Pistons remove weight clause from $200 million offer to Jalen Duren: Sources - The Athletic

The Detroit Pistons have removed a weight clause from their contract offer to restricted free agent Jalen Duren, The Athletic reported Wednesday, according to CBS Sports. The clause had been part of a five-year, $200 million proposal and would have required Duren to check his weight monthly with the team.

The removal comes as Duren, 22, faces a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday to either sign the Pistons' long-term offer or accept a $9.6 million qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2027. CBS Sports reported that taking the qualifying offer would bring no financial gain under Detroit's current proposal, since a four-year max deal elsewhere would pay Duren $189.2 million, which combined with the qualifying offer totals roughly $198.8 million over five seasons — less than what the Pistons are offering, and fully guaranteed.

Duren and the Pistons have been at an impasse for three months, and CBS Sports reported Duren has felt disrespected throughout the negotiations. He is eligible for a five-year, $287 million max deal, but Detroit's offer fell well short of that after what CBS Sports described as a disappointing postseason.

Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon addressed Duren's absence from media day and training camp this week. "We will be excited to have him in, regardless of what decision he does make," Langdon said, adding, "He was a huge reason for our success the last two seasons, had a tremendous season individually, last year as well."

Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds last season as Detroit won 60 games and finished atop the Eastern Conference before losing in the second round of the playoffs, according to CBS Sports. He met with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings in June, but the Lakers pivoted to a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, and sign-and-trade talks between the Kings and Pistons did not advance far, CBS Sports reported.