Just when everything went quiet, the Milwaukee Bucks are back in the rumor mill. Per The Athletic's Sam Amick (subscription required), the Bucks are among the teams interested in Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren, who is currently in a contract stalemate. If the Bucks make a push for Duren, Myles Turner's time with the franchise will inevitably come to a close after a brief stint. It appears they may want to wipe the slate clean in this new era, and one cannot blame them.
Bucks could look to shake up center
On the surface, Milwaukee's interest in Duren, even if it means sacrificing Turner, makes all the sense in the world. After trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are a youth-driven team. Duren is just 22, while Turner is 30, meaning the former would mesh much more seamlessly with Milwaukee in the long term as they look to establish a new foundation following the summer shakeup.
Turner is coming off a down year, while Duren ascended to new heights this past season by earning All-Star and All-NBA nods. He's eight years younger and the more talented player. That goes without mentioning his potential, as Duren's age means he's not even close to reaching his ceiling as a player. He could become a centerpiece for this franchise from day one.
The price will be a key factor here
Sure, adding Duren to Milwaukee sounds good, but the team will have to factor in how much it might cost to get him in green. Per Amick, the Pistons have offered him a five-year deal worth $200 million, but Duren has turned it down. It's unclear how much it might take for him to accept, but he is eligible for up to $287 million over those five years.
Beyond the financial commitment, the Milwaukee Bucks would also have to weigh what they would be forced to give up in a sign-and-trade. Given Duren's regular season success and how difficult he'll be to replace, the Pistons would demand a strong return for their big man. Do the Bucks want to give up young players/valuable draft picks just as they are starting a new era? It would be risky.
Parting with whatever it would take/paying Duren what he desires would be a lot easier to stomach if he hadn't just laid an egg in the NBA Playoffs. The big man's numbers were down significantly during his 14 appearances, which could certainly be among the reasons Detroit hasn't committed to him as much as he'd like. That says everything right there.
There is no telling if this will amount to anything this offseason. If Duren plays on the qualifying offer, perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks could make a run at him next summer, a scenario Amick floats. For the time being, all fans can do is play the waiting game. It's clear, though, that the team may be looking to find its Myles Turner successor.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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