Hoops and Helmets "Everything You Need To Know In The Sports World"

By Jude K.

This offseason most of the media has been focusing on the big news. Like Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded, Charlotte moving Lamelo Ball, and the Trae Young contract. Because of this I think it’s important to dive into one of the storylines that has not been talked about enough: What is Jalen Duren Worth?

This past season Duren set career highs in both points (19.5) and rebounds (10.5). That ranked him 6th among centers in points and 4th among centers who averaged a double-double. The 3 players ahead of him are Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns. These players all rank top 8 among the highest paid players in the NBA. These players were also significantly older than Duren is when they signed their contracts. Lets say he sign a four year extension, when that extension is complete he will be the same age as Towns when he signed his contract, one year younger than Jokić, and four years younger than Davis.

Right now as it stands Jokic is the clear cut best player in the league and has for good reason has been payed the super max contract. So there is really no reason to compare him to Duren. Davis is a different story in his last healthy season (24-25) he averaged 24.7 and 11.6, compared to Durens 19.5 and 10.5. On paper this seems like a blowout, but the way I think about it in the Pistons shoes is are you willing to put a premium on potential and time. Because Duren has plenty of both, in my opinion the only players in the front court who have more potential than him are Victor Wembanyama and Evan Mobley.

Where we stand today the two camps that are the Pistons and Duren have very different numbers on where they want to be. Jalen is demanding some were in the rage of 40 million dollars a year. Detroit countered in an “Underwhelming” offer of 35 million dollars. Now while 5 million does seem like such a big problem it would drop from the 36 highest player to 56 highest paid players. The 35-38 ranked players are Lamelo Ball, De’Aaron Fox, and Tyrese Halibruton. The latter would put him around the likes of CJ McCollum, Jerami Grant, and Imannuel Quickley. I believe that Duren Belongs more in that range of 35-38, but even then I think I would rather have him than any of those players.

“Give me an A-list center”-Luca Doncic Lakers PG

Another question that needs to be asked is how does the open market compare to the Pistons offer. Lets say for the sake of the argument that the Pistons offer 37.5 million dollars and he declines what do teams like the Lakers who need a center to either be their star player or add a lithe partner to a pick and roll. After Duren the only young center is Walker Kessler who respectfully is not in the same tier as Jalen. Luca Doncic has been quoted saying that he needs to have an A-list center and now with Giannis officially getting moved it is becoming more and more likely they will target Duren. So what would that offer look like? Well to start is very likely that this would end the Lebron era in Los Angeles because they run out of most of their cap space. After that I feel like the negotiations would be pretty straight forward and in the it would be 4 years 160 million dollars, which amounts to 40 million a year. If I am the Pistons I feel like I can not lets this guy walk and I come up to his price give him his money and then it’s go time with a core that will be signed through the middle of their prime in Cunningham and Duren.

I feel like the way I value him is that by the end of his new contract he will be top 5 center at least in the NBA and the Pistons are competing for championships year after year. My official value of Duren would be 4 years 160 million dollars. This would tie for 5th highest paid center in the NBA.