Sources: Duren not at Pistons' media day, camp amid contract standoff

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  Eric WoodyardSep 28, 2026, 09:30 AM ET

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  Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: "Wasted," "Ethan's Talent Search" and "All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story". He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan.

DETROIT -- Pistons All-Star center Jalen Duren is not attending the team's media day on Monday or the start of training camp as the contract standoff continues, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday.

Duren, a restricted free agent, is declining the team's five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer as both sides remain at a stalemate ahead of the Thursday deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer, sources said.

Duren's representatives have made it clear to the Pistons that the standoff is no longer about the money.

Duren feels disrespected by the process, sources said, particularly compared to how the team handled the contract extension of forward Ausar Thompson, who agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale contract extension with the franchise earlier this month, along with weight clauses in earlier offers.

The Pistons believe they've made a fair offer to Duren, which is more than he'd make under the qualifying offer and would make him an unrestricted free agent next offseason. But Duren would be leaving at least $190 million in guaranteed money on the table, as it stands, and would need a max deal next summer to break even over the five years compared to what the Pistons are offering.

Duren, 22, is coming off his best season where he was named to the All-NBA Third Team after averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting in 28.2 minutes per game.

However, those numbers significantly dipped in the postseason, where he averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game and Detroit was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Game 7 of the conference semifinals.

Detroit has maintained throughout the entire offseason that they want Duren back on the roster and have rejected all sign-and-trade proposals.