After a Report by Shams Charania showing that Pistons have included weight-related incentives in some of their restricted free agent offers Jalen Duren it’s the offseason Hunter Patterson and Sam Amick of The Athletic confirm as much. While Patterson and Amick previously reported that Detroit’s most recent five-year, $200 million offer to Duren was fully guaranteed, they now believe it includes a weight clause.
The weight requirements have not yet been made official, but the idea is for Duren to check his weight monthly for a year, according to Patterson and Amick, who hint that the center and his representatives may have bristled at the team’s request. League sources told The Athletic that the organization wanted Duren to lose some weight after the Pistons’ second-round loss to Cleveland and believed it could have affected his postseason struggles. It “came as a surprise” to the 22-year-old and his camp, Patterson and Amick added.
As noted by Patterson and Amick, the current head of the Pistons’ basketball department. Troyan Langdon was in the Pelicans front office when they negotiated a max contract with him Zion Williamson which included a weight clause. Language in that deal stipulated that Williamson’s future salaries would become partially non-guaranteed if he did not meet certain benchmarks related to his weight and body fat percentage.
That issue appears to be one source of tension between the Pistons and Duren By Amari Sankoff II of The Detroit Free Press one wonders whether relations between the two sides are in fact strained beyond repair, or if the snags can still be fixed if and when they reach an agreement on a deal.
Here’s more from all over Central:
- Preview Bykovforwards and centers for the 2026/27 season, Joe Cawley of The Chicago Sun-Times says the combination Nick Claxton, Caleb Wilsonand Matas Bouzelis may be the “most exciting” frontcourt in Chicago since the players love Joachim Noah and Luol Dan were on the list. Cowley also wonders if the former No. 4 overall pick Patrick Williams even cracks the rotation, with reserves like Isaac Okora, Jalen Smith, Zach Collinsand Leonard Miller everyone is fighting for regular minutes.
- In a story for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscribers onlynew profiles of Jim Oucharski Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkinswho will look to rebuild the team’s culture following the departure of the longtime franchise player Janice Antecumba. Opposing coaches and scouts who have spoken with Oucharski are optimistic about Jenkins’ impact in Milwaukee. “They will be better than most people think” – said the coach of the opponents. “They could start 8-2 or 7-3. Taylor is a very good basketball coach. They’re going to be a sneaky team.”
- The Cavaliers (47.5 wins) and Bucks (26.5) – two of the five teams that John Hollinger of The Athletic expects to surpass the odds-predicted win total for the 2026/27 season. Hollinger notes that the Cavs haven’t won fewer than 48 games since 2021-22 and is confident the Bucks have a solid floor thanks to their improved depth.