The standoff is over. Late Thursday night, with just an hour and some change left before the NBA’s deadline, Jalen Duren decided to accept the Pistons’ $200 million offer.
By 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 1, the All-NBA and All-Star center had to decide whether to sign with the Pistons long term or accept a $9.6 million qualifying offer, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Duren was eligible to sign a maximum contract of five years and $287 million. Coming off an incredible season, despite an implosion in the playoffs, and still only 22 years old, he saw his market differently than the Pistons did.
