Jalen Duren has his new contract. His preseason debut is still pending.
The Pistons center has been progressing since reporting late to training camp, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff wouldn’t commit to playing him Wednesday at Minnesota, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
“We’re just being cautious and making sure we don’t put him in a compromising position,” Bickerstaff said. “But he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been able to pass all the tests.”
Duren agreed to a five-year, $200 million deal Oct. 1 after spending the summer unsigned as a restricted free agent. If he sits Wednesday, Friday’s home matchup with Toronto will be his final opportunity to get preseason minutes.
New teammate John Collins is looking forward to sharing the frontcourt.
“With our athleticism, our ability to dominate the paint, I feel like it’s going to be fun to play with JD,” Collins told Patterson.
Detroit also spent the summer exploring considerably bigger changes. According to Vincent Goodwill of ESPN, the Pistons inquired about Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant and were prepared to make a major offer to Austin Reaves if he reached free agency.
None of those possibilities went anywhere. Leonard didn’t want to come to Detroit, Houston wouldn’t discuss a Durant trade, and Reaves signed a max deal with the Lakers.
Goodwill reported that management was disappointed with Duren’s playoff performance, which underscored how much offensive responsibility falls on Cade Cunningham.
That makes getting Duren up to speed more than a preseason housekeeping item. Detroit committed $200 million to him. The Pistons need that investment to help make Cunningham’s job easier.
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