There is a familiar theme coming to Hollywood. It would be that of inaction. However, hesitating now could open the door for something better down the line. That is what Rob Pelinka would be hoping is the case for his Los Angeles Lakers, at the very least.
Jake Fischer expressed that Los Angeles will be operating conservatively ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Marc Stein supported that belief in his latest findings from the whispers around the league, suggesting that offseason maneuverability is still a high priority.
Stein wrote, "It's believed that the Lakers are only going to sacrifice their projected financial flexibility in the summer — which is expected to furnish them with the ability to make significant roster changes — only if they can acquire a real needle-mover at the position."
So who does this upcoming free agency class offer that is yielding so much hesitation? The unrestricted free agent pool is a touch underwhelming. A 41-year-old LeBron James is still among the headliners on that side.
The pending restricted free agents stand out as a bit more interesting. One name, in particular, immediately rises above the rest. That would be Jalen Duren.
Stealing Jalen Duren from the Pistons could be worth every penny to the Lakers
It is safe to say Duren is well-liked around here at Lake Show Life. That dates to a time before his breakout campaign in 2025-26, too.
The Detroit Pistons passed on the opportunity to give Duren a new contract before the rookie extension deadline. That decision is now going to cost them — one way or another.
Duren has played his way into a much bigger contract than the one originally prognosed for him. How high might that price tag go at this point? Jake Fischer suggested an annual salary of $40 million is not out of the realm of possibility.
That would make Duren pretty rich. The Lakers would undoubtedly prefer something more team-friendly, if they were to poach him. That's just not how restricted free agency works.
You have to price out the original team from a comfort standpoint. if Los Angeles is to be the next home for the current Pistons center, those are the terms under which that move comes.
Duren is averaging 17.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game during 2025-26. The 22-year-old also comes with the idea of there still being more untapped upside. Even if that does not come to pass, Duren would be a perfect pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic.
Should the Lakers be all-in on such a player? Well, the money has to go somewhere when summer time comes.