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Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons is having a breakout campaign.

The Detroit Pistons will have to make a huge decision on Jalen Duren this summer after the All-Star center had a terrible postseason. Duren was expected to get a max contract offer due to his breakout season as the second-best Detroit player leading to immense team success. However, a terrible postseason for Duren makes it a tough call to pay him “superstar money” while the team struggles offensively in the biggest games.

Fadeaway World pitched a solid trade package involving the Dallas Mavericks if Detroit decides to pull off a sign and trade:

“Detroit Pistons Receive: Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, 2029 first-round pick

Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jalen Duren

The Mavericks would be taking the aggressive side of the Jalen Duren debate. They would not be ignoring his playoff problems. They would be betting that those issues look different in a new structure, especially next to Cooper Flagg.

This trade would be simple in purpose: the Mavericks bet on Duren’s tools next to Flagg, while the Pistons turn a dangerous contract decision into two rotation players, a future asset, and a cleaner roster around Cunningham.”

The logic does make sense for both teams to pivot towards their immediate future. Dallas gets a reliable starting center that can hide his flaws playing with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Detroit gets two experienced players and a future draft pick to give them flexibility.

Why This Is An Underrated Move For Pistons

Detroit would risk losing a young rising star center, but they have shown they are ready to contend in the Eastern Conference. Defenses limiting Duren and other Pistons players have shown that most view the offense as Cade Cunningham leading his teammates to success.

Both PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford helped the Mavericks make the NBA Finals just a couple of seasons ago joining an offense run by Luka Doncic. Despite Cunningham being a little less offensively gifted than Luka, Detroit could replicate this plan.

A new rotation sees Gafford and Isaiah Stewart sharing the center minutes to always have toughness at the position in this scenario. Washington and Tobias Harris would split the power forward minutes to improve the all-around depth.

Dallas Could Contend With Jalen Duren

The main incentive for Dallas to pull off this trade would be to push up the timeline of looking to make an impact in the postseason faster. Flagg is coming off a tremendous rookie season that showed him having superstar performances deeper into the year.

Irving is expected to return from his injury for the start of the season and gives them three All-Stars if they also acquire Duren. The Mavericks would be fine with Duren’s limitations of not being able to create his own offense since they have two elite offensive options.

Reserve center Dereck Lively also gives them a fail safe to have another capable big man on the roster if Duren experiences similar problems. Dallas might be the perfect team to make a big swing towards Duren, but it must come in a sign and trade this summer to avoid financial complications.