As the saga in Detroit between the Pistons and Jalen Duren continues, the rumor mill keeps attaching the Sacramento Kings to the Duren situation. The problem is that the Pistons have made it clear they don't want to make a deal with the Kings, and that their goal is to hang on to Duren.
The contract negotiations between Duren and his front office has become a war of attrition. Both sides are hunkered down in bunkers made of their respective offers, waiting for the other side to blink. And they are running out of time to get a deal done as the qualifying offer is getting closer.
Duren wants a five-year supermax worth $287 million. The Pistons are offering less due to their concerns about his playoff performance. Negotiations have been stuck in this position for weeks, with seemingly no meaningful conversations happening and the relationship becoming strained.
Negotiations have become a quagmire for the Pistons
Looming over the proceedings is a $9.6 million qualifying deal that goes into effect October 1st if a deal isn't reached. That locks Duren in as a Piston for this season, and makes him an unrestricted free agent next summer. The problem for him is that he loses his supermax eligibility.
Not surprisingly, there are reports of hurt feelings on both sides. Putting a value on someone's work is a deeply personal experience, particularly when there is so much at stake for Duren. Plus, the Pistons are taking a big risk on losing a player who they view as a key foundational piece.
The Kings entered the conversation when Duren tested the restricted free agent market. There was allegedly interest from Sacramento, but the Pistons were not interested in a sign-and-trade involving Domantas Sabonis. Their goal remains retaining Duren in the long-term when this is all done.
The rumor mill isn't done with Duren and the Kings
Despite this, reports continue to circulate online about Sacramento's interest in Duren, particularly general manager Scott Perry. Whether that is true or not has yet to be revealed. Regardless, Duren's name keeps getting attached to the Kings, and that might end up coming to pass.
If the qualifying offer happens, Duren is untradeable. Once he's an unrestricted free agent, he's unlikely to stay with the Pistons unless they offer him a boatload of money. They would have cost him his supermax eligibility in this scenario. This opens the door for the Kings next offseason.
That being said, the most likely outcome is the Pistons and Duren getting the deal done. Money and success will lead to forgiveness, leaving the Kings out of the mix. That's okay, though, as Sacramento may have yet another shot at Jonathan Kuminga next summer.
Add us as a preferred source on Google