4 weeks ago
14
The Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren are in an interesting spot as training camp has started and teams are gearing up for the season. The two sides have been at a crossroads for the entire summer, making the situation very interesting.
Duren is coming off an All-Star season and is expecting to get paid. As of Monday, Duren has no plans of appearing at training camp.
“All-NBA center Jalen Duren is not attending Detroit Pistons media day Monday nor the start of training camp, declining the team's five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer in restricted free agency so far, sources tell ESPN. The sides remain at a stalemate ahead of Thursday deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer," ESPN's Shams Charania posted.
The interesting thing is that he has the qualifying offer to choose from on Thursday. Barstool Sports’ Sam Vecenie doesn’t think Duren can turn down $200 million.
“It just feels like we've hit the point where there is too much money on the table for Jalen Duren to not sign a deal with Detroit before the October 1 qualifying offer deadline, right," Vecenie said.
However, with less than a day to go, it doesn’t seem like anything has changed. Duren and his camp are likely going to take the qualifying offer as time is ticking.
“As of this evening, nothing has changed regarding the Pistons and Jalen Duren, who continues to signal that he isn’t afraid to take his qualifying offer due to a fractured relationship with the organization’s leadership,” NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote.
The Pistons are up against the clock, and they have been feeling the pressure. Over the last day, the team has been restructuring his contract, even removing the weight clause put in it.
This has been a messy situation, and it could get even messier. If no firm deal can be agreed upon, Duren is likely to take the qualifying offer on Thursday. That decision would confirm Duren will be gone next summer.
English (US) 