Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons remain separated by a significant financial gap as September begins, with the sides still negotiating a long-term extension after the center’s breakout 2025-26 season. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported Tuesday that Detroit is offering a five-year contract worth roughly $35 million annually, while Duren’s camp is seeking an average salary above $40 million.
The negotiations have continued since last summer, when the sides failed to reach an agreement before the deadline for rookie-scale extensions. Duren then entered the 2025-26 season in a prove-it position and strengthened his leverage by averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 70 games at age 22.
Duren was selected to his first All-Star team and earned All-NBA Third Team honors as Detroit finished 60-22, the best record in the Eastern Conference. He was the Pistons’ second-leading scorer and shot 65.0% from the field while averaging 3.8 offensive rebounds per game.
His regular-season production also made him eligible for the Rose Rule. Because of his All-NBA selection, Duren can potentially receive a starting salary worth 30% of the salary cap, which would translate to a five-year contract worth approximately $287 million under the maximum framework.
That figure, however, is not the benchmark Detroit is currently using. MacMahon reported that the Pistons are holding to an offer significantly below the 25% maximum available to players coming off rookie contracts who do not qualify for the Rose Rule.
Only three other players from Duren’s 2022 draft class received the 25% maximum on five-year extensions: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and Oklahoma City forward Jalen Williams. Each is scheduled to earn $41.2 million in 2026-27.
Duren’s postseason performance gives Detroit another factor to consider. After averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds during the regular season, he averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds over 14 playoff games while shooting 51.4% from the field.
The Pistons nevertheless remain committed to keeping Duren as part of their young core alongside Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. Cunningham averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists during Detroit’s 60-win season and finished fifth in MVP voting.
Detroit also has salary-cap considerations beyond Duren’s contract. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is negotiating with Thompson on a potential rookie extension, while the Pistons entered September with $36.5 million in room below the luxury-tax threshold before accounting for Duren’s eventual deal.
Duren could accept his $9.6 million qualifying offer for 2026-27 and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but doing so would require him to risk more than $170 million in guaranteed money. Jake Fischer has reported that Duren is still expected to re-sign with Detroit, with a four-year contract projected to exceed $160 million.
The eventual agreement will determine not only Duren’s compensation but also how much financial flexibility Detroit retains around a core that produced the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season record before losing to Cleveland 4-3 in the conference semifinals.
