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<\/a><\/p>\nDETROIT, MI – JUNE 21: New president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the press conference on June 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n
As the staring contest with Duren\u2019s camp continued, Langdon did not waste any more time locking up another foundational piece. Detroit agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension with Ausar Thompson, securing his place alongside Cade Cunningham for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure the preference would have been to have Duren\u2019s situation resolved first. Instead, Detroit moved forward without him.<\/p>\n
And honestly, that\u2019s refreshing.<\/p>\n
Detroit still has leverage<\/p>\n
So, do the Pistons still have leverage in the negotiations?<\/p>\n
Duren is a restricted free agent, meaning Detroit retains the ability to match an offer sheet from another team. He can also accept a $9.6 million qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. That deadline is Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
After averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and earning Third Team All-NBA honors at just 22 years old, Duren became eligible for a five-year maximum extension with Detroit worth a projected $287 million.<\/p>\n
But the market has not materialized around that number.<\/p>\n
Detroit\u2019s reported offer yesterday is in the neighborhood of $200 million over five years, still well below Duren\u2019s maximum eligibility. And with teams operating under increasingly restrictive cap situations, there has not been an obvious market willing to meet the number Duren is seeking.<\/p>\n
The Pistons are essentially betting on their evaluation of Duren rather than reacting to the pressure of losing him.<\/p>\n
That, more than anything, is what gives me optimism about Detroit\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Former front offices might have looked at Duren\u2019s age, production and All-NBA selection and simply given him the money to make sure the situation disappeared before training camp.<\/p>\n
Langdon hasn\u2019t done that.<\/p>\n
Detroit clearly wants Duren back – but they also appear unwilling to let the desire to keep him dictate the rest of their roster construction.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s important when you consider where this franchise is right now. Cunningham is entering his prime if not in it. Thompson is now under contract through the 2031-32 season. The Pistons have already started reshaping the roster around their young stars, and their biggest challenge is figuring out how to maximize the years in which Cunningham is playing at an elite level.<\/p>\n
That requires discipline.<\/p>\n
Paying Duren whatever he wants simply because he\u2019s already here would remove some of that flexibility.<\/p>\n
Does the situation sting in the short term for everyone involved?<\/p>\n
The Pistons would love to have Duren back in the building, especially with a roster that has undergone significant turnover this offseason. They want him to continue building chemistry with Cunningham, Thompson and the rest of the young core.<\/p>\n
And from Duren\u2019s vantage point, it is easy to understand why the situation feels frustrating. He just put together the best season of his career, made his first All-Star team and earned Third Team All-NBA honors at 22 years old. From his perspective, those accomplishments provide a strong case for being paid accordingly.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Detroit has to separate what Duren accomplished last season from what it believes he will become over the next five years.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the real disagreement lies.<\/p>\n
Duren is eligible for a five-year deal worth up to a projected $287 million, a number that would require Detroit to make a massive investment in his development. There is certainly a world where that becomes the right decision. He is only 22 and has improved every season. His rebounding and finishing around the rim are already major strengths, and his offensive development has given Detroit reason to believe there is more there.<\/p>\n
But paying the full maximum also means making a significant bet on his ability to become one of the league\u2019s premier big men over the life of that contract.<\/p>\n