Jalen Duren's looming contract negotiations this offseason are one of the main talking points for the Detroit Pistons, and understandably so.
At one point, the big man seemed locked into a supermax extension he more than deserved after his dominant regular season led him to an All-NBA nod.
Nonetheless, his sub par postseason run seemingly shattered any hope the 22-year-old had about becoming Detroit's next supermax signing, which in turn raised questions surrounding Duren's future in the Motor City moving forward.
The reality is, Duren will return to Detroit, and although it may not be on a contract that nets him the payday he dreamed about, it'll be a long-term saving grace for the Pistons, who need all the help they can get to build a title contender around Cade Cunningham.
Jalen Duren's playoff collapse saved the Pistons money
Before Duren's postseason challenges, the center was headed towards a five-year, $287.1 million supermax contract with all the leverage in his favor.
Now, he's expected to sign for under 25% of the salary cap, which alone will save the Pistons more money than they anticipated having at their disposal in the future.
Obviously, Duren will be disappointed with his botched payday, but in the long run, his regression in the playoffs led to the financial flexibility that will give the Pistons much more room to maneuver in future deals, which, given the restrictions that the new CBA guidelines offer, is much needed.
And if the Pistons can land Duren around the $37 million range that salary cap guru Keith Smith of Spotrac predicts, Detroit is going to be in a better position than they expected.
Detroit is going to have more options courtesy of Duren
No, Duren didn't intentionally save the Pistons money, but when he lost leverage in contract negotiations, it opened a door Detroit didn't expect.
The Pistons have to make moves if they hope to get over the hump, and whether that comes by way of free agency or the trade market is to be seen, but the money they're projected to save in the contract negotiations with Duren now gives them more options than anyone realizes.
Detroit has plenty of needs to address, including finding a second option alongside Cunningham, adding a reliable power forward to the mix, and revamping their bench unit.
All that to say, the disaster that the postseason brought Duren offered a silver lining for the Pistons.
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