RealGM Basketball Wiretap

07 December 2025

• Jalen Duren Projected For Five-Year, $185M Deal With Pistons As RFA

  Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is positioned to receive a contract worth approximately $185 million when he becomes a restricted free agent in summer 2026, according to league executives who spoke with ESPN. The fourth-year center is represented by Chafie Fields of Wasserman. Fields also is the agent for Tari Eason, who will also be a high profile restricted free agent.

  The Pistons were unable to reach an agreement with Duren on a rookie extension before the October deadline. His strong performance this season has elevated his market value significantly.

  League executives compare Duren's expected deal to the five-year, $185 million contract Alperen Sengun signed in October 2024 with the Houston Rockets. Duren's breakout campaign has positioned him among the league's elite young big men.

  The 22-year-old center leads Detroit with 11.5 rebounds per game in just 29 minutes. He trails only Karl-Anthony Towns among Eastern Conference rebounding leaders this season.

  Duren has evolved beyond his initial profile as a pick-and-roll finisher and lob threat. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff challenged him over the summer to improve his on-ball skills and conditioning.

  "When I first came in, people had me pegged as a pick-and-roll, dunker's spot, lob threat, which is understandable," Duren told ESPN. "But I got a lot more to my game, I'm excited to show it."

  Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 17-5 record at the quarter mark of the season. The Pistons' young core includes Duren, Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson.

  Duren and Stewart anchor the NBA's third-ranked defense. Their on-court pairing has improved dramatically to plus-11.5 points per 100 possessions this season.

• Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokic Named NBA's Players Of The Month For October/November

  Cade Cunningham and Nikola Jokic have been named the NBA's Players of the Month for October/November.

  Cunningham averaged 28.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.4 assists as the Detroit Pistons went 16-4. Cunningham has followed up his first All-NBA appearance and playoff berth by elevating his game and the Detroit Pistons even further. This is the first Player of the Month award in Cunningham's career.

  Jokic averaged 28.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 10.9 assists as the Denver Nuggets went 14-5. Jokic again leads the NBA in PER and is the early favorite to win MVP, which would be the fourth of his career. Jokic has now won the award nine times.

• Cade Cunningham's 42 Points Not Enough As Pistons Fall Short Of Breaking Franchise Win Streak Record

  The Detroit Pistons' franchise record-tying 13-game winning streak ended Wednesday night with a 117-114 loss to the Boston Celtics, as Cade Cunningham's 42-point performance fell short. The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons missed a chance to surpass the records set by their 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams.

  Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and Derrick White added 27 for Boston, with White scoring 11 in the final four-and-a-half minutes. Brown also grabbed 10 rebounds as the Celtics won their fifth game in six outings.

  With Detroit trailing by three, Cunningham was fouled near midcourt while attempting a 3-pointer. After a review, officials ruled he was in the act of shooting and awarded three free throws.

  Cunningham made the first two free throws but missed the third with 2.4 seconds remaining. Payton Pritchard grabbed the rebound for Boston, was fouled, and hit two free throws to seal the victory.

  Boston then stole a pass before Detroit could attempt a potential tying 3-pointer.

  Cunningham expressed disappointment while emphasizing the team's focus on the remainder of the season after the heartbreaking loss.

  "We all wanted it tonight, we all wanted 14 wins," Cunningham said. "I'm not gonna act like it didn't mean anything to us. It's a big deal, we all wanted to be on that side of history, but it didn't happen."

  "We can't go back. I can't shoot the free throw again. We can't get up on 3s again. The game is over with. It's about how we're going to respond. It's a lot of season left to go accomplish a lot of great things and that's where our mind is at," Cunningham added.

  The Pistons are 15-3 this season, a stunning turnaround after losing 28 consecutive games two seasons ago to break the NBA single-season record. Detroit had defeated Indiana on Monday to match the franchise record for consecutive victories.

  J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged room for improvement despite his team's strong start to the season.

  "We understand it's one game, and we understand also that we didn't play our best basketball," Bickerstaff said. "There were things that we could've done better, and we still put ourselves in position to have a shot at it at the end of the game."

  The loss snapped Detroit's winning streak but the Pistons remain atop the Eastern Conference standings with their best start in decades.

• Pistons Ownership Wants To Evaluate Current Roster Before Major Moves

  Ownership of the Detroit Pistons wants to evaluate the current roster before pursuing major changes, despite possessing significant trade flexibility, sources told ESPN. Management plans to assess the group through a difficult West Coast trip in late December. The team's 13-2 start and first-place standing in the Eastern Conference have reinforced internal patience with the existing core.

  For the first time since November 2020, Detroit controls its first-round picks through 2032. The franchise holds 14 second-round picks and can trade up to four first-rounders or execute swaps in any year.

  Ownership isn't afraid of making significant financial commitments if Trajan Langdon and the front office presents a compelling proposal. The Pistons sit $26.2 million below the salary cap's first apron, positioning them to absorb considerable salary in potential deals.

  Detroit possesses multiple movable contracts that enhance trade capabilities. Tobias Harris carries a $26.3 million expiring deal, while Duncan Robinson ($16.8 million), Isaiah Stewart ($15 million), and Caris LeVert ($14.1 million) provide additional salary-matching flexibility.

  The organization is particularly focused on monitoring Jaden Ivey's development as he returns from his broken left fibula. A potential star leap from Ivey, similar to Jalen Duren's recent emergence, could determine Detroit's long-term approach as they look to built a title contender around their All-NBA franchise player Cade Cunningham.

• Cade Cunningham Signs Six-Year Nike Deal With Signature Shoe

  Cade Cunningham and Nike have agreed to a new six-year endorsement deal that will include his own signature shoe. Cunningham's signature shoe is expected to be released during the second half of the 2026-27 season.

  Cunningham, who was an All-NBA selection last season, will become the sixth active NBA player with a signature shoe with Nike alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and Devin Booker.

  Cunningham was the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft out of Oklahoma State.

• Mark Cuban Back In Dialogue With Patrick Dumont; Hopes Mavs Hire Dennis Lindsey

  Mark Cuban hopes the Dallas Mavericks will hire Dennis Lindsey to replace Nico Harrison to run the basketball operations of the franchise, sources tell ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Cuban was previously heavily involved in basketball decisions with the Mavericks before selling his majority stake to the Adelson/Dumont families and eventually being pushed aside by Harrison.

  Lindsey was a senior adviser for the Mavericks during the 2023-24 season and had input on personnel decisions as they shaped their Finals roster.

  Lindsey is now the second-highest-ranking member of the Detroit Pistons' front office under Trajan Langdon. Lindsey previously ran the front office of the Utah Jazz.

  Cuban and Patrick Dumont have been in frequent dialogue over the past few months. It is not yet clear if Dumont will be open to his suggestion of Lindsey.

  The Athletic reported that Cuban advocated to Dumont that Harrison wasn't leading the Mavericks in the right direction. Cuban has spoken openly about how he and Harrison had stopped communicating following his sale of the team to Dumont. Cuban was completely on the outside of the basketball department by the time the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic.

• Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokic Named NBA Players Of Week 3

  Cade Cunningham and Nikola Jokic have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 3.

  Cunningham averaged 31.0 points and 9.8 assists as the Detroit Pistons went 4-0.

  Jokic averaged 31.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 13.3 assists as the Denver Nuggets also posted a 4-0 record.

• Pistons Sign Wendell Moore Jr. To Two-Way Deal, Waive Colby Jones

  The Detroit Pistons have agreed to sign Wendell Moore Jr. to a Two-Way contract. The Pistons will waive Colby Jones from his Two-Way in order to sign Moore.

  Moore appeared in 36 games last season with the Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, averaging 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assist in 13.9 minutes. Moore was with the Boston Celtics for training camp this season.

  Jones appeared in one game this season after appearing in 39 last season with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings. In 39 games last season, Jones averaged 4.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.2 minutes.

• Marcus Sasser Out At Least Four More Weeks With Hip Injury

  Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser will be out for at least four more weeks. Sasser is recovering from a right hip impingement. The third-year point guard has yet to appear in a game for the Pistons this season.

  Detroit has been thin in the backcourt behind Cade Cunningham. Jaden Ivey has to make his season debut, as he recovers from knee surgery. Due to the absences of Ivey and Sasser, the Pistons have used Caris LeVert and two-way player Daniss Jenkins as the backups for Cunningham.

• Pistons Claim Isaac Jones Off Waivers

  The Detroit Pistons have made a successful waiver claim on Isaac Jones, who was recently released by the Sacramento Kings. Jones will take the Pistons' 15th roster spot.

  Jones appeared in 40 games last season with the Kings, averaging 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.6 minutes. Jones had appeared in three games with the Kings this season before he was waived to create a roster spot for Precious Achiuwa.

  The Pistons will absorb Jones' $1.96 million partially guaranteed contract. Jones is represented by Greg Lawrence and Tony Ronzone.