Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is coming off a fantastic season, but his future with the franchise is in question.
The 22-year-old put up 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65.0% from the field. Duren was named to the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team.
However, Duren struggled in the postseason and has been unable to come to an agreement on a new deal with the Pistons, leaving the restricted free agent to explore other options, including a potential move to the Boston Celtics.
Celtics, Pistons’ Big Man Jalen Duren Eyeing Sign-and-Trade?
It once seemed like a forgone conclusion that Duren and the Pistons would reach an agreement on what would likely be a massive extension. Duren is eligible to sign a rookie-max extension worth $287 million over five years.
That has not been the case.
According to The Athletic, talks between the two had stalled, and Duren was not a fan of the Pistons’ initial offer, leading the double-double machine to explore sign-and-trade scenarios.
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However, Chris Haynes reports that the Pistons are not showing any interest in trading Duren away.
“Detroit Pistons are conveying that Jalen Duren will not be moved and are solely focused on coming to terms on an agreement to keep their All-Star center, league sources tell me,” Haynes wrote.
That hasn’t stopped Duren from shopping himself around, as he has already scheduled meetings with both the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Of course, the Pistons could simply wait it out, let Duren sign an offer sheet, and then match it. Last week, sources told the Detroit News that Duren “would be back.”
Duren struggled in the postseason in both their seven-game series victory over Orlando and their seven-game series loss to Cleveland, but Coty M. Davis of the Detroit News doesn’t see that as an issue.
“Despite his lackluster postseason performance, the Pistons were always unlikely to offer Duren a max contract,” Davis writes. “The decision does not intend to undervalue the talented big man; rather, it aims to maintain the Pistons’ future financial flexibility.”
Still, it’s clear Duren isn’t happy with the process, and per Jake L. Fischer of the Stein Line, Duren wants to be dealt to the Celtics.
Pistons star center Jalen Duren wants to be traded to the Boston Celtics.
Per: @JakeLFischer
— Savage (@Savageboston) June 30, 2026
“I know Jalen Duren has some interest in a potential sign-and-trade exit,” Fischer said. “Not to LA, not to Sacramento, but to Boston, where we know, the Celtics, regardless of what happens with Jaylen Brown, we know the Celtics are looking at front court reinforcements.”
The Celtics have been one of the teams at the forefront of the offseason, and there are rumors that Brown may be on his way out the door soon. That could clear the way for the Celtics to make a big move for another All-Star like Duren.
The Celtics have been looking for a big man, but Robert Williams agreed to return to Portland on a three-year deal.
Despite his playoff struggles, Duren averaged nearly 20 and 10 last season and won’t turn 23 until November.
Somebody is going to have a very talented big man on their roster next season. Whether or not that somebody is from Detroit is the big question.
