As All-NBA center Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons inch closer to the October 1 deadline, there are reportedly no signs of the two reaching an agreement. Duren and the Pistons remain at a stalemate amid negotiations on a potential contract extension ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The Sacramento Kings' reported interest in acquiring Duren was mentioned in addition to the All-Star center's frustration. The entire contract negotiating process over his future with the Pistons isn't sitting well with Duren, according to ESPN NBA Today's Marc Spears.

“Scott Perry ain't playing around; neither is BJ Armstrong,” Spears said. “Scott Perry has a relationship with Jalen Duren dating back to when he was trying to get the Knicks to draft him, which they did. But they traded him to the Pistons. Scott Perry also has NFL ties from his father. Duren's agent is an NFL agent. So, he has a connection with him, and Duren likes Scott Perry a lot. He likes Sacramento a lot. The Pistons are focused on bringing him back. They have some optimism, but it's complicated.

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“I just hear that Jalen — it's not about money right now. He feels disrespected. But the Pistons, they need him back as soon as possible to try to heal this. There's a black cloud going into camp. Tobias is gone. Duren's not there. They're not moving forward with the momentum. They gotta try to fix it, and I don't know if they can in time.”

Scott Perry, the Kings' general manager, could be in position to pry Jalen Duren from the Pistons in 2027. Duren's qualifying offer for the 2026-27 season is worth $9.6 million. If he decides to opt in, he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.