The Los Angeles Lakers made their pitch to Jalen Duren on Tuesday and are scheduled to meet with the Detroit Pistons restricted free-agent center again on Wednesday morning, a sign that they are treating him as a major priority in their offseason rebuild.
Sam Amick reported on The Athletic that the Lakers told Duren in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary level player, while the Sacramento Kings delivered a similar message and continue to explore sign-and-trade routes to land him.
Duren’s market changed sharply after his breakout 2025-26 season. The 22-year-old averaged 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 65.0% from the field, earned his first All-Star appearance and made the All-NBA Third Team, which opened the door to the top tier of rookie-scale extension money.
That selection matters. According to salary-cap analyst Keith Smith, Duren’s maximum extension could reach about five years and $287.1 million, a figure that only became available because of the All-NBA honor. League executives have said his next deal could land above $30 million annually, with some projecting a number closer to 25 percent of the cap.
Detroit still controls his restricted free-agent rights and can match any offer sheet, but the Pistons also must balance Duren’s future salary against the rest of their roster. Cade Cunningham already sits at the center of their long-term plan after making All-NBA First Team, and a max-level contract for Duren would tighten the team’s flexibility as it tries to build around two expensive pillars.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are in a very different position. With LeBron James moving on and Austin Reaves secured on a four-year, $185 million deal, the franchise is now built around Luka Doncic and has roughly $52 million in cap space to reshape the roster. That makes Duren one of the most important names on their board because Los Angeles still needs size, rebounding and rim pressure next to Doncic’s playmaking.
Duren’s profile fits that search. He has already played four seasons for Detroit and has averaged 13.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 276 regular-season games. His ability to finish inside and control the glass gives the Lakers a different kind of frontcourt presence than the perimeter-heavy pieces they have leaned on in recent seasons.
There are still questions to answer. Duren’s playoff series against Cleveland was less efficient, as he averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in Detroit’s seven-game second-round loss. Even so, his age, production and upward trajectory keep him positioned as one of the most valuable centers in the market.
