What happened: Jalen Duren's $9.6 million qualifying offer reaches its 11:59 p.m. ET deadline Thursday, and Moussa Cisse also has a $2.2 million salary decision due the same night. Duren has already stayed away from media day and training camp after turning down a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer.

Why it matters: The Duren call shapes which contract avenue remains available heading into the 2026-27 season. Cisse's smaller figure still matters because guaranteed money at the back end of the roster can narrow preseason flexibility.

What to watch: The next turn is whether the qualifying offer remains on the table at the buzzer and whether Cisse's salary is locked in for the season. Those calls should clarify the immediate roster picture before preseason settles.