The 2026 NBA offseason has already delivered plenty of chaos, and the Sacramento Kings want a piece of it. According to reports, the Kings have held discussions with restricted free agent center Jalen Duren, and the two sides are exploring the possibility of a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Detroit Pistons that would bring the All-Star big man to California.
But with the free-agent market moving at breakneck speed, situations can shift in an instant. If Sacramento is genuinely committed to landing Duren, they may need to move quickly. Still, here’s an updated look at their positioning, based on the most recent information regarding Detroit’s standout free-agent center.
Lakers and Celtics bow out of Duren pursuit
On the first day of free agency, Duren met with both the Lakers and the Kings. But just 24 hours later, Los Angeles pivoted in another direction. The Lakers finalized a sign-and-trade agreement to acquire Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, officially removing themselves from the Duren sweepstakes.
Boston had also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Duren, but they too dropped out after inking free-agent center Mitchell Robinson to a contract. With those two primary challengers now out of the picture, Sacramento emerges as the most prominent remaining landing spot for the young big man.
Detroit is pushing to hold onto Duren
Of course, the Kings can’t simply sign Duren outright on the open market. Their avenues are either presenting him with an offer sheet large enough that Detroit declines to match, or working out a sign-and-trade deal—which would likely require sending either Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons.
But Detroit may not be open to either scenario. ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Pistons have extended what they consider the maximum allowable offer to Duren, and that the organization has no interest in entertaining sign-and-trade conversations. They’ve also indicated they will match any outside offer Duren receives.
It’s no surprise that Detroit wants to keep Duren—that was never in doubt. However, this public stance could also be a strategic move by the Pistons to discourage other teams from submitting offers. If Detroit hopes to re-sign Duren at a below-max figure, the last thing they want is Sacramento swooping in with a maximum contract that forces their hand.
Either way, the Kings still have the opportunity to present an offer sheet and at least compel the Pistons to make a definitive choice regarding their All-Star center.
A substantial package would be required for Duren
Looking back at Wednesday morning’s sign-and-trade that sent Kessler to the Lakers, Utah demanded a hefty return for their 24-year-old center. In exchange for Kessler, Los Angeles parted with two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round swap rights (2028 and 2030). If the Kings want Duren, they should expect to surrender a comparable—or even steeper—haul.
To be fair, securing a 22-year-old, already-established star center would probably justify the cost. Sacrificing some future draft capital to solidify a promising young core would still represent a smart long-term play for Sacramento.
If the Kings could assemble a nucleus featuring Duren alongside Darius Acuff Jr., Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Alex Karaban, Emanuel Sharp, and Precious Achiuwa, they’d be well-positioned for the future. It would take an exorbitant price tag to deter the Kings from pushing Detroit on Duren, though it’s impossible to predict what the Pistons might ultimately do to retain him.
Detroit has no desire for Sabonis
Initially, the prevailing thought in these Kings-Pistons discussions was that Sacramento would offer Domantas Sabonis to Detroit as part of a Duren swap. But that scenario appears increasingly improbable. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Pistons have no appetite for acquiring Sabonis from the Kings.
“Detroit has no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Kings that would have sent three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis their way,” Amick reported.
And really, it’s hard to fault Detroit for passing on Sabonis. He’s undoubtedly an established All-Star and one of the league’s top centers when healthy, but his skill set seems like an awkward fit alongside All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham, who is the centerpiece of Detroit’s long-term plans.
With Sabonis seemingly off the table in these negotiations, a sign-and-trade becomes considerably less plausible. Still, the Kings can continue exploring other pathways to make a deal happen.
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