The Detroit Pistons have several important free agency decisions to navigate this offseason – beginning with their starting center.
Jalen Duren, a pending restricted free agent, tops the list of players whose futures will be resolved over the next few months. After a 60-22 overall season and second-round exit to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons now begin the arduous process of how much, and how many years, to allocate to some of the players most crucial to their success.
Here’s our predictions for which free agents will still be on the roster next season, and which will end up signing elsewhere.
C Jalen Duren
Pistons president Trajan Langdon said during his end-of-season media availability the Pistons intend to re-sign the newly-minted All-NBA big man, who joined Cade Cunningham in stardom this past season. It was a breakout season for Duren, who averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% overall shooting to help power the Pistons to their third-ever 60-win season. Those numbers dipped to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4% shooting in the playoffs, but the front office is still bullish on his long-term trajectory.
“First of all, J.D. had a fantastic season,” Langdon said at the team’s midtown practice facility on Tuesday, May 19. “All-Star, one of the biggest contributors to us being a No. 1 seed. Darn near 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. An incredible year and an incredible leap from last year to this year because of the work that he put in last summer and his focus. I have no doubt that we’ll put a plan together and he’ll attack it this summer, just like he did last summer, and he’ll come back a better player from his experience, not only during the regular season but also in the postseason just like all of our guys will. We look forward to coming together with his representative and getting a deal done, and for him to continue to be a Piston.”
Duren is eligible for a maximum five-year, $287 million contract after making All-NBA, but his actual contract likely will clock in for less. Outside teams are limited to offering four years and up to $177.4 million, a substantial gap in total value that the two sides will have to close during negotiations. However it shakes out, it would be surprising to see Duren end up elsewhere next season. The verdict: Stay.
F Tobias Harris
Langdon also indicated the Pistons would “love to have” Harris back in uniform next season, and Harris himself said so as well after their elimination from the playoffs. The veteran forward was a crucial part of the team’s success over the last two seasons both on and off the floor and delivered a vintage playoff performance, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as the team’s second-leading scorer behind Cunningham.
Harris is coming off of a two-year, $52 million contract. His next deal likely will be for less, but the Pistons have his Early Bird rights and should have few, if any roadblocks, toward bring him back on a contract that makes sense for both parties. The verdict: Stay.
PG Daniss Jenkins
The former two-way guard proved himself to be indispensable within the first month of the season, delivering big performances during a 13-game winning streak in November and December that propelled the team to a 60-win trajectory. The decision for the Pistons may be as simple as picking up his team option, or they could look to work out a longer contract. Either way, Jenkins will be back. The verdict: Stay.
G/F Kevin Huerter
In his brief time with the team following the trade deadline, Huerter had bright moments. He averaged 12.8 points, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and knocked down 36.8% of his 3-point attempts through their final 12 games of the season. However, he only played six combined minutes through their final 11 playoff games due to injury. Once regarded as a sharpshooter, Huerter has only knocked down 32.4% of his attempts over his last two seasons. Shooting is the Pistons’ biggest need, and they likely will need to look elsewhere for it. The verdict: Leave.
G/F Javonte Green
The lone player to appear in all 82 games last season, Green carved out a role as a reliable two-way wing. He was among the most disruptive perimeter defenders in the league with a sky-high steal rate and knocked down 38.1% of his 3-pointers. Perhaps his price has gone up after a strong season, but Green is the type of veteran the Pistons should value. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him return. The verdict: Stay.
C Tolu Smith
Like Jenkins, Smith was promoted from a two-way to a standard contract. He played the fewest minutes of any player on the main roster, but performed reliably when called upon as the fourth center. Roster pressure may force the Pistons to part ways, however. If their No. 21 overall pick takes Huerter’s roster spot, they would have to clear another spot to make room for any external additions via trade or free agency. The verdict: Leave.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Which Detroit Pistons free agents will stay, which will go?
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
