00:00This Jalen Duren story is interesting.
00:02We keep having to interrupt our regularly scheduled football Friday for breaking news from our other teams.
00:08First, Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings both released a joint statement that we've read for you and you heard there
00:13in the update.
00:13And now the athletic Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson are reporting on Jalen Duren saying he's getting apparently close to
00:24accepting the qualifying offer,
00:26which we'll get to what that is here in a sec, but he has 21 days to make a decision.
00:30The way it works is this is his contract year.
00:33He can either accept as a restricted free agent.
00:36He can accept the predetermined qualifying offer of $9.6 million per league rules or he can sign a long
00:43-term deal with the team.
00:46As a restricted free agent, he was allowed to go out and get offers from around the league.
00:51This is the rules when you're a restricted free agent.
00:54Anybody can sign him to an offer sheet and then the Red Wings, the Pistons can decide if they want
00:59to match that offer sheet.
01:01He didn't get any offers.
01:03So his only option is to play with the Detroit Pistons.
01:07According to this story that is published, per league sources, Detroit's last offer was a five-year deal in the
01:18$190 million range.
01:20Duren is eligible to receive a five-year, $287 million contract and is seeking at least $200 million.
01:31But if they cannot agree to terms, Duren can then accept the qualifying offer, play for one more year with
01:39Detroit at $9.6 million,
01:41and then go to the market again as a free agent.
01:44League sources are saying he is very seriously considering that route, the choice to force his way into unrestricted free
01:52agency next summer.
01:55So, most players don't do this because of the money lost in that qualifying offer season,
02:02as well as the health concerns that come with foregoing the security of a long-term deal, the story reads.
02:09The story also says even if he played the entire season with the Pistons,
02:13not a guarantee considering Detroit must consider trading him now rather than losing him for nothing later.
02:23Is this all negotiation and talk?
02:26Is this bluster?
02:27Or could this happen?
02:29Are the Pistons about to lose, either now or next year,
02:35a player that feels like a cornerstone piece over this contract negotiation?
02:42I tell you, when this whole thing started, I thought anything that happens is just going to be negotiation.
02:47That just seemed logical, right?
02:49Guys due for a contract extension, let's go.
02:53He's got leverage because he was on the All-NBA team and the second team, whatever.
02:57So, he knows what the parameters are.
02:59Why not shoot for the moon?
03:00His agent's going to do all the work.
03:02And as this offseason has gone on and they weren't anywhere near close and getting something done early,
03:07and then it was, well, what about offer sheet?
03:10Let's check out that offer sheet thing.
03:12And we thought, well, that's kind of strange, but the Pistons said they'd match any offer sheet.
03:16Okay, did that scare other teams away from doing it?
03:19Probably.
03:20And maybe Duren's camp wasn't so thrilled with that.
03:23But nobody has said anything.
03:25As the months have continued on and the restricted free agent signing to offer sheet thing has passed,
03:34and now we're where we're at and now we're getting reports of contract offers being exchanged and all this
03:40and they're still far apart, the more I'm thinking about this now, it's all adding up to he's pissed.
03:48Even though he hasn't said anything.
03:50And I have to go back to the playoffs, right?
03:53He did not have a good playoffs.
03:54We all know this.
03:55Everybody talks about it.
03:57And there were points in the playoffs where he was sat down in favor of Paul Reed
04:02and the team was better on the floor.
04:04And I don't think he was happy about having to sit down.
04:08And I don't think he's happy about the results.
04:10And I think maybe he's looking at this now.
04:13And again, this is speculation of what I'm led to believe.
04:15But I think it's at a point now where I don't think he wants to be a Pistons
04:19unless he's paid what he thinks he's doing.
04:22His agent is in his ear telling him, you're worth this.
04:25And he's not.
04:26He just isn't.
04:28You got the Amen Thompson contract out there at the five years and $208 million,
04:32which is the new variable that's thrown in the mix.
04:35But Amen Thompson went out and scored 19 points and had almost eight rebounds a game in the playoffs,
04:40let alone the 18 points a game he did during the regular season.
04:44Amen Thompson is an outstanding player and Asar's twin brother.
04:48And maybe Asar's looking at that and going, great.
04:50Well, when I get my extension, no, you're not your brother.
04:53So don't go there yet.
04:54But you'll get your extension when the time comes.
04:57But you know who else isn't there?
04:59It's Jalen Duren.
05:00You're not as good as Amen Thompson.
05:03So to me, the $208 million figure that's out there for Amen Thompson
05:07and the $190 million figure that's out there for the Pistons,
05:11he's way more $190 than $208.
05:14If he wants to get over $200 million, I guess that's up to the Pistons if they're like,
05:18we don't really care.
05:18Over five years, it's $2 million a year difference.
05:21Go ahead and give it to him.
05:23Or are they going to stand firm where they're at?
05:25And like, no, dude, $190 million over five years?
05:28That's a legitimate contract for somebody who did not show up for us in the playoffs.
05:34Well, you said it sounds like he's pissed.
05:38With the part in Update Kid had it in the update there, and I'll read this.
05:43It speaks volumes that Duren has chosen to keep his distance from the team this summer.
05:47Per a league source, Duren didn't attend the San Diego team minicamp
05:51Cade Cunningham coordinated the week of August 23rd,
05:54or the Labor Day team party owner Tom Goris threw at his home.
06:00Okay, it's one thing.
06:03I feel like it's one thing to stay away from ownership while this is going on.
06:07I think it's another thing, and disturbing,
06:11that he didn't go to Cade's minicamp.
06:16Yeah, plus, I mean, if I were in his shoes, I'd go to the owner's party.
06:23If nothing else, you've got a chance to speak to the owner.
06:26State your case. Buddy up to him.
06:28We know that the owner likes the players.
06:32Maybe that would help your cause out.
06:34Plus, he's a billionaire.
06:35I kind of want to see what the spread's like at that party.
06:37Well, I think he's been there before.
06:39Taco bar?
06:40Maybe there's an elite taco bar.
06:43No, but obviously, he's not going there because this has gotten a little personal,
06:47and that's upper management.
06:48He wanted to stay away, let his agent and his team handle it with the Pistons organization.
06:53The Cade thing, I could say that scheduling conflict, Doug.
06:58You know what I mean?
06:58Not everyone's going to be available at all times for teammates get-togethers and gatherings.
07:02So, I really hope this is all posturing.
07:06This is just part of the game.
07:07Yes, I do definitely feel Jalen Duren has felt disrespected.
07:10His camp feels like they've been undervalued, clearly.
07:12But I feel like maybe, I'm hoping this is just the last card they have to play, which
07:16is, hey, we will actually sign this qualifying offer if you guys don't come up on your offer.
07:21With that being said, I honestly think it's financially irresponsible if he doesn't take
07:26the alleged offer that's out there.
07:27On his part.
07:28On Duren's part.
07:29If the true offer is $190 million for five years, that's a more than fair offer.
07:34I think it's personally slightly overpaying, but I think the Pistons are playing the game
07:37a little bit.
07:37Hey, we get it.
07:38We really want you back.
07:39We don't want to trade you.
07:41We've said all the right things publicly and probably privately as far as we want you
07:44back.
07:45This is our offer to kind of meet in the middle.
07:48And if Jalen Duren's camp is just, they're just headstrong on, hey, we deserve 40 plus
07:53million.
07:54Dude, if you really believe in yourself and you really want to bet on yourself, take the
07:58$190.
07:59You're so young.
08:00You will get another contract.
08:03Financially irresponsible because if for $9.6 million to quote unquote bet on yourself
08:07again, there's so many things that can happen.
08:10Injury.
08:10You don't play as well.
08:12You've just lost $180 million now because you're not going to get that contract back.
08:18Take the $190 and if you believe in yourself, you will get another contract.
08:23I can't believe his agent is leading him down this road.
08:25I mean, Kang, I made that point months ago and you agree with it and I agree with you.
08:29We're on the same page with it.
08:30Take the money.
08:31It's there.
08:32And you're so young when it's done.
08:34It's not chump change.
08:35It's not chump change at all.
08:37This isn't like, this isn't like some kind of insulting offer.
08:40Like has any other team offered you more than this?
08:43He was available to any team to make an offer.
08:47And according to reports, the agent, his phone did not ring.
08:54I don't know that I can blame the Pistons on this one.
08:58So, like I said, I think it's really irresponsible of his team.
09:01They don't accept him in the camp if they don't accept this offer.
09:03But if they do do a qualifying offer instead of accepting the extension for the Pistons,
09:08you might have saved a ton of money.
09:10And two, you're probably going to get maybe the best Jalen Duren ever because he better
09:14play his ass off if he wants a new contract.
09:16It's going to be weird, right?
09:18If you take that qualifying offer, you're clearly mad at the organization.
09:24You clearly want out.
09:25You're clearly going to be traded.
09:27But you also clearly need to have your market value go up.
09:32Yeah, so do you take a qualifying offer or do you take a four-year, $38 million offer
09:38and maybe even say, instead of five years, I want four years to get out of it earlier?
09:41You have to get a free agency quicker.
09:44248-539-9797.
09:46Joe in Grand Rapids.
09:47Hi, Joe.
09:49Guys, how are you?
09:50What's up?
09:52So, Duren, I know he's eligible for 287.
09:55Both the Pistons and the league have determined that he's not worth that much.
10:00The Pistons have made an offer.
10:02I understand Duren wanting more.
10:04But I think at this point we're still at the bluster stage.
10:07He's trying to create leverage where he has none.
10:10Now, if he does sign the qualifying offer, then we're in a different camp
10:14because that's an indication to Detroit that he doesn't want to be there anymore.
10:19Yes, he's trying to recoup that lost income.
10:22But at the end of the day, being a no-trade clause in place,
10:26don't you have to consider life without Duren?
10:28And if we're at the qualifying offer point, can't you start Paul Reed, bench this guy,
10:33and because we can't trade him, just be prepared to move on and telegraph that
10:38as a negotiation tactic right now saying, if you go this way, this is how it's going to go for
10:44you.
10:44I want to avoid all of this, and I think you should take what's on the table,
10:47but I'm not in his head.
10:48Yeah, benching him feels like kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face a little bit.
10:53You're right about giving them leverage in a contract negotiation
10:58and taking away his ability to show his wares.
11:02I kind of even wonder if you can do that.
11:04But at the end of the day, Joe, they're still trying to win games,
11:07win championships, be the best seed they can be.
11:09It's interesting what you had to say.
11:11I just can't see them doing it.
11:122-4-8-5-3-9-9-9-7-9-7.
11:15The plate is full today, as we've got our Lions prediction show,
11:20but we also have a statement from Dylan Larkin saying he will be in training camp with the Red Wings.
11:25The Red Wings saying he will not be the captain.
11:27They don't have a captain right now.
11:29They'll wait until new management comes in.
11:31Larkin says he'll talk with new management when they get here,
11:33but he's expected to be at training camp next week.
11:36And Jalen Duren strongly considering accepting the qualifying offer to get the free agency.
11:42Wow.
11:43How's that for a Friday?
11:44It's Carson Anderson here on 97.1.
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