Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Omari Sankofa II: Jalen Duren's here alongside Trajan Langdon. His agent, Chafie Fields, is also here. Duren started with a long, written statement accepting his own flaws while also acknowledging that a lot of the rumors about him this summer didn't come from him.
Omari Sankofa II: Pistons announce Jalen Duren’s contract extension. His introductory press conference is tomorrow, Oct. 4, at 1 pm. Trajan Langdon: “We’re excited to have Jalen in Detroit as a core piece of our team for years to come.”
According to league sources, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the negotiations, the Pistons owner spent Duren’s decision day sending a meaningful message that played a pivotal part in his decision. After all the acrimony of the past four-plus months — from the Detroit offers that Duren deemed well below his market value to the short-lived weight clause that only made matters worse to the puzzling lack of communication with president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon along the way — Gores made a promise to Duren and his family that he would help provide a more positive Pistons experience.
Pistons GM Trajan Langdon pushed back at a reporter who said this is his first time dealing with a disgruntled player: "It's the first time I've had to handle it here. I was in New Orleans for five years with a certain player that wasn't easy to deal with either. So I do have experience in that."
Sam Amick: "After yesterday, it could not be more toxic. I was pretty surprised by the way that the Pistons, headed by their front office president of basketball ops, Trajan Langdon, decided to frame things at media day. On the one hand, told reporters I am not going to talk about negotiations, but then had a couple of zingers where he compared Jalen (Duren) to his time in New Orleans and presumably Zion Williamson, which, as you know, there is a weight clause in Jalen's latest offer, which is also analogous to the Zion situation. Around the league, people are scratching their heads, going, apparently, clearly there is some concerns about Jalen's conditioning or dedication."
Advertisement
Sam Amick: "I was as surprised as anybody when we learned about the weight clause. I will say, reverse engineering it, it was interesting from a reporting standpoint to then look into it, and credit to our beat writer in Detroit, Hunter Patterson, who this is his intel. When we connected on this topic, Hunter immediately said, oh, that is fascinating. And I can share this because we already reported it, but he said because I remember literally in the playoffs, somebody with the Pistons casually mentioning to me like, we kind of need Jalen to drop a little weight for next year. There was a connection made between playoff performance and his body. Since then, they have stumbled into some insight regarding, I do not think it is on the Zion level, nor do I think it should be, nor am I endorsing the concern, but just how they see it, that there is a belief around Trajan that he has some level of concern that if you hand Jalen this much money, that he is going to grind in the way that you would want him to."
Oh No He Didn't: Marc Spears: "Jalen Duren, he's not even talked to Trajan for months. A Pistons source told me that there's still optimism that they think he'll sign the big deal. But if not, I'm hearing from an NBA GM told me the Milwaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards...have interest in a potential sign and trade" The Wizards?!?!?
Omari Sankofa II: Cade Cunningham on if he's talked to Trajan Langdon about the team's moves during the offseason as the East's improved. "I've stayed out of his ear. I've let him do what he does, the same way he's let me do what I do. It's a trusting relationship and I let him do his job."
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon on Ausar Thompson: "He’s a young man and player that you want in terms of, he’s going to bring it every day, he’s going to compete every day, he’s going to work his butt off and he’s going to reach his potential. We’re very happy and excited to get an extension done."
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon on Jalen Duren being his first public negotiation: "It’s the first time I’ve had to handle it here. I was in New Orleans for five years with a certain player that wasn’t easy to deal with ... we can control what we can control, and that’s how we operate."
Advertisement
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon on Jalen Duren: "Regardless of what his decision is, what we can control is the way that we welcome him in when he makes that decision. He will be a big part of the team regardless of what decision he makes … and we will get the best version of him. That’s what we can control"
Coty M. Davis: Trajan Langdon confirms that the #Pistons have not come to an agreement with Jalen Duren and that he has until Thursday to accept the one-year qualifying offer. Langdon also added that the team will be "excited" to have him back regardless of Duren's decision.
He accepted his role with the Pistons without knowing how long he’d have to assemble a competent roster alongside general manager Trajan Langdon, who brought him along to Detroit from New Orleans in 2024. Blackstone, who has never smoked, said his love of basketball and Detroit has helped carry him through his radiation treatments. He plans to continue working. He sees it as choosing to fight his diagnosis while simultaneously fighting to reshape the Pistons into a title contender.
Omari Sankofa: Pistons announce media day will take place Sept. 28 at 1:30. Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff will speak. Training camp opens a day later.