The Detroit Pistons are running out of time to secure Jalen Duren and his future, and the alternative could leave them in a brutal position.Duren has yet to agree to a long-term extension with Detroit and currently has a $9.6 million qualifying offer available for the 2026-27 season. Accepting it would allow the 22-year-old to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.For a player coming off the best season of his career, ESPNs Dave McMenamin believes Duren taking that route would be a major problem for Detroit.If he makes the unprecedented decision to play for the qualifying offer, which has never happened for a guy of this status, and for a guy that would be leaving this kind of money on the table, that is an absolute disaster for Detroit, McMenamin said on ESPNs The Hoop Collective. The only way you take that is to leave.Duren is coming off a career year in which he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while earning his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod.ESPNs Brian Windhorst also believes accepting the qualifying offer would send a clear message about Durens future.If he signs for the qualifying offer, hes gone, Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. And not only that, you now are going to have a player thats playing on the qualifying offer, and is going to make decisions based on that.McMenamin believes that could impact Detroit before Duren even reaches free agency, particularly when it comes to managing injuries during a contract year.Every time theres a bump or a bruise, hes going to err on the side of caution, McMenamin added. You dont even get him this year. You get a shell of him this year.Durens value is also helped by how difficult it is to find young centers with his combination of age and physical tools.You dont find players like this with this size in their 20s, Windhorst added. This is why the Lakers paid so much for Walker Kessler. You can debate about whether or not that trade was worth it. But the reason Walker Kessler was able to drive that value is you just cant get your hands on players like this in their early 20s. Its just hard.READ MORE: Stephen Curry Backs NBAs Massive Clippers Punishment
