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Little progress has been made in contract negotiations between the Pistons and restricted free agent center Jalen Durenaccording to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.

As Patterson writes, while Duren met with the Lakers and Kings when free agency opened to explore the possibility of sign-and-trade scenarios, there’s no indication that Detroit seriously entertained the possibility of actually moving him. Los Angeles subsequently acquired Walker Kessler from the Jazz, further limiting Duren’s leverage.

Retaining Duren remains the Pistons’ top offseason priority and the team is “confident” an agreement will eventually be reached, a league source told Patterson. That same source said both parties hope to work out a deal that’s mutually beneficial, and “all signs” currently point to the All-NBA big man re-signing with Detroit.

Here’s more on the Pistons from Patterson:

• Signing Ausar Thompson to a long-term rookie scale extension is another offseason priority for the Pistons, according to Patterson, but it’s less pressing than reaching a deal with Duren, since Thompson won’t be a restricted free agent until 2027.
• Although Detroit looked into trading for several big-name players — including Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Trey Murphy III — the team balked at the high asking price to make a move of that nature, multiple sources tell Patterson. Still, the front office likes the roster it has assembled, Patterson writes, and was pleased with the shooting help it acquired (Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Taurean Princeand Gary Harris).
• The Pistons’ decision to trade Isaiah Stewart to Memphis was financially driven, according to Patterson, who points out that backup big man Paul Reed – who will earn a non-guaranteed $5.6MM salary – will make far less money than Stewart (a guaranteed $15MM) in 2026/27. Patterson also notes that Stewart had multiple public spats with the coaching staff in the playoffs over his limited playing time, though those incidents don’t seem to have factored much into the decision to move him.
• While the Pistons had some interest in re-signing Tobias Harris and briefly talked to him about a new deal, those initial conversations revealed a gap in valuation, a source tells Patterson, which led to Harris signing a two-year, $31MM deal with San Antonio. Detroit, meanwhile, gave Collins a three-year, $51MM contract via sign-and-trade, but only the first season is guaranteed.
• Detroit is optimistic Collins can be a long-term answer at power forward, per Patterson. He’s six years younger than Harris and the team thinks his ability to be both a lob threat and floor spacer should complement its young core of Cade CunninghamDuren and Thompson.
• Patterson gets the sense that the Pistons are unlikely to make another significant external addition this offseason and wouldn’t be surprised if the opening night roster is similar to how it looks now.