It's been over two months since the Jazz agreed to trade Walker Kessler for two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, and the Detroit Pistons are still trying to reach an agreement with Jalen Duren. Utah and Kessler were already at odds over his value, so rather than let things drag out, the front office jumped on the opportunity to send him to Los Angeles.
Like Kessler, Duren met with the Lakers, and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Lakers saw him as a "maximum-salary level player" (subscription required). Amick also added that the Pistons were sending "strong signals" that they'd either match offer sheets for their center or not cooperate in sign-and-trades.
While it wasn't ideal for the Jazz to lose their young, homegrown center, their decision-making made sense given what they got in return. Utah added to its assets and avoided a drama-filled offseason that could've ended with Kessler betting on himself and accepting his qualifying offer.
The Jazz didn't need outside validation that parting with Kessler was a wise choice, at least given how things stand right now, but the Pistons are giving it to them anyway.
Jazz avoided what Pistons are going through with Duren
Utah might actually owe Detroit a thank-you; if Detroit had been willing to negotiate a sign-and-trade with Los Angeles, the Lakers might've preferred to acquire Duren. He's a more proven player than Kessler, and he isn't coming off a season in which he played only five games due to injury.
The Jazz capitalized on the Lakers' desperate need for a center by not wasting time, potentially giving the Pistons time to reconsider their Duren stance by agreeing to a trade on July 1.
It would've been a tough blow watching Duren leave Detroit for Los Angeles, especially at the start of the summer, but what would hurt even worse is if he accepts his $9.6 million qualifying offer, which would really make the Pistons wish they'd been cooperative in sign-and-trade talks.
Even if Duren signs a new long-term contract with Detroit (and there is hope!), there's concern that tension from this offseason will carry into the season, potentially disrupting things. It may never fully cease to exist, either, especially not with him knowing that the Pistons view Ausar Thompson as their second-best player behind Cade Cunningham. And how they handle Thompson's extension could be another issue.
Utah wouldn't have dealt with that same drama with Kessler, but it dodged the hard feelings, knowing he saw himself as more than what the Jazz wanted to pay. They got a lot out of it, too, so even if he meets expectations with the Lakers, they can still look at their return package and be satisfied. They can already do that right now just by looking at how things have gone down between Duren and the Pistons.
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