Pistons' Jalen Duren: Team option for 2024-25 exercised
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The Pistons picked up the 2024-25 team option on Duren's rookie contract Monday, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Duren was solid as a rookie, starting 31 of 67 appearances while averaging 9.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals-plus-blocks per game. Despite a logjam in the frontcourt, the 2022 No. 13 overall pick is expected to claim a starting role out of the gate in 2023-24. Duren, Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are considered the core of the Pistons' rebuild.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Notches double-double in loss
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Duren poured in 23 points (10-14 FG, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist and one block over 28 minutes during Sunday's 113-101 Summer League loss to the Rockets.
Duren led the team in scoring and tied for a team high in rebounds in the Pistons' second Summer League game. The Memphis product was dominant in the low post and showed flashes of improvement in the pick-and-roll, catching passes in the lane and finishing. In his rookie season, Duren averaged 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds in 67 appearances.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Grabs game-high 18 boards
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Duren logged four points (2-5 FG), 18 rebounds and one block across 35 minutes during Sunday's 103-81 loss to the Bulls.
Duren scored in single digits for the seventh time over his past eight appearances, but he salvaged his night by tying his second-highest rebounding total of the season. The rookie first-round pick was solid in 2022-23 and figures to have a bright future as a board collector, but he's certainly not guaranteed a starting spot next year.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Goes 9-for-11 from field in loss
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Duren finished Wednesday's 123-108 loss to the Nets with 18 points (9-11 FG), eight rebounds, two assists and one steal across 35 minutes.
Due in large part to the Pistons' lack of available frontcourt bodies, Duren started alongside James Wiseman for the second game in a row, even though both are natural centers who don't provide the Detroit offense with much spacing. The arrangement has thus far been more detrimental to Wiseman than it has to Duren, who is averaging 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds over the past two contests compared to Wiseman's marks of 15.0 and 4.5, respectively. Detroit could realistically get back at least one of Marvin Bagley (concussion), Isaiah Livers (ankle) or Eugene Omoruyi (ankle) for the team's final two games to soak up minutes at power forward, but Duren should still have a path to 25-plus minutes in both contests so long as he avoids foul trouble.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Notches double-double as starter
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Duren recorded 20 points (7-8 FG, 6-7 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 36 minutes during Tuesday's 118-105 loss to the Heat.
Duren replaced Marvin Bagley (concussion) in the starting lineup Tuesday, posting a double-double while leading the team in rebounds and finishing second in scoring during the loss. Duren has tallied a double-double in 18 games this season, including in three of his last five appearances.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Gets starting nod
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Duren is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game versus Miami, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.
Duren will replace Marvin Bagley (concussion) in the starting five Tuesday. Duren has averaged 10.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his previous 27 starts this season, giving him solid fantasy value in Bagley's absence.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Limited again Sunday
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Duren closed with seven points (3-6 FG, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds and one steal in 22 minutes during Sunday's 128-102 loss to Orlando.
The Pistons continue to limit Duren, a decision that certainly raises more than a few questions when it comes to their level of common sense. Despite clearly being the center of the future, the coaching staff remains stubborn when it comes to letting him loose. At this point, Duren should be viewed as a viable 12-team asset, albeit one with limited upside thanks to some inept decision making.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Double-double off bench
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Duren supplied 18 points (8-11 FG, 2-4 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal across 28 minutes off the bench during Monday's 126-117 loss to Milwaukee.
It's the rookie's fourth double-double in his last seven games and his 16th of the season. Duren's minutes and fantasy value down the stretch will be capped as he continues to work behind James Wiseman at center, but he's still capable of doing some damage on the glass.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Modest production Friday
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Duren chipped in nine points (3-4 FG, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists and one steal across 25 minutes during Friday's 118-97 loss to the Raptors.
Duren returned after missing the previous game due to a neck concern, logging 25 minutes off the bench. The team continues to play both Duren and James Wiseman at the center position. Even in 25 minutes per night, Duren typically does enough to be rostered in standard leagues.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Available Friday
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Duren (neck) is available for Friday's game against the Raptors.
The rookie will return following a one-game absence after exiting Sunday's loss to the Heat early. In his five prior appearances leading up to Sunday, Duren averaged 12.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks in 22.0 minutes.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Won't play Tuesday
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Duren (head) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Hawks.
Duren left Sunday's loss to Miami due to a head injury and will miss at least one additional contest. In his absence, Eugene Omoruyi is a candidate for increased minutes behind James Wiseman. Duren's next chance to suit up will come Friday in Toronto.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Won't return Sunday
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Duren won't return to Sunday's game against the Heat due to a head injury, Mike Curtis of The Detroit News reports.
Duren played nine minutes off the bench Sunday and tallied two points (1-1 FG), one rebound and one block prior to heading to the locker room in the third quarter. It's unclear whether he'll be available for Tuesday's matchup against Atlanta.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Posts double-double off bench
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Duren supplied 15 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-4 FT), 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals over 27 minutes during Thursday's 119-100 loss to Denver.
Duren came off the bench for a fifth consecutive game Thursday, but he posted his third double-double in his last four outings by leading the Pistons in rebounds while posting the second-highest scoring total on the team. Over his five appearances since returning from a six-game absence, he's averaged 12.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per game.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Double-double off bench Monday
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Duren had 12 points (6-11 FG), 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal over 24 minutes off the bench during Monday's 117-97 victory over the Pacers.
Both Duren and James Wiseman delivered double-doubles Monday, so the Pistons' timeshare at center appears to be working for head coach Dwane Casey. Duren has 14 double-doubles in 55 games on the season, and since returning from an ankle injury, he appears comfortable coming off the bench, averaging 12.0 points, 10.3 boards, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks over the last three games in 21.7 minutes a night.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Per-minute darling
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Duren racked up 16 points (4-8 FG, 8-10 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and two blocks over 20 minutes during Saturday's 121-115 loss to the Pacers.
Duren stuffed the box score despite logging just 20 minutes. The rookie's 10 free-throw attempts marked a season high, and his accuracy was excellent. He's shooting just 62.6 percent from the line this season, but performances like Saturday symbolize the upside Duren flashes on a nightly basis.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Approaches double-double in return
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Duren (ankle) finished Thursday's 113-103 loss to the Hornets with eight points (4-8 FG), nine rebounds, two assists and one block in 21 minutes.
Suiting up for the first time since Feb. 23 after missing the Pistons' previous six games with bilateral ankle soreness, Duren came off the bench and was on the short end of a playing-time split at center with starter James Wiseman (27 minutes). With Marvin Bagley seemingly set to see most of his opportunities at power forward in the absence of Isaiah Stewart (shoulder), a Duren/Wiseman timeshare at center could be in place for the foreseeable future. The arrangement limits the upside of both centers, though the stat line Duren provided Thursday is enough to give him low-end value in 12-team category leagues.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Coming off bench in return
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Duren (ankle) will come off the bench during Thursday's matchup against the Hornets, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Thursday will mark Duren's second time coming off the bench since Dec. 9, as it appears the coaching staff may have handed the starting job to James Wiseman. It's possible coach Dwane Casey experiments with some Wiseman/Duren frontcourt pairings, but both players are interior-focused centers, so it could get clunky.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Available Thursday
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Duren (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Hornets.
As expected, Duren will return following a six-game absence due to soreness in both ankles. It remains to be seen if he will start, as reports indicate that the Pistons traded for James Wiseman with the intent to start him, and both players are centers.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Likely to return Thursday
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Duren (ankle) is probable for Thursday's matchup against the Hornets.
Duren has missed the past six games due to soreness in both ankles, but the rookie should return Thursday. The move could push James Wiseman back to the bench, though the staff did mention the team added Wiseman with the intent to start him. Don't be surprised if coach Dwane Casey starts experimenting down the stretch, especially with Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) possibly being shut down for the rest of the season.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Still out Tuesday
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Duren (ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's tilt against the Wizards.
Sore ankles will keep the rookie shelved for a sixth straight contest. A bloated injury report for the Pistons should continue to lead to more minutes for other frontcourt options like James Wiseman, Marvin Bagley and Isaiah Livers.
