The threat of the qualifying offer proved nothing but a bluff from Jonathan Kuminga’s camp with the Golden State Warriors in his restricted free agency last year. That may not be the case with Jalen Duren though who, like Kuminga, appears willing to let things play out deep into September with the Detroit Pistons.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson on Friday, the $9.6 million qualifying offer is a genuine possibility for Duren. That should suddenly be very interesting for the Warriors who project to have max cap space next summer.

Warriors should suddenly be watching Jalen Duren’s free agency

While the Pistons have offered a five-year, $190 million contract, Duren has been unwilling to sign that at this stage amid interest from the Sacramento Kings who ironically also had interest in Kuminga as a restricted free agent last off-season.

“For the 22-year-old All-NBA center, who league sources say is very seriously considering that (qualifying) route, the choice to force his way into unrestricted free agency next summer would reflect a relationship gone wrong with the only NBA franchise he’s ever known and a risky (but understandable) business decision,” Amick and Patterson wrote.

Needless to say the more players that enter free agency next year, the better for the Warriors who could have over $100 million in cap space depending on what happens with Stephen Curry‘s contract. At the very least they should have over 40 million which would get them in the conversation for a player of Duren’s stature, unless Golden State use it with their expiring contracts and draft assets at the February mid-season deadline.

Golden State should have interest in any young, All-Star level player who can help them in the immeidete short-term, while also being a building block for the post-Curry future. Duren fits that mould after a breakout third year where he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, albeit his form and production dipped during a disappointing playoff campaign.

Warriors haven’t solidified their long-term starting center position 

The other aspect to this is the Warriors’ often discussed center rotation. Depending on how Kristaps Porzingis fares this season, Golden State could once again need to address their big man position where they’ve failed to have a true consistent option over recent years.

Porzingis is certainly the most talented Golden State have had from an offensive perspective, but they still have understandable hesitations on his body as proven by the fact they’ve only guaranteed his 2027-28 salary for $3 million.

That makes Duren a legitimate potential target for the Warriors if he reaches unrestricted free agency next year, making for a worthwhile watch on how his stalemate with the Pistons plays out in the coming weeks.

Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow