The Jalen Duren situation is getting more interesting by the day. As we first reported Friday, the third-team All-NBA big man was underwhelmed by Detroit’s offer in restricted free agency and almost immediately began strategizing about sign-and-trade scenarios out of town.
And as we learned Monday afternoon via league sources, the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers are now officially on that list.
Those sources, who are not authorized to discuss free-agent scenarios before the offseason officially begins, say the Kings and Lakers are scheduled to meet with Duren after free agency opens Tuesday. It’s unclear whether the Kings’ visit will be in person or virtual, but those sources say the Lakers’ meeting is expected to be by phone.
The Kings plan to pitch the Pistons on a sign-and-trade offer that would send three-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to Detroit, those sources said. The 30-year-old has a combined $94 million remaining on his deal for the next two seasons and could give the Pistons a worthy replacement for Duren if they decide not to close the gap in negotiations. Duren very much wants to play in Sacramento, while Sabonis is likewise interested in the prospect of landing with the Pistons.
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As for the Lakers, everyone knows they are on the lookout for an upgrade at the center spot, and Duren would certainly qualify. (The Lakers’ incumbent starting center, Deandre Ayton, picked up his $8.1 million player option Monday.) Yet in stark contrast to the Kings’ scenario, the Lakers’ best offerings might be draft capital rather than quality players, as Detroit could trade Duren into the Lakers’ salary-cap space. Lakers star Luka Dončić is known to be a fan of Duren’s game, league sources say, which is a monumental factor for any player who’s trying to be welcomed into Crypto.com Arena these days.
It’s unclear how the Pistons might see either scenario. To this point, Detroit has been signaling a strong desire to keep Duren, who averaged a double-double during the regular season but struggled in the playoffs. Because he was selected to the All-NBA third team, Duren is eligible for a five-year, $287.1 million extension that would account for 30 percent of the Pistons’ salary cap. Detroit can match any free-agent contract Duren signs with another team, which is why he is seeking sign-and-trade scenarios.
Duren, 22, averaged 19.5 points on 65 percent shooting and 10.5 rebounds in 70 regular-season games, finishing as the runner-up for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Yet in 14 playoff games against the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Duren averaged just 10.2 points (while taking 7.8 shots per game and shooting 51.4 percent) and 8.5 rebounds.
On a related note, the Kings are not expected to pursue free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to league sources who were granted anonymity to discuss free-agent scenarios before Tuesday. The Atlanta Hawks declined Kuminga’s team option Monday, making the 23-year-old an unrestricted free agent. The Kings attempted to acquire Kuminga last offseason via a sign-and-trade scenario but could not agree to a deal with Kuminga’s former team, the Golden State Warriors.
