New Lakers Rumors on Jalen Duren Contract Pitch, Projected Value amid NBA Free Agency Trade Buzz

After being informed Tuesday by LeBron James that he intends to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly turned their attention toward another 2025-26 NBA All-Star.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, who is a restricted free agent, had a "productive" meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday and was set to meet with them again on Wednesday.

The Lakers reportedly told Duren that they view him as a maximum-salary player, and Duren "received a similar message of strong interest" from the Sacramento Kings.

L.A. likely took itself out of the running for Duren on Wednesday, though, after acquiring center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The possibility of Duren leaving the Pistons first emerged Monday when Chris Haynes of NBA TV reported that Duren planned to meet with the Kings at the start of free agency "with the intentions of structuring a sign-and-trade out of Detroit."

L.A. then came into focus as a potential destination when the LeBron news dropped on Tuesday.

The Lakers are coming off a season that saw them reach the second round of the playoffs, and Duren could have been the ideal interior complement to guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Detroit still holds the cards when it comes to Duren, though, meaning that Duren won't necessarily be able to go elsewhere even if it is his preference.

ESPN Andscape's Marc J. Spears reported Tuesday that the Pistons "are not interested in any sign-and-trade deals and will match any potential offer sheet [Duren] signs."

Even if that proves true, Duren would be incentivized to sign an offer sheet that provides him with a max contract since it would either result in him going to another team or remaining in Detroit under a max deal.

Duren, 22, was originally the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Memphis.

The 6'10" big man has spent all four of his NBA seasons in Detroit, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds in each of the past three campaigns.

Duren took a significant leap forward last season, though, averaging a career-high 19.5 points per game on 65.0 percent shooting to go along with 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

He was named an All-Star for the first time, and he earned All-NBA Third Team honors as well.

Duren played a sizable role in the Pistons posting the best record in the Eastern Conference last season at 60-22, but he did scuffle during their run to the second round of the playoffs, averaging just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 14 contests.

While that performance could give the Pistons pause when it comes to giving him a max contract, another team may be willing to do it, which would then put the proverbial ball in Detroit's court.