As Marc J. Spears of ESPN reported earlier this week, the Washington Wizards were said "to have interest" in a sign-and-trade for Jalen Duren. That led to a report from The Athletic (which it later said was incorrect) that the team was interested in an Anthony Davis-for-Duren trade framework (subscription required). None of it matters now, as Duren agreed to re-sign with the Pistons on a five-year, $200 million deal.
The Wizards' actual level of interest in Duren is unknown, but expressing interest in a player and being willing to discuss a trade are two different things. Nothing is wrong with Washington exploring a trade for him and weighing the pros and cons, but in the end, it's a good thing nothing came of it.
To get Duren, it probably would've required giving him at least $200 million and, on top of that, sending either Davis or Alex Sarr to Detroit. Since AD is eligible for an extension, the Wizards could've justified sending him to the Pistons for a player 11 years younger than him rather than paying him, but they still would've had to pay Duren, which is the problem.
$200 million is a lot for Jalen Duren
Duren was an All-Star this past season and made All-NBA (third team), so he was riding a high at the end of the regular season. Instead of carrying that momentum into the postseason, though, his numbers dropped: he averaged 10.2 points (down from 19.5) and 8.5 rebounds per game.
He hurt his team (and his value) more than he helped them, ending the postseason with a seven-point performance in Game 7 against the Cavaliers, making it impossible to justify giving him the $275 million max deal he was eligible for after making All-NBA.
That would've been a massive overpay, but even a $200 million fully guaranteed deal is dicey. Duren is being paid as if he's already a top center in the league (again, coming off a performance where he faded into the background when the lights were at their brightest).
Detroit can try to reassure itself that Duren will get there since he's just 22, but in the penny-pinching era under the restrictions of the tax aprons, it's a bet that the Pistons need to pay off.
Wizards have other business to worry about
Washington is already hoping its $212 million bet on Trae Young pays off, and adding another $200 million contract for a player like Duren would've thrown a wrench into the Wizards' finances. They have to look ahead to the future and extensions for players like Sarr and Kyshawn George.
That's what makes AD's contract status so tricky, beyond his availability concerns. If he wants the $275 million he's eligible for, that will restrict what Washington can pay its young core, which should be the priority. Even if he's willing to take less money, an extension for Davis will be risky because of his age and injury history.
The Wizards need to see what they have now with Davis, who they traded for in February, and their new-look roster to evaluate his future. Swapping him with Duren would've defeated the purpose of trading for AD in the first place.
Duren would fit Washington's young timeline better, but with the Wizards trying to be competitive, they're better off keeping Davis, the far more established player.
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