The Detroit Pistons have officially opened their 2026-27 training camp with a 20-player roster, but the notable absence of All-Star center Jalen Duren looms large. Duren remains an unsigned restricted free agent and cannot participate, casting a shadow over the start of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's first camp.
The team released its official list of 20 players set to compete in camp. The group is led by franchise cornerstones Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. Newcomers John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Taurean Prince are present following an offseason of substantial roster turnover. Rookie guard Ebuka Okorie gets his first NBA camp experience, while younger players like Chaz Lanier and two-way signees Elijah Harkless, Isaac Jones, and Ugonna Onyenso look to make an impression. Exhibit 10 deals have been extended to John Ukomadu and Brice Williams for additional camp competition.
Detroit's starting group is beginning to take shape. Collins is expected to step into the power forward spot vacated by Tobias Harris. Joe provides a needed perimeter shooting option for Bickerstaff's system. The core of Cunningham, Thompson, and third-year wing Ron Holland II returns, aiming to build chemistry quickly.
Jalen Duren's absence is the single biggest story of camp. He is a restricted free agent who has not yet signed a contract, which legally bars him from participating. Reports indicate the Pistons have offered Duren a fully guaranteed five-year deal worth $200 million, but negotiations have reached an impasse. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon stated at Media Day that Duren remains a key part of the team's plans and will be welcomed back whenever his situation is resolved.
For now, the Pistons must prepare without the center who averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds during his All-NBA campaign last season. His current deadline to accept a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer is October 1. The team's official roster page still lists him, but the training camp document does not. This leaves a significant hole in the middle of the lineup.
With Duren out, Detroit's options at center are immediately thinner. The camp roster includes Paul Reed and Tolu Smith, while Collins can also slide over to play minutes at the five. None of those options replicate Duren's production or his importance to both the offense and defense. His ability to score in the paint and control the glass was a foundation for the team last season.
This uncertainty complicates Bickerstaff's task of assembling his rotation during these critical early practices. The team needs to establish defensive schemes and offensive sets, but doing so without their primary big man is a challenge. It forces other players to adapt and could accelerate the development of younger bigs like Onyenso and Jones.
Training camp is now underway, and the focus shifts to on-court work. Bickerstaff will begin evaluating his new pieces and building the system he wants to implement. The competition for the final roster spots and rotation minutes behind the established starters will be intense. All eyes, however, remain on the negotiation table. The organization and its fans are waiting to see how long they must wait before Duren rejoins the team.
The unresolved Duren situation adds pressure to a franchise looking to move past a difficult period. Their playoff series against Cleveland last May, which they lost four games to two, highlighted areas for improvement. Integrating new veterans like Collins and Joe while developing young talent is the immediate path forward, regardless of when their star center returns.
