Jalen Duren is apparently ready to get the hell out of Dodge.
The restricted free agent center Duren is feeling “disrespected” by the Detroit Pistons and no longer sees his negotiation with the team as being about money, Marc J. Spears of ESPN reported on Monday. However, the Pistons are still reportedly focused on bringing Duren back and fixing their relationship before training camp.
Spears further adds that Duren is now eyeing the Sacramento Kings as a potential landing spot. Duren reportedly likes the Kings and has a relationship with Sacramento GM Scott Perry.
The 22-year-old All-Star center Duren has now gone unsigned for two-and-a-half months and counting. Meanwhile, training camp is officially set to begin in two weeks, meaning that Duren and the Pistons are quickly running out of time to get a deal done.
At least for next season, it appears that Duren will be stuck with Detroit as the Pistons own his RFA rights and will not simply a renounce a core young talent who was an All-NBA player last season. But there has been growing buzz about Duren potentially going nuclear and playing out next year on a one-year qualifying offer.
As for the Kings, they are shopping Domantas Sabonis on the trade market and need a dynamic young big man alongside Maxine Raynaud to help kickstart their rebuild. With that being said, Duren has had another outside suitor emerge in recent weeks as well.
