Jalen Duren, Pistons begin mending relationship after $200 million standoff

Jalen Duren and the Pistons have a $200 million agreement. Now comes the part where everyone gets back to basketball.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said there was “clearly a dent” in the relationship during Duren’s prolonged restricted free agency, but the process of repairing it has already begun.

Duren reported to the Pistons’ facility Friday for his medical examination and began reintegrating himself with the team after missing media day and the start of training camp. There were signs of a thaw even before that.

Charania said Duren attended Cade Cunningham‘s birthday party in Los Angeles last weekend, one of the few unofficial Pistons gatherings he attended this offseason. Duren also met face-to-face with owner Tom Gores on Sunday to discuss the negotiations, his feelings about the situation and how the sides could move forward.

That’s probably more meaningful now than another round of contract analysis. The contract is signed. As we wrote at Hoops Wire, Duren agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million deal after a standoff that stretched into training camp.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff doesn’t seem concerned about lingering resentment.

“It is negotiation, it is business, but there has never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him,” Bickerstaff said, “and I know how he feels about us.”

There may have been a dent. Now the Pistons get to find out how quickly $200 million and winning basketball can smooth it out.