The Pistons could be better off doing the unthinkable

The Jalen Duren saga doesn’t have a clear end in sight for the Detroit Pistons, as their 22-year-old All-NBA center is taking more meetings today trying to find himself a max deal. 

The Pistons can play hardball here, as they have most of the leverage, so the most likely scenario is Duren returning to Detroit, but those odds definitely go down the longer this stretches on. 

We’ve heard ideas of possible sign-and-trades with teams like the Kings and Lakers, neither of which have a ton to offer. The name we have heard most is Domantas Sabonis, which doesn’t make a ton of sense considering he makes even more money than Duren will, is fresh off an injury ravaged season, and is a guy the Kings have been trying to dump for years. 

But Sam Vecenie of Game Theory Podcast had a different take on it, which is that the Pistons may be better off with Sabonis in the long run, and he did have some good points. 

Vecenie said he’d rather have two years of Sabonis than four or five of Duren, and as much as it pains me to say it, I did find myself nodding at times. 

Jalen Duren vs. Domantas Sabonis

Duren is the better part of a decade younger than Sabonis and just coming into his own as a first-time All-Star and third team All-NBA. His struggles in the playoffs are well chronicled, but otherwise, he had the exact season we were hoping for, as he made big strides on both ends. 

Given that he’s just 22, there is likely another leap coming, but the Pistons don’t want to invest too much into hope. Duren’s inability to shoot made him easy to stuff at the rim in the playoffs, and let’s be real, Ausar Thompson’s defense covered a lot of Duren’s flaws on that end. 

If the Pistons are committed to Thompson, which they absolutely should be, then Duren could be a tough fit unless they add a real second scorer and a four that can shoot. 

Sabonis is a terrible defender, but let’s not pretend Duren was great on that end, because he wasn’t. Sabonis is an elite rebounder, and if Duren had even done that well in the playoffs and nothing else, the Pistons might have won. 

Rebounding closes out possessions, and Sabonis is a very good rebounder on both ends. He’s also a far more dynamic offensive player who can pass and stretch the floor a little, so the Pistons’ offense would be more difficult to defend in the half court. 

There’s also the possibility that Sabonis comes with additional assets, as the Pistons can make the Kings cough up a draft pick or two to sweeten the deal. Detroit would be paying more for Sabonis but only for two seasons and then have a massive salary slot or big expiring contract to play with. 

I am not a big fan of Sabonis myself, but he’s better than a lot of people are acting right now, so I don’t think it’s a complete disaster if they have to go that route. 

I also don’t think it will happen, as I am holding out faith that Duren and the Pistons will eventually get over the line. But with the Lakers also potentially putting a big offer on the table, Detroit may be put in a tough position. 

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