Home > NBA Pre-Camp Roundup: Batum Retires, Duren Contract Stalemate, Latest League Transactions

NBA Pre-Camp Roundup: Batum Retires, Duren Contract Stalemate, Latest League Transactions

2026-09-24

As NBA teams wrap up their offseason roster building and prepare to open training camps, the league is buzzing with key contract negotiations, player retirements, and roster adjustments. Here is the verified roundup of the latest news from around the association, sourced from ESPN, NBA.com, The Athletic and WNBA official reports.

Contract Negotiations: Pistons & Jalen Duren Remain Deadlocked

The Detroit Pistons have upped their extension offer to restricted free agent Jalen Duren, presenting a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million deal, according to multiple league insiders including Shams Charania. Even with this sizable offer on the table, Duren’s representation has declined to sign the contract. The two sides remain stuck in negotiations.

Duren’s camp is weighing the option of accepting the league’s qualifying offer this season. If he takes that qualifying offer, he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer and qualify to chase the full NBA maximum salary. The impasse hangs over Detroit as they get ready for training camp, leaving the franchise uncertain about the long-term future of their young starting center.

League-Wide Roster Moves

The Charlotte Hornets have completed minor roster tweaks ahead of camp. The team officially signed guard Tre Carroll and waived DJ Armstrong to finalize their training camp roster spots.

The Brooklyn Nets completed a string of contract adjustments on September 21. The Nets made several signings and contract conversions with Aaron Scott and DJ Rodman, trimming and reshaping their roster to fit the limits for training camp invites.

The Houston Rockets have waived two-way contract player William McDowell-White. The move clears an open roster spot for Houston, as the front office continues to finalize its group for the upcoming training camp.

Star Storylines: Nicolas Batum Calls Time On His NBA Career

French forward Nicolas Batum officially announced his retirement from professional basketball on September 21 via a social media video shared alongside his son. The 37-year-old veteran wraps up an 18-season NBA career, widely remembered as a versatile, championship-caliber role player who spent time with Portland, Charlotte, the Clippers and other franchises.

Portland Trail Blazers and multiple other teams released social media tributes honoring Batum’s lengthy career and contributions on both ends of the floor. Beyond the NBA, Batum was a cornerstone of France’s national basketball program for decades, competing in Olympics and FIBA World Cup tournaments.

WNBA Update: Han Xu Logs Minutes for New York Liberty

Turning to the WNBA, Chinese center Han Xu featured for the New York Liberty in their regular season matchup against the Toronto Tempo on September 22. Han Xu checked in for 2 minutes of game action, finishing with 2 points and 2 rebounds in the contest.

The Liberty continue to lock in their playoff positioning as the 2026 WNBA regular season enters its final stretch. Han Xu has filled a rotational big-man role for New York this campaign, providing depth off the bench.

Preseason and Training Camp Notes

Teams across the league are locking in their training camp rosters and finalizing preseason schedules. The Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors are scheduled to meet in a preseason exhibition game on September 23. This matchup is part of the league’s preseason showcase series ahead of the 2026-27 regular season tip-off.

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