Freep sports recap: Pistons sign John Collins, Tigers rout Yankees
Recapping the Detroit sports news from Wednesday, July 1.
As the negotiation standoff between the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren continues, the market of teams capable of making a play for the restricted free agent is drying up.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who had maximum-level salary cap room, reportedly met with Jalen Duren on Tuesday, June 30, the first day of 2026 NBA free agency.
Instead, the Lakers on Wednesday agreed to a sign-and-trade for Utah Jazz restricted free agent center Walker Kessler on a four-year, $130 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Lakers also, among other moves, agreed with big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a reported four-year deal worth $52 million.
With their cap space exhausted and center rotation solidified, the Lakers are out of the Duren market. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported on Wednesday that Duren had a productive first meeting with LA, which told him they view him as a maximum-salary player.
Another potential suitor to pop up in rumors, the Boston Celtics, will sign former New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47.4 million contract.
It’s unclear if any other teams will come forward to make a play for Duren, whose leverage is limited due due to the limitations built into restricted free agency. There are no teams with significant cap space now.
It’s all seemingly moot since the Pistons, as we reported Monday, have no desire or intention to trade Duren. They remain committed to re-signing their 22-year-old All-Star, though it’s unclear when or how the standoff will resolve.
Duren is coming off a breakout season averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting. He co-starred with Cade Cunningham on the best Pistons team in nearly two decades – the franchise’s third-ever team to win at least 60 games and first to make the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2008. The team repeatedly has signaled retaining Duren is a priority and he’s part of their core three players.
“I want him here, that’s where I’m at with J.D.,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said recently. “We really want J.D. to be here.”
The Sacramento Kings reportedly remain a team interested in a sign-and-trade for Duren, reportedly centered around All-Star center Domantas Sabonis. Their pathways are limited, given the Pistons aren’t interested in Sabonis or their other salary matching assets such as Zach Lavine ($49 million expiring).
Because he made third-team All-NBA, Duren reached the “higher maximum criteria” that increased the maximum money the Pistons can offer to 30% of the cap – up to five years and $287 million including 8% annual raises, a substantial bump from the previous $239 million he was eligible for (25% of the cap).
But he’s unlikely to see either figure following an underwhelming postseason performance that ended with a seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Through 14 postseason games, he averaged just 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 51.4% shooting.
Outside teams are capped to a maximum offer sheet starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total ($44.35 million average annually), and need cap space in order to do so. The Pistons can offer one additional year and more total salary, even if their potential offer averages out to less money per year, and they can exceed the cap to re-sign him.
For example, a five-year, $200 million contract ($40 million annual average per year) would exceed an outside team’s max offer by $23 million, but fall short in annual value by $4.35 million.
The Pistons have the right to match any offer from another team with cap space. Additionally, Duren’s contract would still be capped at four years and $177 million in a sign-and-trade, which again, the front office isn’t intending to pursue.
Duren’s only other pathway is picking up his $9.62 million qualifying offer for the 2026-27 season to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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