Unsigned center faces a key week with Detroit
Jalen Duren is expected to miss the Detroit Pistons’ media day on Monday, September 28, as negotiations over a new contract remain unresolved, according to reporting by The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson. The center remains a restricted free agent ahead of training camp.
Detroit’s media session is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time on September 28, equivalent to 2 a.m. Philippine time on Tuesday, September 29. At the time of this report, the event had not taken place, so Duren’s anticipated absence remained a reported development.
His unsigned status is central to the situation. Marc Stein reported that league rules prevent Duren from participating in media-day activities without a signed deal. That makes his expected absence different from an under-contract player simply choosing to skip a team event.
The Pistons are scheduled to begin training-camp practice on Tuesday, September 29. The Detroit News reported late Sunday that the organization remains committed to retaining Duren and looks forward to his return, citing a source familiar with the situation.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds during the 2025–26 regular season, according to RealGM’s account of The Athletic’s reporting. His unresolved availability therefore concerns a significant part of Detroit’s frontcourt as preparations begin for the new season.
The next contract deadline is October 1. Duren has a reported one-year qualifying offer worth about $9.6 million, which could provide a route to unrestricted free agency next summer if he accepts it. Detroit can extend the acceptance deadline, but no extension was established in the reporting reviewed on September 28.
For now, the immediate questions are whether a contract agreement arrives before practice begins and whether Duren accepts the qualifying offer or continues seeking a longer agreement.