toppin was acting as the team’s small-ball center in the first half and playing alongside forwards Pascal Siakam and Jarace Walker. Backup center Jay Huff ultimately saw 17 minutes of action in the second half, but he wasn’t part of the rotation in the “competitive portion” of the game, which East considers noteworthy.
- Bucks general manager Jon Horst tells Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the team is open to engaging in contract extension negotiations with new players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., even before they’ve made their regular season debuts for Milwaukee. With that in mind, Owczarski considers what an extension for Jaquez might look like, speculating that something in the range of $15-18MM per year could make sense for both sides.
- Jalen Duren was a late arrival at training camp following a restricted free agency standoff that lasted virtually the entire offseason, but Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Wednesday that the plan is “definitely” for the big man to suit up during the preseason. Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press has the story, suggesting that Duren’s preseason debut could happen as early as Saturday vs. Washington.
- In his latest mailbag for Pistons.com, Keith Langlois answers questions related to the Pistons’ secondary play-making, what John Collins will bring to the lineup that Tobias Harris didn’t, and whether Ebuka Okorie and Chaz Lanier will crack Bickerstaff’s rotation in 2026/27.
Pacific Notes: Porzingis, Horford, Miller, Brooks, Collins
With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined indefinitely by a health issue, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is looking at lineups with projected backup center Al Horford in a starting role. Alternatively, he’s looked at smaller lineups with Draymond Green in the middle.
However, Kerr would prefer to keep Horford on the second unit while also limiting Green’s minutes at center because of the wear and tear it puts on his body. The best-case scenario is that Porzingis is cleared to play in the near future.
“We want him back,” Kerr said, per Monte Poole of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “He’s a really talented player, and so we thought that he was in a pretty good place. So . . . definitely concerning. And so, as I said, all we’re going to do is support him, give him every bit of medical help he can get, and emotional support and hope that he’s back soon.”
Here’s more on the Pacific Division:
- Speaking of Horford, he was scratched from the Warriors’ preseason win over the Lakers on Tuesday. He’s dealing with a left knee contusion that is considered minor, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, who tweets that Horford’s absence on Tuesday was precautionary.
- The Clippers signed big man Baba Miller to a four-year, $9.61MM contract after selecting him with the No. 36 overall pick out of Cincinnati. Miller had nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes against Golden State on Sunday. He’s looking to earn some steady minutes early in his career. “I feel like every day I’m taking steps in the right direction,” he told Janis Carr of the Orange County Register.
- Suns wing Dillon Brooks was whistled for a technical foul after an altercation with Pistons forward John Collins on Monday. Brooks claims that Collins tried to choke him and the only reason he received a tech was due to his reputation, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The dust-up occurred after Collins grabbed an offensive rebound. Brooks reached around Collins, who reacted by putting his hand in Brooks’ face. “Then got the hit on me, and then I’m like, I’m not letting you go up,” Brooks said. “And then he turns around, and tries to choke me, and put his hands on me, and that’s why I don’t get why I got the technical foul. I mean, I didn’t start nothing. I’m playing within the game. I try to bet on myself, but I’m betting against the house.”
Pistons Notes: Thompson, Collins, Duren, Okorie, Holland
Ausar Thompson’s usage in the Pistons’ preseason opener suggested that his offensive role is expanding, Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press notes.
Thompson, who signed a five-year, $155MM rookie scale extension last month, split ball-handling duties with Cade Cunningham during the first half of Detroit’s two-point victory over Phoenix on Monday. With Cunningham held out for the second half, Thompson served as the point guard.
Another promising development was Thompson’s shooting, as he knocked down three midrange jumpers en route to scoring 10 points.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- The team’s top free agent acquisition, John Collins, is the best shooting big man that Cunningham and Jalen Duren have played with, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic writes. Collins will help stretch the floor and he’s also a solid lob threat who makes the team younger and more athletic at a position previously occupied by the steady Tobias Harris. Collins knows he has to give maximum effort to fit in with his latest team. “These dudes just have a different passion, a different heart,” he said. “When they play basketball, they truly have that Pistons aura, that energy that I knew and grew up with. I feel like that’s something I have inside of me, and it was something that wasn’t embraced the same way around the league. So, that’s something I’m going to have to bring back out myself and adjust to the guys. We’ve got a group of guys here who play their hearts out every day.”
- Duren, who signed a five-year, $200MM contract over the weekend, didn’t play against the Suns. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the staff will ease him back with the aim of having him ready for the regular season opener. “We’re going to take our time,” Bickerstaff said. “We’ve got a plan organizationally from the front office, coaches, performance, medical staff, we’ve put a plan in place to ramp him up so by Oct. 20, the first game, he’s ready to go and ready to go full speed.””
- First-round pick Ebuka Okorie scored the game-winning basket in the closing seconds on a driving layup. “He’s patient and he doesn’t get sped up… He’s not overwhelmed by the moment, and that’s something that we’ve seen pretty consistently,” Bickerstaff said. “He got to his spot and got his shot. Like I’ve said before, at that age to have the ability to finish the way that he can finish, it’s unique.”
- Third-year wing Ron Holland scored a team-high 14 points, though he shot 4-for-12 from the field: “I was watching a lot of film this summer, and I went out there, and when I was in the gym, being intentional about working on pace instead of just talking about it,” he said. “Putting bodies in front of me, being able to play as fast as I played, but being able to slow the game down in my head. And I think it showed tonight. Obviously, I’ve got ways to go.” The front office must decide by the end of the month whether to exercise its $11.49MM option on Holland’s contract for 2027/28.
Stein’s Latest: Washington, Rookie Scale Extensions, Podziemski, Duren
The Mavericks’ roster is stocked with forwards, which could eventually make P.J. Washington expendable, Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required) writes in his latest Substack column. Stein hears that rival teams believe Dallas will consider parting with Washington at some point after an offseason roster overhaul that included the additions of former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, lottery selection Morez Johnson Jr. and European star Tarik Biberovic.
Washington, 28, is entering the first season of a four-year, $88MM extension he signed last summer. Stein states that Washington has talked recently about wanting to reach the playoffs, which has only happened once during his seven years in the NBA. That may not be a realistic goal in the short term with the rebuilding Mavericks, and several contenders are likely to express interest by the trade deadline in February.
Stein also cites an interview Washington did this week with Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Sports in which he discussed a conversation with team president Masai Ujiri.
“He told me [that] you’re basically what I look for in a player: A big versatile guy that can do a lot of things on both ends of the floor,” Washington said. “He told me I wasn’t going to get traded — and [that] if I was he would tell me. So for me I think it’s just building trust. He’s a guy you can trust and have a great relationship with.”
Stein shares more inside information from around the league:
- With the deadline for rookie scale extensions now just two weeks away, Stein looks at the most likely candidates to land new deals. Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson and Keyonte George are the only players from the 2023 draft class to be extended so far, and league sources tell Stein that the Hornets’ Brandon Miller, the Magic’s Anthony Black, the Thunder’s Cason Wallace and the Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski are the most likely candidates to join them. Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin talked recently about “seemingly mutual interest” on an extension with Scoot Henderson, but Stein says it’s tough to assess the situation with Henderson or the Wizards’ Bilal Coulibaly.
- Sources tell Stein that Golden State wants to get a deal finalized with Podziemski before the deadline. His Stein Line partner, Jake Fischer, said on the Bleacher Report video stream last week that it may depend on whether the Warriors are willing to top the four-year, $60MM extension that the Heat gave Pelle Larsson last month.
- Stein also recaps the Pistons’ summer-long contract standoff with Jalen Duren, which came to an end when he accepted the team’s five-year, $200MM offer on October 1. Duren expressed his loyalty to the organization during a press conference on Sunday, but Stein notes that any lingering bitterness will have to be put aside quickly, with the Pistons opening the preseason tonight and playing their first regular season game in 15 days.
Jalen Duren On New Deal: ‘I Want To Be A Detroit Piston For Life’
After a drawn-out restricted free agency process, third-team All-NBA center Jalen Duren formally signed his five-year, $200MM contract with the Pistons on Friday. The 22-year-old big man spoke to the media on Sunday to reaffirm his commitment to the team and clear up some of the rumors that he believes misrepresented him and the situation, according to Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter video link).
“I am a Detroit Piston. I want to be a Detroit Piston for life. I want to give everything I’ve got to the Pistons and the fans,” Duren said (Twitter links from Sankofa). “… I want the city to know that I truly do believe in what we’re building. I truly do believe in the players and the organization and the players that we have. And I want y’all to believe in me and my work ethic and my ability to want to grow as a man and player.”
Various reports throughout the offseason suggested Duren felt “disrespected” by his contract negotiations with the Pistons and that he contemplated signing his one-year, $9.6MM qualifying offer in order to hit unrestricted free agency next year with an eye on joining a new team.
On Sunday, Duren described restricted free agency as a learning process.
“I never looked at it as a dreadful situation because people are going through way worse,” Duren said, per Sankofa (Twitter links). “We’re talking about negotiating a lot of money. There’s no way I could be upset with that … I grew my knowledge of the business side of the game and it really benefited me.
“… There’s a business component, like we spoke on, that took me time to realize and understand because this is my first time going through it. I can admit that I have flaws and we all do. We’re here to work on them,” Duren added.
Here’s more from Duren’s press conference:
- As productive as Duren was during his breakout regular season, he struggled in the 2026 playoffs. The former lottery pick acknowledged his disappointing postseason and said he’s working to shore up his weaknesses, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter video link). “It was humbling, I just need to get better,” Duren said. “ … (Last season I had) some of the highest moments of my career and some of my lowest, and that’s part of the game. Everything isn’t going to be perfect. But I’m man enough to acknowledge my flaws and I’m man enough to acknowledge that I’m not perfect. And I’m also man enough to get my ass in the gym and work on those things and get better. I’m not trying to run from anything.”
- Asked to describe his main emotion after signing his lucrative new contract, Duren said it was difficult to narrow it down to one, tweets Sankofa. “I would say relief and excitement, a lot of emotions,” Duren said. “Just happy for my family. I’m the one who’s front line and everybody’s asking what’s this, what’s that, but my family hears it and goes through it too … I’m happy that’s over for them.”
- Duren said he was excited about the Pistons’ offseason additions but noted that it was difficult to see former teammates Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris join new clubs. “Those guys have been like brothers to me and To’ was like a big brother to me,” Duren said (Twitter link via Sankofa). “ … Sad to see those guys go but happy we’re moving in the right direction.“
Central Notes: Duren, Oubre, Pacers, J. Smith
Although Jalen Duren’s new five-year, $200MM contract with the Pistons was technically signed on Friday, the team didn’t publicly announce the news until it put out a press release on Saturday afternoon (Twitter link).
“We’re excited to have Jalen in Detroit as a core piece of our team for years to come,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said. “He’s been an important part of our success over the last two seasons, and we’ve seen tremendous growth in his game.
“Jalen has accomplished a great deal at a young age, and we believe his best basketball is still ahead of him. We’re proud of the work he’s put in and look forward to his continued growth and impact on our team.”
Duren helped Detroit win an Eastern Conference-best 60 games last season after averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 65.0% from the field and 74.7% from the foul line in 70 appearances (28.2 minutes per game). He was named to his first All-Star team and also claimed a third-team All-NBA spot.
Here’s more from the Central:
- Veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. signed a two-year, $16MM contract with the Pacers this offseason. He said he’s been picking up the team’s up-tempo system pretty well in his first few days of training camp, per Tony East of Circle City Spin. “Every day is a learning process. It’s gonna be like that all year. But one thing I’ve learned is that I love this,” Oubre said. “I love this style of play. I love thriving in a 0.5 (half-second) system and making quick decisions, unselfish basketball. I’m excited. I think the sky is beyond the limit.” Oubre also said Indiana’s more laid-back lifestyle appealed to him because he has a growing family.
- As Zion Brown of The Indianapolis Star writes (subscriber link), the Pacers’ center rotation looks much different this fall than it did a year ago. Following Myles Turner’s departure in free agency, the Pacers’ 2025 preseason roster featured Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman and Tony Bradley all vying for minutes and roles. This year, they have Ivica Zubac as the starter, with Huff and Larry Nance Jr. offering completely different looks off the bench. Head coach Rick Carlisle suggested two of the three big men might be used together in certain situations. “(Zubac)’s the starter, that’s pretty simple,” Carlisle said Friday. “With Larry Nance and Jay Huff, we have two guys that give us real versatility at that position as well. A lot of people don’t remember this, but Jay actually played some four last year at times, and Nance has played some four in his career. So if we need bigger lineups, there’s the ability to do that with those guys.”
- Bulls big man Jalen Smith had his 2025/26 season ended prematurely due to a calf injury, but he said he’s fully healthy now, according to Will Gottlieb of CHGO Bulls (Twitter link). “It was an uptick in minutes on my body,” said Smith, who averaged 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in a career-high 20.7 minutes per game in 53 games last season. “I didn’t fully prepare my body for that…But this summer, the main aspect was being able to prepare myself for it, if that happens again.”
Jalen Duren Re-Signs With Pistons On Five-Year Deal
October 2: Duren’s new contract is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) has the full year-by-year breakdown of Duren’s cap hits over the next five years, which will reportedly be as follows:
- 2026/27: $40.16MM
- 2027/28: $36.95MM
- 2028/29: $38.96MM
- 2029/30: $40.96MM
- 2030/31: $42.97MM
Structuring Duren’s contract to decline in year two and then rise in the subsequent three seasons will afford the Pistons a little more flexibility in 2027/28, when Ausar Thompson’s five-year, $155MM rookie scale extension will kick in.
October 1: Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren will sign a five-year, $200MM contract to stay in Detroit, agent Chafie Fields tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Duren’s new contract is fully guaranteed, Charania adds. It’s a straight five-year deal, a source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic (Twitter link), with no options or incentives.
Duren waited until the last minute to accept Detroit’s guaranteed $200MM proposal, which Charania says had been on the table for the past two weeks (Twitter link).
During the past month, the value of Detroit’s five-year offer to Duren reportedly increased from $175MM to $190MM and then eventually to $200MM. The Pistons were said to have sought weight-related incentives in some versions of previous offers but didn’t ultimately include that language in their final proposal.
Duren had until 11:59 pm ET to decide whether to accept his one-year, $9.6MM qualifying offer to hit unrestricted free agency next year or sign the five-year, $200MM deal. His new contract is worth a little more than what his total projected salary ($198.8MM) would have been over the next five years had he signed the QO and then signed a four-year max deal with a rival team next summer.
According to Charania, Duren was mulling his options all the way up to the deadline and had been hoping for possible sign-and-trade scenarios to emerge, but the Pistons showed no interest in entertaining those concepts throughout the offseason and held firm on their final offer.
Ultimately, Duren decided that potentially risking $190MM to take his chances as an unrestricted free agent next year wasn’t worth it. The consensus among both rival team executives and other agents is that Duren arrived at the “sensible decision,” tweets Jake Fischer of The Stein Line and Bleacher Report.
The Pistons have about $46MM in room below the luxury tax line before accounting for Duren’s contract, giving them the cap flexibility to structure it in a variety of ways. We’ll have to wait and see which path the team takes as far as that goes.
The 22-year-old big man is coming off a fourth NBA season in which he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 blocks while shooting 65.0% from the field and 74.7% from the foul line in 70 regular season contests (28.2 minutes per game). Duren was named to his first All-Star game and earned a spot on the All-NBA third team, which made him eligible for a five-year, $287MM contract from Detroit (as opposed to the 25% max of $239.2MM over five years).
As productive as he was during the regular season, Duren’s disappointing 2026 playoff showing clouded his outlook to some extent. He averaged 10.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG and 1.2 BPG while shooting 51.4% from the floor and 67.4% from the line in 14 postseason outings (30.1 MPG). The top-seeded Pistons were eliminated in the second round by Cleveland.
Duren reportedly felt “disrespected” by the way negotiations transpired and his disappointment stemmed in part from Detroit’s $20MM per year offer last fall, when he was eligible for a rookie scale extension. His new contract doubles that figure on an annual basis, even though an agreement took three-plus months of restricted free agency to be reached.
The 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Duren had averaged 11.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.1 APG and 0.9 BPG in 206 regular season appearances (26.6 MPG) in his first three seasons leading up to 2025/26. Duren also averaged 11.8 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.5 APG and 1.7 BPG in six games (33.8 MPG) during the 2025 playoffs, when Detroit was eliminated in the first round by New York.
Duren missed Monday’s media day as well as the start of training camp while waiting to see how the process would play out. The Pistons technically could have pushed back the Oct. 1 qualifying offer deadline, but president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon suggested Monday that the idea didn’t appeal to the team.
“He has until Thursday to make a decision, and we will be excited to have him in regardless of what decision he does make,” Langdon said during his media day availability. “He was a huge reason for our success these last two seasons. Had a tremendous season individually last year, as well. We believe he will do the same thing this year upcoming and are excited to have him back when he gets back. We’ll integrate him and he’s going to have a fantastic season regardless of his decision. We look forward to getting him back.
“… Regardless of what his decision is, what we can control is the way that we welcome him in when he makes that decision. He is going to be a huge part of the team regardless of what decision he does make. He will be a Detroit Piston and we’ll do everything we can to support him and get the best version of him, which is what we’ve done the past two years, and that will not change. Those are things that we can control. The decision is not one we can control.”
It remains to be seen whether hard feelings will linger following the protracted contract negotiations or whether the two sides are prepared to put it behind them and move forward on a long-term union. For what it’s worth, Duren will become eligible to be traded as of January 15.
Duren came in at No. 1 on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents and was the last of those 50 players to reach an agreement on a new deal.
Jalen Duren Notes: Gores, Pistons, Relationship, Bickerstaff
Jalen Duren’s restricted free agency saga with the Pistons was finally resolved on Thursday night, when he agreed to stay with Detroit on a new five-year, $200MM contract that’s reportedly full guaranteed, with no options.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, team owner Tom Gores reached out to Duren on Thursday to help close the deal. The 22-year-old big man reportedly felt disrespected by the way negotiations transpired, and Amick hears Gores “made a promise to Duren and his family that he would help provide a more positive Pistons experience.”
Despite the olive branch offering, Amick suggests there’s still some work to be done to mend fences between the two sides. The Pistons have had some concerns about Duren’s “commitment to conditioning,” per Amick, particularly over his first three seasons. Duren, meanwhile, believed Detroit was lowballing him in its initial contract offers — the Kings told him they viewed him as a max player when they met with him early in free agency, Amick notes.
Here’s more on Duren and his decision to re-sign with the Pistons:
- While the process may have been a little rocky, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic believes it worked out for the best in the end. The Pistons retained Duren on a long-term deal, and Duren got the payday he was seeking, even if it fell short of the maximum ($287MM) he was eligible to receive. As Patterson writes, Duren accepting his $9.6MM qualifying offer to hit unrestricted free agency next year would have been a disastrous outcome for Detroit and a massive risk for Duren. Patterson also thinks the Pistons are clearly the best on-court fit for Duren of the teams with known interest in him (the Bucks being another).
- The Pistons have made it clear they harbor no ill will towards Duren for missing the start of training camp, according to Omari Sankofa of The Detroit Free Press (subscriber link). “Negotiation is negotiation, so that’s all that’s going on right now,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said Monday. “I don’t hold anything against him or his group. We’re trying to put a team together. They’re trying to get their client paid the most money.” Still, the onus is on the rising young center to prove he’s worth his new contract after some fans were turned off by his camp’s public attempts at exerting leverage, Sankofa writes.
- Speaking to reporters on Friday, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff downplayed any notion of “bitterness” between the team and Duren, per Sankofa (Twitter video link). “I don’t know where that came from,” Bickerstaff. “It’s a negotiation. It’s business. There’s never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him and I know how he feels about us.” Bickerstaff also expressed enthusiasm about having Duren back on a long-term contract. “We’re obviously excited to have him back,” he said. “Like I said yesterday, our expectation was that he was always going to be back.“