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Detroit Pistons Extend Ausar Thompson for $155M
Confirmed
In Short: The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a five-year, $155 million extension with wing Ausar Thompson.
The Detroit Pistons have locked in another piece of their young core by agreeing to a five-year, $155 million extension with wing Ausar Thompson, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Thompson, who was still under contract for one more season and would have been eligible for restricted free agency in 2027, has been a key defensive player for the team.
Thompson's work on the perimeter helped set the tone as the Pistons posted the league's second-best defensive rating (108.9) last season, per NBA.com. Head coach Dwane Casey has praised Thompson's role as a defensive stopper.
Thompson's defensive prowess was highlighted by his third-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year award race last season. He led the NBA in steals per game and posted the third-most combined steals and blocks at 215.
According to Basketball Index, Thompson ranked in the 99th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, ball screen navigation, and off-ball chaser defense, the 83rd percentile in rim deterrence, and the 81st percentile in rim protection and rim disruption.
Thompson was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team last season, the first Pistons player to achieve this since Ben Wallace in 2006.
Thompson's contract is fully guaranteed, a deal that may seem like a lot at first but is fair given the rising salary cap and where NBA contracts are at the moment.
However, some analysts are concerned that the $31 million per year valuation may prove to be an overpay due to Thompson's offensive limitations.
Last season, Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, two steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
This deal comes two weeks after Thompson's twin brother, Amen of the Houston Rockets, got a five-year, $208 million deal, making them the first pair of brothers in NBA history to each receive a $100 million deal.
What this adds
The Pistons' decision to fully guarantee Thompson's extension is notable given the potential risk associated with his offensive limitations.
What's confirmed
- According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Pistons and Thompson agreed to a five-year, $155 million, fully guaranteed contract.
What's still developing
- Earlier in the day, Keyonte George of the Utah Jazz signed a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale extension.
- For most teams, that would be a dealbreaker in regard to fully guaranteed money and a long-term extension.
- “Thompson will get a new five-year extension with the Pistons that will very likely be for less than his brother gets in Houston. The 2025-26 steals champion and All-Defensive wing will get a contract comparable to what Detroit has been looking to sign Duren to — something in the $30 million to $35 million annual average value range,” Siegel wrote on Aug. 6.