The Detroit Pistons are preparing to offer Jalen Duren a contract extension that could exceed 25 percent of the salary cap and stretch well past $40 million per year.

Duren posted 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in the postseason while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 67.4 percent from the free throw line. Those figures represented a nine-point drop in scoring from the regular season, when Detroit finished with 60 wins and Duren earned his first All-Star selection.

Extending Duren at that price makes sense only if the front office believes his defensive presence and rebounding can anchor a contending roster alongside Cade Cunningham. In the playoffs Duren struggled to create consistent offense against Orlando and Cleveland, forcing Cunningham to carry more of the scoring load with help limited to Tobias Harris.

Detroit reached the second round for the second straight year before falling to the Cavaliers in seven games. That trajectory has prompted president Trajan Langdon to pursue aggressive additions this summer through trades for high-impact rotational pieces or free-agent signings. Locking in the young center now would signal that the front office views Duren as a long-term cornerstone rather than a trade chip.

The decision timeline runs through the upcoming free-agency period, when Detroit must weigh Duren’s extension against potential trades for rotation depth and other cap commitments. If the sides agree on a max-level deal, the Pistons will enter training camp with a clear internal hierarchy centered on Cunningham and Duren.

A max commitment to Duren would also test whether his postseason scoring limitations can be solved through scheme tweaks or complementary pieces rather than forcing a reevaluation of his role. Duren’s regular-season production and two-way upside remain enticing for a Pistons squad that has climbed to 60 wins, yet his playoff usage highlighted areas where additional perimeter creation or interior spacing could unlock higher efficiency.