The Thompson twins are both headed toward major paydays this summer, but Amen is positioned to cash in a little harder than Ausar.
That gap comes down to role and production. In today’s NBA, where the current CBA has made teams far more careful with their cap space, long-term money goes to players who can clearly justify it.
For Ausar and Amen Thompson, that means proving they’re worth more than just promise. They’ve done enough to put themselves in line for new extensions, and both the Rockets and Pistons are expected to keep them in the fold.
Amen’s deal is projected to come in around $220 million, which would be below the max but still massive. As Siegel put it, “Amen is likely going to get a little more than his brother just because he’s played more of an inflated role and been more important to his team’s success,” said Siegel.
“He’s emerged as their number two, number three guy on that team, and he’s going to hold a very integral part next to Kevin Durant this season. He’s eligible to sign a five-year, $250 million rookie-scale max.
I don’t think that’s what he’s gonna get. I think he’s gonna get a deal somewhere around 20-22% of the cap.
Probably just north of $220 million, five-year extension, but I do expect Amen and the Rockets to get a new long-term deal done.”
That projection fits the way Amen has grown in Houston. Drafted one spot ahead of his brother in 2023, he kept trending upward through his first three seasons and finished the 2025-26 campaign at 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.4% from the field. With Amen and Kevin Durant leading the way, the Rockets ended up fifth in the West at 52-30.
Ausar’s case looks a little different, even if the foundation is similar. He brings the same kind of versatility and defensive punch, but his offensive game isn’t as polished right now.
His numbers - 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 52.5% shooting - point to a player who still fits a valuable role, just not one that commands the same price tag as his brother. The expectation is that he’ll make at least $15 million less per year on his next deal.
Even so, that still lands as a strong number for Detroit, especially with the Pistons finishing first in the standings. Siegel said, “Ausar is held up by Jalen Duren right now,” Siegel added.
“The Pistons do want to keep Duren, but until that situation gets figured out and they know what the long-term numbers are going to look like, that’s when they’ll have the conversations to hammer out a new deal. I think he’s gonna get a deal done, something around the $30 million range.”
For both teams, the bigger picture matters. The Thompson twins were expected to become significant players, and that’s exactly where they are now.
Their contracts may not match dollar for dollar, but each brother has shown enough to earn a long-term commitment. In a league where financial flexibility can vanish fast, locking in the right young players is everything.
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