Updated

Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 5

LeBron James, Jalen Duren Head Top 10 NBA Free Agents Still Unsigned After 6 Days

Updated

Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 5

LeBron James, Jalen Duren Head Top 10 NBA Free Agents Still Unsigned After 6 Days

Q: After a poor playoff debut, will any team risk a massive contract on All-NBA regular season star Jalen Duren?

Yes — but probably not at the full supermax level Duren wants. Duren’s market is still strong because teams are paying for the 22-year-old All-NBA regular-season version of him, not just the player who struggled in his first postseason. He made the All-Star team, landed on All-NBA Third Team, averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on elite efficiency, and helped Detroit finish with the East’s best record. That profile is rare for a young center, especially in a market where impact big men are scarce. The playoff drop-off clearly hurt him. His scoring fell to 10.2 points, his efficiency dipped sharply, and evaluators questioned how well his game translated when defenses adjusted. That appears to be why Detroit has resisted a max extension and is reportedly offering something in the mid-$30 million annual range rather than the $40 million-plus Duren is seeking. Still, there is evidence teams would take a major swing. Sacramento has shown strong interest, and other cap-space teams such as Brooklyn and Chicago have been mentioned as possible offer-sheet threats if Detroit hesitates. Sign-and-trade exploration also suggests rival teams see enough upside to pursue him aggressively. The more likely outcome is not a $287 million-type commitment, but a very large deal in the range of roughly five years and $180 million to $200 million. That would still be a major bet on Duren’s age, production and long-term ceiling, while reflecting the real concerns raised by his playoff debut.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 5

Six days into NBA free agency, LeBron James and restricted center Jalen Duren still top the market, with several marquee names unexpectedly unsigned.
LeBron is not expected to decide within the next few days, with six teams in the mix — including Cleveland, Golden State and Denver — and he appears willing to drop from $52 million to below $10 million.
Duren’s talks have stalled because Detroit controls his restricted market: he wants more than $40 million annually, while the Pistons are thought to be closer to the mid-$30 million range.
James Harden and Draymond Green are also technically free agents after declining $42.3 million and $27.7 million options, but both are widely expected to re-sign with Cleveland and Golden State.
The remaining board includes Peyton Watson, Rui Hachimura and Jonathan Kuminga, with several players waiting for the LeBron domino and for cap-strapped teams to clarify their offers.