According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Pistons’ Jalen Duran wants to leave the Motor City for the Capital of California where the Sacramento Kings play. The 2025-26 All-NBA member is currently a restricted free agent, so the Pistons can match any offer that a team offers Duran.
However, per Haynes, he plans on meeting with the Sacramento Kings to structure a sign and trade deal that would send to Sac Town.
Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting that the negotiations between Jalen Duran and the Detroit Pistons are not going well. The two sides are very far apart from the number that would get this deal done. The first time All-Star averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 65 percent from the floor. He also posted 41 doubles for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
Last season, four-time NBA Champion and former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, shared with Coty M. Davis of the Detroit News praising Duran for his ability to handle the ball and make plays from the center position. Like former Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets from that position.
“He came into the NBA with a grown man’s body,” Green explained. “Now, he knows how to use it. It’s night and day in the physicality that he plays with now as opposed to when he first came into the league. He’s handling the ball more, he’s making plays, but I think the biggest difference is he uses his body now.”
Duran would respond to Green not too long after he made those comments. Sharing what those comments meant to him.
“It means a lot, you know. Obviously, Draymond’s a champion, a legend, a Hall of Famer in our league, so for him to recognize my game and see the growth in it means a lot to me,” Duran said. “I just want to keep getting better. I think the sky is the limit. Not only for me, but for me, and my teammates.”
According to Hoops Hype insider Michael Scotto, there is chatter around the league Duran is looking for a new deal that could pay him $40 million per season, which would put him at the $200 million mark. The Pistons also can pay Duran the most money because they own his bird rights. Which will allow them to offer more guaranteed money than any other team in the league.
Per Amick, a trade package for Jalen Duran could include former All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, who is owed $45.5 million next season. The former 11th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic averaged 15.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game for the Sacramento Kings in 19 games this past season.
Speaking of the Orlando Magic, Jalen Duran, Cade Cunningham, and the rest of the Pistons beat the Magic in the first round of the playoff. However, they would lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs. Duran would go on to average 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game against the Magic and Cavaliers.
