With restricted free agent Jalen Duren’s stock plummeting this postseason, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers could be in prime pouncing position to pry the All-Star center away from the Detroit Pistons.
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn has urged the Lakers to make a max offer sheet for Duren, who may have lost leverage with the Pistons to demand a lucrative contract this summer.
“…If the Pistons are at all hesitant, Lakers should roll in with the max offer,” Quinn wrote on X, while explaining why Duren would be the ideal center to pair with Doncic.
“That’s the center you want for Luka, and the paint would be so much cleaner for him on a Luka/Reaves team than it is in Detroit.”
It’s worth noting that the Pistons will have the right to match offer sheets from the Lakers and other suitors. Furthermore, Detroit can offer a five-year max contract, while Los Angeles can offer only four. As such, the Pistons still have a significant advantage in retaining Duren, even if they may be hesitant to pay the big man top dollar.
Jalen Duren Struggles for Pistons
Duren has averaged 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds through four playoff games against the Orlando Magic — a significant drop from his regular-season tally of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. The 22-year-old has also struggled with his efficiency, with his FG% plummeting from a remarkable 65% in the regular season to 46% in the playoffs.
After Duren’s Pistons fell to a 3-1 hole to the Magic on Monday, Duren blamed turnovers and unforced errors for his team’s predicament.
“The whole series, we just been shooting ourselves in the foot. We got to clean that up, man,” Duren said, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
Should Lakers Target Jalen Duren?
Further to Quinn’s point, athletic centers like Duren have historically fared well alongside Luka Doncic, who enjoyed great success playing with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II on the Dallas Mavericks. That’s precisely why the Lakers targeted Mark Williams last year, before the trade was rescinded due to medical reasons.
The Lakers would definitely have the financial resources to target Duren. They are projected to have over $50M in cap space this summer, and that’s even after factoring in unrestricted free agent Austin Reaves’ $20.9M cap hold
Quinn explained how the Lakers can sign Duren and re-sign Reaves.
“They’re [Reaves and Duren] both capped at 25% of the cap and Luka is still on a 30% max. Obviously three max guys is still a lot, but it’s not like Phoenix last year having KD and Beal at 35% and Booker at 30% with a 35% max looming. You’d have SOME maneuverability.”
Another high-profile restricted free agent — Denver Nuggets wing Peyton Watson — is also on the Lakers’ radar, per multiple reports.
The Lakers are expected to use their cap space to pursue 3-and-D wings and athletic centers this offseason. Insiders have earmarked names such as Duren, Watson, Tari Eason, Isaiah Hartenstein, Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes, Andrew Wiggins, Mitchell Robinson, Jarrett Allen and Dean Wade as potential targets.
Los Angeles would also have to deal wtih the impending free agency of LeBron James, who has reportedly yet to make up his mind on his next destination.
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