Central Notes: Duren, Lanier, Splitter, Pacers

Negotiations between Jalen Duren and the Pistons are becoming “noxious” as they drag into late summer, a source tells Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. The team is trying to strike a balance by giving Duren enough money to keep him happy without overpaying him, but it sounds like the two sides are still far apart.
Duren believes he’s earned a max contract by posting an All-Star and All-NBA season, but as a restricted free agent, he doesn’t have much leverage to push the Pistons i