The Pistons have made only “modest progress” toward reaching a new contract with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, sources briefed on the talks tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required). However, Stein hears that Detroit remains unwilling to consider a sign-and-trade that would send the 22-year-old center to another team. As Stein notes, Duren’s options remain limited with no rival teams possessing enough cap space to sign him to a competitive offer sheet. If negotiations continue to stall, Duren could consider accepting Detroit’s $9.6MM qualifying offer, which will remain in effect through October 1, as a path toward becoming unrestricted next summer. “Momentum” in negotiations with Duren was cited last week, but Stein’s report indicates that any progress has been minimal.