Pistons crisis incoming? Contract talks with two rising stars stall; president admits outcome unpredictable.

According to The Athletic on June 19 Beijing time, Jalen Duren is set to enter restricted free agency this summer, and Ausar Thompson qualifies for an early extension, with the new contract starting in 2027-28. The price tag for retaining both will be steep. Together with Cade Cunningham, they are the foundation of the Detroit Pistons, who posted a 60-win regular season and claimed the top seed in the East.

Duren was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Thompson made the All-Defensive First Team. Back in May, Pistons president Landon stated that the team would do everything to keep both young big men. However, when asked today about the progress of extension talks, Landon said bluntly: "There's no real progress yet. We'll definitely sit down and negotiate extensions later, but to be honest, nobody can predict the final outcome of the talks."

Before formal deep negotiations on extensions, the Pistons hold the 21st pick in next week's NBA draft. Landon said the team has the possibility of trading up to improve the pick, and even if they keep the current spot, he is confident they can select a quality player.

When asked if the team would prioritize finding three-point shooters or playmakers, Landon responded: "Our criteria is always to pick the best player available at the moment. Then we look at whether that player can fit into the team environment, match our style, and what he can bring to the team."

"That player may not be plug-and-play next season; perhaps he'll create value for the team later in his career. Several of our young players are about to receive big-money extensions, so the rookie we draft this year must have the ability to help the team long-term. Therefore, we don't necessarily only pick players who can immediately strengthen next season's roster; we also value potential newcomers who can contribute throughout their entire career."

Apart from the draft and the extension matters of the two players, Landon reiterated that whether in the free agent market opening on June 30 or the trade market, the Pistons will be deliberate and focused in their acquisition moves.

"The hardest part of operations is balancing multiple factors to find a reinforcement plan that truly fits the team. If it's a trade, that trade must provide value for us; we won't overextend future assets for a single player. Once our chips are exhausted, the team will have little room for adjustments later. As key deadlines approach, our management team discusses and exchanges ideas internally every day."

Landon revealed that the team has started a voluntary training camp for one week, with 10 to 11 players already back in Detroit for offseason workouts, and mandatory team practices will follow. He believes the fundamental way for the Pistons to improve is through internal player development, but at the same time, the team will not miss any external reinforcement opportunities.

Many Pistons fans hoped for Malik Beasley's return, but that acquisition is basically hopeless. The 29-year-old guard last played in the NBA during the Pistons' 2025 playoff run, after which a federal gambling investigation completely derailed his NBA career. Last season, Beasley played in the Puerto Rican league for the Santurce Crabbers.

When asked if he had communicated with Beasley, Landon replied: "No. And he doesn't have an agent now, so it's hard for both sides to connect."

Landon's goal is to continue the strong performance from last season. This Pistons team was just one step away from the Eastern Conference Finals. What counts as true success for them?

"To break through, we must get past the second round of the playoffs. That doesn't mean we have to win 64 games; we haven't set that as a hard target, but it would be great if we could. We know the team needs to improve its playoff competitiveness — that's the core work of the offseason. We'll bring in the right role players to maximize the impact of our three core players. This reinforcement approach will not only boost our regular-season record but also help us go further in the playoffs. That's the direction we believe in for improvement."

As for the goal of contending for a championship next season?

"We place more emphasis on cultivating a championship mindset, building a championship team atmosphere, and implementing championship-level training and game routines. Winning a title requires the right timing and circumstances. I won't define a season's success solely by whether we win the championship. Last season, we performed excellently overall, and although there was disappointment at the end, it was definitely a successful season."