Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren will meet with the Los Angeles Lakers in restricted free agency, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Duren is open to leaving the Pistons via a sign-and-trade deal.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this past season for the Pistons while shooting 65.0% from the field. He recorded 41 double-doubles in 70 games.
The Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of this year’s playoffs in seven games but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round in seven games. Duren, 22, averaged just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game against the Magic and Cavaliers. It was his first playoff run.
A Memphis product, Duren was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft. He holds career averages of 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in the regular season.
Luka Dončić has told the Lakers that he wants an “A-list” center next to him, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Dončić led the NBA in total points and points per game in his first full season with the Lakers. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per contest.
Unfortunately for LAL, Dončić missed the 2026 playoffs because of the left hamstring injury he suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in the first round in six games. However, without Dončić, LAL was swept by OKC in the second round.
Deandre Ayton, who started at center for the Lakers this past season, picked up his player option worth $8.1 million for next season. Meanwhile, Jaxson Hayes — who obtained a Slovenian passport to be able to compete on the national team with Dončić — is an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers have already agreed to a new deal with Austin Reaves. However, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard are free agents.
James, 41, is a free agent for the first time since the summer of 2018.
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