Jalen Duren Feels Disrespected by Pistons
Contract talks have soured beyond money, with Duren skipping team events as Detroit's $190m offer falls short of his $200m demand.
Jalen Duren's contract talks with the Pistons have soured, and by all accounts money is no longer the sticking point. Insider Marc Spears said the centre feels disrespected by the club's handling of the negotiations.
"I've heard that for Jalen right now it's not even about the money. He feels wronged... A cloud has gathered over the team before training camp. Tobias Harris has left. Duren isn't there yet. They can't move forward at the same pace. They need to try to fix this, and I don't know if they'll manage to in time," Spears said on ESPN.
Duren, 22, made the All-Star Game last season and had hoped for a maximum extension. Detroit, pointing to his playoff dip in form, has taken a firm stance, offering $190m over five years. Duren has held out for at least $200m.
He has already skipped a mini-camp run by team leader Cade Cunningham and a team event hosted by owner Tom Gores. Reports have suggested he could instead play out next season on a $9.6m qualifying offer and leave Detroit as a free agent in the summer of 2027.
About this article
Prepared by the editorial team with the help of algorithms, based on the sources listed