DETROIT — Pistons general manager Trajan Langdon said Tuesday he plans to negotiate new contracts with All-Star center Jalen Duren and forward Tobias Harris, aiming to keep both players in Detroit after a 60-win campaign that ended in a second-round Game 7 loss to Cleveland.
“We look forward to coming together with his representation,” Langdon said of Duren while closing out the season.
Duren, 22, will enter restricted free agency this summer, allowing the Pistons to match any external offer. The first-time All-Star averaged nearly 20 points and more than 10 rebounds during the regular season, though his playoff numbers slipped to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as defenses limited his touches near the rim.
“Sometimes that happens with young players in the league,” Langdon noted.
Selected 13th overall by Charlotte out of Memphis in 2022, Duren was acquired by Detroit in a draft-night trade. He averaged just over 11 points across his first three NBA seasons before elevating his scoring this year. “JD had a fantastic season,” Langdon said. “He’s one of the biggest contributors to us being a No. 1 seed.”
Langdon also expressed a desire to re-sign Harris, the team’s oldest player at 34. The forward, who will become an unrestricted free agent, averaged more than 18 points in the postseason, giving Detroit a reliable scorer alongside All-Star guard Cade Cunningham.
“We hope that we can bring him back,” Langdon said. “He’s somebody we want to keep in a Pistons uniform.”
Source: ESPN
