The Detroit Pistons looming contract negotiations with Jalen Duren don't have a clear resolution in sight.
Duren believes his All-NBA season warrants him a massive payday, and the Pistons playoff loss that the big man largely contributed to says otherwise.
Detroit obviously would prefer not to lose their starting center, especially given how the market to find a replacement looks this offseason.
Nonetheless, with the recent report from The Athletic's Sam Amick (subscription) surrounding Walker Kessler's frustration with the Utah Jazz, Trajan Langdon may have been given the perfect backup plan to pursue in case Duren talks go south.
As a matter of fact, depending on what Kessler's value on the open market truly is, the big man could be an option the Pistons simply prefer.
Walker Kessler's skillset perfectly fits with the Pistons
For awhile now, Kessler has been considered one of the top big man targets on the trade market, but the Jazz's reluctance to trade him without receiving a monster haul has stalled any conversations.
This offseason, though, Utah could be willing to move on, especially given the 7-footer's growing frustration with the organization for the way they've handled contract negotiations and the fact that he's still without the payday he feels he deserves.
Kessler appeared in only five games for the Jazz this season before a torn labrum ended his season early. Still, the former first-round pick has proven through his three seasons in Salt Lake City to be one of the most intriguing young centers the league has to offer.
The Auburn product can stretch the floor when asked to, but he's proven to be a legitimate threat around the rim. Defensively, he may be one of the most impactful shot blockers in the league, averaging 2.4 blocks per game over his four-year career.
Slotting Kessler into the Pistons' frontcourt would give J.B. Bickerstaff's offense a rim-running big who can step out and make a defense pay from three, especially if he's asked to, but bringing him to the Motor City would be the difficult part.
Could it lead to Kessler signing an offer sheet elsewhere this offseason? Absolutely.
Would the Jazz let him go for free? No way.
Pistons would likely have to facilitate a sign-and-trade for Kessler
Opting to pivot to Kessler over Duren would be an interesting decision for many reasons.
For starters, the Jazz center is two years older, and he hasn't put together an All-NBA season that suggests he's better than Duren...yet.
There's also the factor that moving on from Duren could frustrate Cade Cunningham, who's grown close to Duren off the court.
At the same time, Kessler is projected to be a cheaper option than Duren, but is saving that money worth the risk of upsetting your superstar?
Landing Kessler could be done in free agency, but the likelihood that Utah would just let him walk is pretty low.
That said, Detroit would almost certainly have to agree to a sign-and-trade with the Jazz and the most obvious candidate for any deal would be Jalen Duren, who could theoretically sign a deal with Utah.
It's an unlikely scenario, but in a league where things have proven to get crazy at times, never say never.
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