Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić is “known to be a fan” of Detroit Pistons All-Star Jalen Duren’s game, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Duren was underwhelmed by Detroit’s offer in restricted free agency and will meet with the Lakers and Sacramento Kings.
As a restricted free agent, Duren can sign an offer sheet with the Kings or Lakers and then the Pistons would have 48 hours to match the deal or lose the big man. Duren wants to leave Detroit and is trying to get a sign-and-trade deal.
Dončić has told the Lakers he wants an “A-list” center next to him, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Deandre Ayton, who started at center for LAL 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 play on the national team with Dončić — is an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers went 53-29 this past season. They were the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Meanwhile, the Pistons went 60-22. They were the No. 1 seed in the East.
LAL beat the Houston Rockets in the first round of this year’s playoffs in six games but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round in four games. Dončić missed the 2026 playoffs because of the serious left hamstring injury he suffered on April 2 against the Thunder in OKC.
A future Hall of Famer, Dončić led the NBA in total points and points per game in his first full season with the Lakers, who acquired the talented playmaker from the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025. Dončić averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per contest.
LAL has 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.
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 NBA playoff run.
Duren played well in the regular season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65.0% from the field. He recorded 41 double-doubles in 70 games and made his first All-Star team and All-NBA team.
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.
It will be fascinating to see where Duren is playing next season.
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