The Toronto Raptors have already made one massive move this offseason by bringing Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto and then signing him to a massive two-year extension. They may not be finished, though.
With Leonard now locked in, the Raptors have a reason to push their chips toward the middle of the table. Toronto has Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and a supporting cast including RJ Barrett, but the front office could still use another high-level piece to turn the team into a legitimate contender.
That is where Jalen Duren comes into the picture. The Detroit Pistons center just averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting an incredible 65.0% from the field in 2025-26. He was also an All-Star and earned All-NBA Third Team honors at just 22 years old.
But Duren’s situation with the Pistons has turned uglier than we would have ever expected, with contract negotiations stalling and rumors of a “weight clause” as another part of the holdup. With Duren potentially available, we propose a blockbuster mock trade that sends the All-Star big man to Toronto to give them a real fighting chance in the stacked Eastern Conference.
Potential Trade Details
Toronto Raptors Receive: Jalen Duren
Detroit Pistons Receive: Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, 2028 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick
Toronto Could Finally Solve Its Center Problem
The Raptors need to figure out their frontcourt, and Duren would give them something they cannot find anywhere else at the moment: a young, physical center who can dominate the glass, finish around the rim, and protect the paint.
Duren’s 2025-26 season changed his career. He was no longer simply a promising young big man next to Cade Cunningham. He became one of the most productive young centers in the NBA, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field, making his first All-Star Team, and making the All-NBA Third Team for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Put that player next to Barnes and Leonard and Toronto suddenly has a fascinating frontcourt. Barnes can handle the ball, Leonard gives the Raptors a half-court scoring option, and Duren gives them an explosive presence inside. More importantly, all three players can impact the game defensively.
There would still be questions about spacing because Duren is not a shooter, but Toronto would be acquiring a center who can put constant pressure on the rim. With Leonard and Barnes on the perimeter, that could be enough to make Duren’s lack of shooting less problematic.
Filling out the rest of the lineup with RJ Barrett and whoever else they decide to slot into the mix, be it Collin Murray-Boyles at forward or even promoting Jamal Shead as starting point guard, means the Raptors can make noise in the East.
The Raptors Would Be Betting Big On Duren’s Upside
This is where the trade becomes slightly risky for Toronto. Duren is not a finished product. He does not stretch the floor, his free-throw shooting is still inconsistent (74.7% with a career mark of 71.5%), and his playoff production dropped significantly from his regular-season numbers.
In Detroit’s 2026 playoff run, he averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field. That is a noticeable decline from his 19.5-point, 65% shooting regular season.
But Toronto would not be trading for the player Duren was in the playoffs. It would be trading for the 22-year-old center who just made his first All-Star team and an All-NBA team. His age is arguably the most important part of the equation, because he can be a long-term piece next to Scottie Barnes.
If Duren continues developing as a passer, defender, and paint presence, Toronto could have its starting center for the remainder of the Leonard-Barnes era. That type of certainty is difficult to find, particularly when the player is already producing at an All-Star level.
Detroit Gets Two Starters And Two First-Round Picks
From Detroit’s perspective, this would be about much more than simply moving on from Duren. The Pistons would immediately add two veteran starters in Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl while also receiving two future first-round picks.
Quickley would give Cade Cunningham another capable ball-handler and perimeter scorer, while Poeltl could step directly into the center position.
Quickley is particularly interesting because Detroit could use another guard who can play alongside Cunningham without needing the ball every possession. He can shoot, push the pace, and create offense when Cunningham sits. He averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 37.4% shooting from three last season, and is only 27 years old.
Poeltl, 30, would provide Detroit with a reliable defensive big man while the franchise determines its next long-term move at center. The big man averaged 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on 70.0% from the field last season.
The two first-rounders are what make the proposal especially interesting. Detroit would be giving up a 22-year-old All-NBA center, so the draft compensation would need to matter. Two future firsts at least give the Pistons some replenished assets for losing their second-best player.
The Duren Contract Situation Changes Everything
There is also a very real reason for Detroit to at least listen. Duren’s contract situation has dragged on for months, with the two sides reportedly remaining far apart.
It is apparent that Detroit had no interest in a sign-and-trade and intended to keep Duren, but the ongoing stalemate has continued to generate trade speculation around the league. Duren’s interest in potentially taking the qualifying offer isn’t going to mend fences either.
That does not mean the Pistons would suddenly want to trade him. Quite the opposite. Detroit has every reason to prefer keeping a 22-year-old All-NBA center who just averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
But the Pistons have to consider what happens if Duren ultimately accepts his qualifying offer and reaches unrestricted free agency next summer. A sign-and-trade may not be Detroit’s preferred route, but a traditional trade could become more realistic if the relationship reaches that point.
Toronto’s New Core Would Be Extremely Intriguing
A starting group featuring Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard and Jakob Poeltl is solid.
A core featuring Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Duren, and RJ Barrett looks like an All-Star squad.
That is the gamble Toronto would be making. The Raptors would be sacrificing two future first-round picks and two useful players, but they would be building their roster around three players who could complement one another in very different ways.
Leonard is the go-to closer. Barnes is the versatile forward who can initiate offense, defend multiple positions, and grow into a larger offensive role. Duren is the young interior force who can run the floor, punish smaller lineups, and control the glass.
Toronto has already signaled that they are willing to be aggressive by bringing Leonard back. A Duren trade would take that approach one step further.
For Detroit, however, the decision is much more complicated. The Pistons just won 60 games, Cade Cunningham finished 5th in MVP voting, and Duren made the All-NBA Third Team. Trading Duren would mean breaking up part of a team that has finally established itself as a serious Eastern Conference contender.
That is why the contract situation matters so much. If Detroit believes Duren will eventually agree to a long-term deal, there is little reason to make this trade. If the stalemate becomes a threat to the franchise’s ability to retain him, though, Quickley, Poeltl, and two first-round picks would at least give the Pistons something substantial to consider.
For Toronto, the message is simple: if you’re trying to maximize the Kawhi Leonard window, this is the kind of trade worth taking.