The Los Angeles Lakers' looming cap space had Jalen Duren's name written all over it. The fit would be seamless. Luka Doncic would have his long-term partner down low for the foreseeable future. The Detroit Pistons are not having it.
After the Pistons and Duren failed to reach a rookie extension before this season's deadline, the young center made them pay for that decision immediately. Duren elevated himself to a new level in Detroit, making the price of his next contract grow substantially in the process.
This is where opportunity came knocking for the Lakers. If Detroit was unwilling to fork over the money Duren was owed after the season was over, Los Angeles could steal their guy. Unfortunately for Rob Pelinka and company, the Pistons are readying themselves to not let that reality play out.
Jake Fischer wrote, "The Pistons continue to message that they aren't in any hurry to ... make a major in-season addition. Keeping their cap sheet as clean as possible is a significant consideration, with Detroit fully aware that Jalen Duren has played his way into a massive second contract this summer."
Jalen Duren looks far more likely to stay in Detroit than end up in Los Angeles
If this was unrestricted free agency, it could be a different story for the Lakers. Unfortunately for them, it's not. With him being a restricted free agent, the Pistons do still have the rights to match any offer sheet that comes in Duren's direction during the summer.
The thought here was that if Los Angeles was willing to attach a big enough dollar sign to the contract they offered the rising star, Detroit might consider backing off and just letting the purple and gold have their way. If what Fischer is saying proves true, the Pistons have no intent of giftwrapping Duren to anyone, including the Lakers.
Why would they?
Duren is playing great basketball in his fourth season. The Pistons big is averaging 17.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game, shooting 63.3 percent from the field.
Duren has both one of the highest offensive and defensive ratings per 100 possessions on the Pistons. The 22-year-old is second on the team in win shares and value over replacement play (only trailing Cade Cunningham in both categories).
Landing the athletic two-way center that is Duren would be great for a Doncic-led future in Los Angeles. Perhaps the Pistons do still waver in how much they are willing to pay him between now and the summer. However, the situation feels less promising today than it did in the past.