Jalen Duren signs five-year, $200 million extension with Detroit Pistons
Center Jalen Duren agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract with the Detroit Pistons just before the qualifying offer deadline, ending a protracted negotiation.
Detroit Pistons and their restricted-free-agent center Jalen Duren reached a five-year, $200 million contract extension a few hours before the Oct. 1 qualifying-offer deadline, according to NBA insiders. The deal, which is fully guaranteed and contains no team or player options, was the offer the Pistons had on the table for about a week.
Duren, 22, posted a breakout regular-season average of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and earned All-Star and All-NBA honors. His playoff performance fell short of expectations, with averages of 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds and a negative plus/minus, prompting the Pistons to negotiate below his maximum eligible salary of $287 million.
Negotiations were reportedly tense, with Detroit initially proposing a contract in the low- to mid-$30 million-per-year range. Duren ultimately leveraged the $9.6 million qualifying offer, extending talks until the deadline. The final agreement eliminates a previously discussed weight clause and secures Duren’s stay in Detroit for the next five seasons.