Detroit’s All-NBA forward Jalen Duren was reportedly underwhelmed by the team’s initial offer in restricted free agency and is planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios, according to The Athletic Writer Sam Amick. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets are potential landing spots for him.
He averaged 19.5 points per game on 65 FG%, 10.5 rebounds per game, two assists per game, and 0.8 blocks per game during the 2026 NBA season. The center comes off tough playoffs, with just 10.2 PPG and 8.5 RPG on average in 14 matchups against the Orlando Magic and then the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A Jaylen Brown-Duren trade would be the best trade for both the Pistons and the Celtics. Boston gets a big who is an All-Star and puts up double-doubles, has upside, and is 22 years old, while the Pistons get a bucket-getter who plays defense and is a Finals MVP winner.
This is the same guy who dropped 24 points and 19 rebounds against Boston during the season. The Celtics starting lineup could be Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Duren.
The Lakers are prioritizing a long-term frontcourt partner for Luka Doncic this offseason, and Duren should be their top target. He gives them elite rim pressure.
Jalen is younger, stronger, more explosive, and has already developed into an All-Star-level scorer. He would be an elite lob threat with Doncic and Reaves. Duren could punish smaller centers, dominate the glass, and add another player capable of creating pressure around the rim.
The downside is that he cannot consistently space the floor. Jalen would also likely cost considerably more because Detroit has little reason to move a 22-year-old coming off a breakout season. The Lakers starting lineup could be Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Duren.
The Nets are clearing their books in an attempt to target max players like Duren with the goal of over $47 million in cap space. Jalen is hoping for an offer anywhere over $40 million, according to HoopsHype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.
They have made small yet very telling decisions over the past 24 hours, signaling to the rest of the league that they are a threat in free agency, looking to buy in the trade market, and have the ability to absorb a huge salary for additional assets. The future flexibility that GM Sean Marks has regularly talked about over the last three years has finally come due.
Brooklyn’s starting lineup could be Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and Duren. This should be a play-in team at a bare minimum. The Nets and the New York Knicks both being good at the same time would be amazing. Knicks vs. Nets games would be great again.
Following his selection to the All-NBA Third Team, the 22-year-old center earned the right to sign a five-year maximum contract worth $287.1 million. However, a significant gap is evident between Duren’s expectations and Detroit’s stance; the situation has reached such a critical point that the possibility of his leaving the team is now being considered.
Whether Detroit ultimately reaches an agreement or explores a sign-and-trade, Duren’s contract situation could become one of the biggest storylines of the NBA offseason. He helped the Pistons achieve the first seed in the regular season. When Cade Cunningham was out with a serious injury, he held down the ship to help move them forward to get to the playoffs.
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