"Jalen Duren been traded 12 times tonight", "Traded him for a bag of hot Cheetos to save money" - Fans relentlessly mock No. 13 pick as he gets traded by Charlotte and then New York

Jalen Duren's epic draft night saga
Jalen Duren's epic draft night saga

Jalen Duren had an extremely eventful NBA draft experience. He was drafted at No. 13 by the Charlotte Hornets, but his time with the franchise was short-lived. He was sent to the New York Knicks via trade, before being packaged with Kemba Walker as part of a trade to the Detroit Pistons.

Duren emerged as an interesting prospect out of Memphis. As an athletic big man with a knack for establishing himself on the low block, he caught the eye of several teams.

Here are some of the best reactions to Duren's eventful draft night on Twitter:

After a series of moves, the 18-year-old will find himself playing alongside Cade Cunningham and fellow rookie Jaden Ivey.


How does Jalen Duren fit in at the Detroit Pistons?

Jalen Duren guards Chet Holmgren
Jalen Duren guards Chet Holmgren

The Pistons have acquired one of the most exciting young prospects in this year's draft.

With Jerami Grant on the way out, the Pistons have a massive hole to fill in the frontcourt, and Duren fits the bill. Considering his athletic ability and strong frame, Duren is an ideal partner for Cade Cunningham in the frontcourt.

Statistically, the 18-year-old has a lot of upside. He averaged 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks during his college career and has a lot of room to grow.

With a penchant for playing near the rim, Duren could be a lane-clogging big who dominates the glass and acts as a lob threat on offense. He also has great hands on defense. His length and athleticism could come in handy for Detroit.

As per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Duren has a similar skillset to Derrick Favors.

In the right system, Duren will be able to grow exponentially. If he places an emphasis on improving his passing and footwork, he could be a huge asset to the Pistons in the long run.

Quick Links

Edited by Windy Goodloe