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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball against Amari Williams #77 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at the TD Garden on November 26, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons is expected to be one of the biggest names in restricted free agency in the upcoming offseason, and the young center has consistently been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers as potentially their next starting center.
Duren, who had a disappointing playoff performance, was previously a shoo-in to resign with the Pistons on a max contract extension, but recently, the thought of Detroit playing hardball with the big man and potentially letting him walk has grown, with a team like the Lakers waiting in the wings to swoop him up to give Luka Doncic a new pick-and-roll partner.
According to some recent reports on Duren’s free agency, the Lakers could still be in line to poach the first-time All-Star and potential All-NBA center.
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109.
Duren, along with a few other big men, is expected to be targeted by Los Angeles over the offseason. As they have the cap space, signing the restricted free agent will be a bit easier for the Lakers than for a few other teams, but that would require the Pistons to low-ball the 22-year-old, which could still be in play.
According to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press, if Detroit doesn’t offer Duren a max contract extension worth anywhere from $239 million to $287 million, depending on whether he is named to the All-NBA third team, the Lakers could be ready to pounce.
“It’s difficult to see them offering a max deal. After an All-Star regular season, Duren fell flat in the playoffs averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. But since an NBA team with cap space can offer a maximum of up to $44.3 million per year – hello Los Angeles Lakers? – a deal with the Pistons likely still would cross $40 million annually.”
Jalen Duren could command a contract crossing $40M annually in restricted free agency this summer, per @omarisankofa
“But since an NBA team with cap space can offer a maximum of up to $44.3 million per year – hello Los Angeles Lakers? – a deal with the Pistons likely still
It appears as though the Pistons want to keep Duren, but it remains to be seen how much they are willing to offer their second-option next to Cade Cunningham, who barely averaged double-digit scoring in the playoffs.
The Lakers have long been linked to Duren, and if they believe he can be a strong partner next to Doncic, they could be ready to offer him more money than Detroit is willing to give up.
When discussing Duren’s free agency status, Sanfoka revealed what a team like the Lakers could offer over the offseason.
“Other teams are limited to a maximum four-year contract up to $177.4 million,” he wrote.
What Los Angeles does depends on how committed Detroit is to keeping Duren, and for now, that remains to be seen.
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 17: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after he dunks in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on November 17, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
It appears as though Lakers fans have gone back and forth about targeting Duren in free agency this summer. At his peak, he’s a perfect fit for their roster, but after his playoff performances and potential max contract offer on the table, Los Angeles might waver on going after him, or at least offering him the most amount of money possible.
Still, according to Tyler Watts of LakeShowLife.com, the Lakers could keep the door open on Duren, especially amid the Pistons’ uncertainty about their future with him going forward.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have cap space this summer. They could make a strong offer to Jalen Duren and force the Pistons into a difficult decision. Detroit can match any offer, but may be hesitant to pay the big man like a star after his playoff struggles,” he wrote. “The Lakers would love to take advantage. The door is open, and fans should stay tuned to see if LA can kick it down this summer.”
However, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the idea of Duren going to the Lakers might not be as realistic as many think. Along with saying Duren’s free agency value didn’t drop as much as is being reported, if the center wants to stay with the Pistons, the franchise will likely find a way to do it.
It comes down to this, which might be a difficult reality for the Lakers to come to grips with: they are expected to pay Austin Reaves a max deal in free agency, and that along with Doncic’s current contract, their other free agents, and potentially bringing LeBron James back, they might not have the budget for Duren.
Instead, the Lakers will likely target a center a tier below Duren, potentially in the $20-$25 million range. They won’t want to get into a bidding war with the Pistons, especially if Duren’s playoff woes turn into a long-term issue.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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