The center position is one of need for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason and when it comes to free agency, the top name available is Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons. At just 22 years old, Duren is one of the best young bigs in the league, and now he could be in line for an even bigger payday this summer.
Duren was named to the All-NBA Third Team and with that accomplishment, he is now eligible for an even larger contract in free agency worth up to 30% of the salary cap, via Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports:
A few minutes ago, Jalen Duren landed on the All-NBA third team making him eligible for an additional $37 million on his next contract this summer, adding some intrigue to his pending free agency: https://t.co/2sfwJrwIcw
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) May 24, 2026
Duren is a restricted free agent, so the Pistons can match any contract he receives from another team, but they can also offer him more than anyone else. With that All-NBA selection, Duren can now receive a five-year deal from the Pistons for $287 million, starting at $49.5 million next year. The most the Lakers or anyone else could offer the big man is a four-year deal worth $177.4 million, which would start at $42.25 million next season.
The question now is whether Duren will command that much after an extremely disappointing playoff run for the Pistons. He was more than deserving of his All-NBA selection after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field during the regular season. But those numbers plummeted to just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4% from the field in the postseason and he often saw himself on the bench in the final minutes of games.
The Lakers are one of the few teams who have the salary cap space to offer Duren such a contract, and he is the type of big man that would fit well next to Luka Doncic. But the front office will need to decide whether he is worth that kind of money and even still, the Pistons could match the deal. Regardless, Duren’s potential price tag has gone up and that could affect whether the Lakers really target him this summer.
Robert Williams III viewed as potential Lakers free agency target
Another big man who has begun to emerge as a potential target for the Lakers in free agency is Robert Williams III, who is an unrestricted free agent and is coming off his best, and healthiest, season in years with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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