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While rumors swirl that the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren can't come to a contract agreement, the Pistons didn't wait around.
They've made a different financial commitment in the frontcourt: John Collins is coming to the Motor City.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday morning, it's a three-year, $51 million deal:
Free agent John Collins has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal to sign with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Frontcourt addition and a new lob threat for Cade Cunningham in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/kYZlpHVcDz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026Collins will turn 29 in September and is a high-flying, 6-foot-9 offensive weapon.
In 2025-26 with the Clippers, he averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40.6% from 3-point range.
Does this signal anything about Duren's future? It certainly might.
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Does John Collins replace Jalen Duren?
He isn't necessarily a direct replacement.
Duren is more of a center, while Collins is more of a power forward.
If anything, this could actually signal that Detroit knows it is losing Tobias Harris, who is an unrestricted free agent.
Collins and Harris aren't the same player type, but they have enough overlap that this could be the logical move.
Still, it's a financial commitment that could mean less money available for Duren. A sign-and-trade to send him away could still happen, too.
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