While we probably still have another month (at least) until we hear that Jalen Duren has signed a new contract with the Detroit Pistons, let’s entertain the idea of what a JD sign-and-trade could look like this late in the summer.
A couple of caveats, first:
- I’m only trading Jalen Duren if I’m getting a center back in the deal. Any JD trade that doesn’t bring a center back means there needs to be another deal afterwards to find your new starting big man.
- I’m only taking a center back if that player can shoot. If I wanted a center that can rebound and catch lobs, I’d just pay Jalen Duren. In this fake world we’re living in for the premise of the article, I want to add even more spacing so Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson can thrive.
- I’m not going to add any picks into these trades. This exercise is more about showing what a trade can look like financially, and y’all can decide in the comments where picks would need to be added.
Let us begin.
Option #1
DET gets: Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner
MIL gets: Jalen Duren
Why Detroit says yes: They land their starting SG of the future and finally pair Ausar with a stretch five since the time Mike Muscala was on the team for a fortnight. Rollins
(shoutout Toledo Joe) averaged 17/4/5 while shooting 47%/40%/80% in 32 minutes per game last season and fits Detroit’s core at 24 years old. I do not care that Turner only averaged 12/5/1 last year on an extremely dysfunctional Milwaukee team. His career 37% three-point percentage is the prize, and he can’t be a worse rim protector than Duren.
Why Milwaukee says yes: They kick off their post-Giannis rebuild with a 22-year-old All-NBA center to play with Tyler Herro and the rest of the young guys they got from Miami. That should make them good enough to avoid being a bottom-three team this year.
Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.
Option #2
DET gets: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu
ATL gets: Jalen Duren
Why Detroit says yes: For the same reasons they’d say yes to the first deal, though, NAW’s contract is probably the prized possession of this trade. While Okongwu doesn’t have a ton of size, he has turned into quite the stretch five. He averaged 15/7/3 on 48%/38%/76% last season while shooting more than five threes per game. Both guys are young enough to stick around with Detroit’s core.
Why Atlanta says yes: Atlanta is primed to make a big splash at some point this season, and it’s not a secret they’re looking for a center. Rudy Gobert was rumored to be on their watch list to reunite him with head coach Quin Snyder, but if Minnesota is still looking to compete with Gobert, Atlanta pivoting to Jalen Duren could be an appealing idea.
Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.
Shoutout to Based Pistons from Bluesky for the idea on this one!
Option #3
Option #3 just had to be a three-team deal, right?
DET gets: Chet Holmgren and Jordan Hawkins
NOP gets: Jalen Duren
OKC gets: Trey Murphy III and Duncan Robinson
Why Detroit says yes: Ever since Chet Holmgren faded in the playoffs against Wemby and OKC drafted Aday Mara while also extending Isaiah Hartenstein, I’ve wondered what it would take to get Chet to Detroit. He averaged 17/9/2 while shooting 56%/36%/79% in 69 games last season. Pairing him with Ausar Thompson would make Detroit the best defensive team in the league, and he’s a career 37% three-point shooter. Sign me up!
Why New Orleans says yes: Troy Weaver.
Why Oklahoma City says yes: With the addition of Aday Mara, he and Hartenstein combined will make $12 million less than Holmgren. If there’s a world where OKC wants to continue cutting costs, turning Chet into TMIII and Duncan is a great cost-saving move. The two J-Wills and TMIII could fill the minutes at PF while Hartenstein and Mara hold down the C position. Shai’s 4yr/$272m extension starts after this season, so future moves may be needed in OKC to prevent them from reaching the second apron.
Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.
What say you, DBB? Any interest in any of the above trade ideas?
Go Stones.
