On the latest edition of ESPN's NBA Today, Bobby Marks laid out Jalen Duren's two options headed into the new season. Per a report by The Athletic, Duren was offered a 5-year, $190 million contract this offseason, but the negotiations still appear to be at a stalemate as Media Day and training camp arrive.

.@BobbyMarks42 gives an update on what could be next for Jalen Duren and the Pistons 🏀 pic.twitter.com/jeLdgz1edr

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 14, 2026

But as the NBA season looms, both Duren and the Pistons must decide how to move forward. Marks laid out Duren's two options.

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“He's got two options. He could basically take the one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer, and remember, keep an eye on October 1st, that's the deadline he has until to sign that. Or he can sign this lucrative contract that's gonna pay him 35 to 36 million and go back to Detroit on a long-term contract. I think it hasn't been done before on a player at his level, besides Greg Monroe, and that's dating back a ways.

Marks continued, “It worked out for Greg Monroe because he signed a three-year max the following year, I believe with Milwaukee. But if he does the qualifying offer, you're already behind 26, 27 million. You're basically playing catch-up right now. So he's got the option: he can go back on a one-year deal, or sign a lucrative deal with the Pistons.”

In the 2025-2026 regular season, Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65% from the field, but he struggled in the postseason, averaging only 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 51.4% from the field. The Pistons ultimately were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.