Brett Siegel explains why Jalen Duren likely lost $50 million against Cavaliers

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The Detroit Pistons are suddenly under pressure after losing Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113, their third home game of the series.

After building an early 2-0 lead, the Pistons now trail 3-2, and their recent slide has shifted attention towards key players.

Jalen Duren was important during the regular season, but his postseason dip has become harder to ignore at the worst possible time.

Brett Siegel says Jalen Duren’s playoffs could prove expensive​

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Brett Siegel believes Duren’s underwhelming playoff level may cost him serious money, with the Pistons big man set to become a restricted free agent after the season.

“Jalen Duren has lost a lot of money from these playoffs,” the NBA insider wrote on X, reflecting how quickly the mood around his value has changed.

“Before the postseason, expectations around the league were that Duren would see upwards of $200M due to his All-NBA-like season. It’s possible he’s lost over $50M from these playoffs alone.”

That is a brutal assessment, but Game 5 did little to quiet the concern, as Duren finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists against Cleveland.

Jalen Duren’s postseason numbers show the problem clearly​

According to SofaScore, Duren ended the regular season averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and two assists per game, showing why his next deal carried such major expectations.

In the playoffs, those numbers have fallen to 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, with his offensive production almost cut in half.

For Detroit, that drop could compromise their future in the Eastern Conference. On the other hand, it may also reshape the financial conversation around Duren’s restricted free agency.

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