Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons have yet to come to an agreement on a contract extension this summer. The restricted free agent is looking for a much bigger payday than the Pistons are willing to give him, it seems. Now, it looks like there’s a chance that Duren could accept the qualifying offer. The Chicago Bulls should be rooting for that reality.
If Duren accepts the qualifying offer this summer, then he will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. And if that becomes the case, he would be a perfect target for the Bulls to go after. They still don’t have a long-term answer at the five, and Duren could be that for them.
Adding Duren to the mix would be a massive win for the Bulls and their long-term core.
Jalen Duren picking up qualifying offer could give Bulls a chance to sign him newft summer
Duren is fresh off an All-NBA Third Team season. It was a breakout year for the 22-year-old big man, and he still has plenty of room to grow on both ends of the court.
By all accounts, the Pistons should do everything possible to keep him on board. Losing him would be a complete disaster for them, especially if he were to leave in free agency next year.
In that case, the Pistons would be losing him for nothing, and it’s not like they have a ton of center depth on the roster behind him. But Detroit’s loss could be the Bulls’ gain.
Right now, the Bulls are looking to build out their young core. Or, at least, that’s what they should be trying to do. Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis are already in place, but everything around them is up in the air.
Nicolas Claxton is the Bulls’ starting center right now, but he isn’t necessarily their center of the future. Duren could be that for them, though, should he hit free agency next summer.
Chicago could clear up enough space to give Duren a massive contract next summer. If they decline certain team options and perhaps even trade Claxton, they could have serious cap space.
Obviously, the Pistons would probably still want to keep Duren at that point, but they wouldn’t have control over the situation anymore.
In that case, all the Bulls would have to do is convince Duren to sign with them. All they can ask for is a chance. And Duren picking up the qualifying offer this summer would give them a chance.
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