The first scheduled games have now been released for the 2026-27 NBA season, and yet a number of restricted free agents remain in contract limbo, waiting to see whether they will continue with their team on agreeable terms, settle for a qualifying offer or spread their wings elsewhere.
Chief among these is Jalen Duren, who is still in a standoff over his return to the Detroit Pistons despite earning himself All-NBA honors for the first time this past season. The 22-year-old big man has clearly shown himself to be one of his generation’s top talents already, and yet his desired salary has thus far proven to be too steep for the Pistons organization – or any other, for that matter – to feel comfortable pulling the trigger on a new deal.
At least, that’s what everybody thought. Now, word has come out that Detroit’s hesitancy might stem not only from a gap over finances, but from a fundamental disagreement over where Duren ranks within the team in the first place.
Pistons organization prefers Ausar Thompson over Jalen Duren
Speaking on the “Hoop Collective Podcast,” ESPN NBA senior writer Vince Goodwill shared during a discussion about Pistons wing Ausar Thompson that Duren might fall behind the All-Defensive First Team man within the organizational pecking order.
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