Jalen Duren and the Pistons couldn’t come to terms on a rookie-scale extension before the season, setting up the 21-year-old center for restricted free agency in 2026, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Duren has been a fixture in Detroit’s starting lineup since arriving as the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft, starting his fourth straight game to open the season Monday and now averaging 41 starts per year over the last two seasons.
That workload officially triggered the league’s starter criteria, boosting the value of his qualifying offer by about $649,000 — from $8.97 million to $9.62 million.
Detroit will have to extend that qualifying offer next summer to make him a restricted free agent, though that’s considered a formality given Duren’s production.
The 6-foot-10 big man has averaged a double-double in each of the past two seasons and is off to another strong start in 2025-26, posting 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in just 20 minutes per game through three contests.
Typically, qualifying offers are placeholders while teams and players negotiate long-term deals.
But recent examples, like Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes, show that accepting the one-year offer can also be a strategic move, allowing players to reach unrestricted free agency the following summer.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
