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Jalen Duren’s status gives him even more reason to take Pistons’ offer

Jalen Duren would enter uncharted territory by accepting his qualifying offer instead of signing the deal the Detroit Pistons offered.

Published: Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 11:00 PM
Jalen Duren’s status gives him even more reason to take Pistons’ offer
Key Things to Know
  • Jordanna Clark argues Jalen Duren should accept the Detroit Pistons' $200 million extension offer instead of a qualifying offer.
  • Duren has until Oct. 1 to accept Detroit's $9.6 million qualifying offer.
  • ESPN reported that zero players who accepted a qualifying offer since 1999 later became All-Stars or All-NBA selections.
The Story in 60 Seconds

PistonPowered writer Jordanna Clark argues that Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren should accept the team's fully guaranteed $200 million contract offer rather than sign his $9.6 million qualifying offer before the Oct. 1 deadline. Clark notes that turning down the long-term deal would present an unnecessary financial and professional risk for the young center.

According to an ESPN report cited in the article, none of the 43 NBA players who have accepted a qualifying offer since 1999 have earned All-Star or All-NBA honors. Clark emphasizes that playing out the season on a one-year deal risks injury or diminished market value next summer.

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