[The Athletic] The Pistons will try to retain Jalen Duren this offseason — just at a lower rate than expected, per @HunterPatterson
“Given his postseason showing, the widely held belief around the league is that he has little to no leverage to negotiate for the max.”
Now the focus shifts to the offseason, and Detroit has decisions to make — most importantly, how to handle Jalen Duren’s restricted free agency after he and the Pistons were unable to agree on a rookie-scale extension ahead of the season. Duren severely underperformed in the postseason after having a career year.
He recorded just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 51.4 percent shooting in the playoffs, far off from the 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65 percent that earned him his first All-Star nod.
Duren was the Pistons’ clear second scoring option throughout the regular season but looked like a shell of himself in the playoffs, being outplayed first by Wendell Carter Jr. and then Jarrett Allen. Bickerstaff occasionally turned to Paul Reed for reinforcements, even benching Duren for Reed for the entirety of the fourth quarter and overtime in Game 5.
While his second postseason experience was undoubtedly a disappointment, Detroit will try to retain the Philadelphia native this offseason — just at a lower rate than expected. Duren could make an All-NBA team, which would make him eligible for a five-year max contract worth 30 percent of the salary cap. Given his postseason showing, the widely held belief around the league is that he has little to no leverage to negotiate for the max.