Detroit Pistons' training camp starts today, but Jalen Duren won't be there, as he is still not under contract and is forbidden from taking part in official team events and practices.
Duren may not be under contract, but he's still connected to the Pistons via restricted free agency, which has become a much more contentious issue under the new CBA, as teams are no longer just rubber stamping max contracts and have taken to playing hardball more often with their own free agents.
Duren has until tomorrow to accept the qualifying offer, but even if he delays this even further by continuing to hold out, it won't change his situation.
Jalen Duren needs the nuclear option to get out of restricted free agency
At this point, it's fairly clear that this standoff isn't all about the money for Duren, otherwise he'd be signed, as the Pistons have offered him more than he can get from any other team and that includes next offseason.
Duren could let the deadline for the qualifying offer pass, or try to get the Pistons to extend it, which they can, but that doesn't change anything, as he'd still be a restricted free agent.
In fact, even if Duren did the unthinkable and sat out next season, he'd still enter next offseason as a restricted free agent all over again.
The only way for him to gain complete control over his future is to accept the qualifying offer, play out next season and then become an unrestricted free agent.
The only problem with that option for Duren is that he'd be potentially losing $190 million dollars. A bad season or a rolled ankle and he'd be the poster boy for fumbling the bag.
Even if neither of those thigns happened, and Duren instead had a great season, he'd still only break even getting a max deal next summer, so getting to unrestricted free agency isn't going to get Duren more money and is far more likely to cost him some.
That may not matter at this point. If it's not about the money for Duren, and he wants to take a risk to get control over where he plays in the future, he has a way to do it.
I hope Duren is getting some good advice, as I am cheering for him to get his money and come back to the Pistons, but if he's willing to risk generational wealth just to get out of Detroit, there may not be enough money for the Pistons to keep him.
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