Photo: Peter Baba

Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson are reportedly exploring an unusual path to free agency by potentially accepting their qualifying offers and delaying long-term contract negotiations until next summer, according to Marc Stein.

If either player follows through with that strategy, he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 instead of remaining under restricted free agency.

However, doing so would come at a significant financial cost.

“League sources say Watson, like Detroit’s Jalen Duren, has been weighing the unappealing prospect of playing out the 2026-27 season on a qualifying offer with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Actually doing so, mind you, means leaving millions on the table.”