Pistons Commit $155 Million to Ausar Thompson With Five-Year Rookie Extension

The Detroit Pistons have secured one of the NBA’s premier young defenders for the long term, agreeing to a five-year, $155 million contract extension with Ausar Thompson, according to a person familiar with the deal. The agreement, reached ahead of the league’s Oct. 19 deadline for rookie extensions, contains no opt-out provisions.

The new deal begins with the 2027-28 season and runs through 2032, paying the 23-year-old an average of $31 million annually. It follows the four-year, $36.2 million rookie contract Thompson signed after Detroit selected him fifth overall in the 2023 draft. He is due $11.1 million in the upcoming fourth season of that deal.

Defensive Recognition Drove the Payday

Thompson’s third NBA season elevated his market value considerably. He led the league with 2.0 steals per game, finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, and earned All-Defensive first team honors — the first Pistons player to do so since Ben Wallace in 2005-06.

His offensive numbers remain modest — 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists across 73 games (72 starts) — but his efficiency was strong, shooting 52.5% from the field in roughly 26 minutes per night.

The extension lands two weeks after Thompson’s twin brother, Amen, signed a five-year, $208 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Amen, drafted one pick ahead of Ausar in 2023, will average $41.6 million per season.

Duren Situation Still Unresolved

The agreement leaves Jalen Duren as Detroit’s unsettled young core piece. The All-Star center remains in a contract standoff with training camp set to open Sept. 29 and has until Oct. 1 to accept a one-year qualifying offer worth $9.6 million. Duren was the 13th overall pick in that same 2023 draft.

The Pistons open the regular season Oct. 20 at home against the Boston Celtics in the league’s opening-night showcase, broadcast on Comcast-owned NBC and Peacock platforms. Comcast shares recently traded at $22.74, down 1.22% from the prior close of $23.02, valuing the media and telecom company at roughly $92.5 billion.

What to watch

• Whether Duren signs the $9.6 million qualifying offer or reaches an alternative agreement before the Oct. 1 deadline
• The official announcement and terms confirmation of Thompson’s extension from the Pistons
• Thompson’s development on offense in the fourth year of his rookie deal as the new contract approaches

Source: original release