Jalen Duren is now a restricted free agent after the Detroit Pistons extended a qualifying offer, a key step in the team's offseason plans.

What happened?

The Pistons' move means Jalen Duren will hit the market after the draft, allowing him to test his value on the open market.

The Detroit Pistons had several major tasks to accomplish during the summer after their seven-game defeat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jalen Duren's contract situation likely stood as the most important obstacle to tackle before next season rolls around.

Why it matters for Jalen Duren

Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon mentioned that he looked forward to reaching an agreement with Duren's representation, so the plan has been to bring JD back the whole time.

Jalen Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season on remarkably efficient scoring rates.

What comes next?

The tricky part for the Pistons comes in finding the right value for Duren, with his postseason performance potentially impacting his contract.

Jalen Duren's production plummeted in the playoffs, particularly against the Orlando Magic and the Cavs.

The Pistons' playoff fate falls on more than just Duren's shoulders, but his untimely dropoff made matters even more difficult for Detroit.

After the regular season, many speculated that Duren was headed for a max contract or even a supermax at 30% of the Pistons' cap after making the All-NBA Third Team this year.

An Average Annual Value in the ballpark of $30 million is no longer a likelihood but would be looked upon as a bargain for the Pistons.

Jalen Duren will likely command a healthy raise in the $37 million per season range since he'll be able to test his value out on the open market.

The Pistons would want to bring Duren back since he's such a young part of their core at only 22 years of age.

Isaiah Stewart has popped up as a potential trade piece for Detroit to wield this offseason in an attempt to bring in three-point shooters to the Motor City.

So the Pistons' center depth was actually quite loaded at the position last season with Stewart protecting the rim as the team's backup and Paul Reed serving as a do-it-all third-string center.

And Jalen Duren's restricted free agency will be a key storyline to watch in the NBA offseason.