Jalen Duren returns to Pistons on five-year, $200m deal

Jalen Duren is returning to the Detroit Pistons on a fully guaranteed five-year, $200m contract, ESPN and The Athletic reported on Thursday.

The 22-year-old had been a restricted free agent after months of failed negotiations, with Detroit reportedly offering less amid dissatisfaction with his playoff performance last spring.

Duren agreed the deal ahead of Thursday’s 11:59pm ET deadline to decide on a $9.6m qualifying offer, which would have allowed him to enter unrestricted free agency next summer. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the agreement.

The first-time All-Star averaged career highs of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 2025-26 as the Pistons finished with the Eastern Conference’s top record at 60-22. His numbers sagged to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per playoff game as Detroit lost the East semifinals in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Reuters reported the sides had agreed the same $200m figure in recent days with a weight clause attached; the new deal reportedly removed that clause. Duren missed Monday’s media day and the first three days of training camp during the standoff.