The Pistons still have two big contract decisions sitting in front of them this offseason, and the order matters.
Detroit needs new deals for Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, but Duren’s extension is the one that appears to be slowing everything down. The team would reportedly prefer to get his number settled before finalizing Thompson’s situation. That has fueled plenty of talk about which player matters more and whether Duren would take issue if Thompson gets rewarded first after he hasn’t.
That kind of speculation is being treated as noise. Once both players are back on the floor, the sense is that everybody involved will understand this is strictly business. But before the Pistons get there, they still have to get the negotiations moving, and the cleanest way to do that may be to extend Thompson first.
There isn’t a confirmed Thompson deal on the table, at least not one with reported terms, but the expectation is that it would land around $30 million per season. That number could climb fast if he makes a leap offensively next year, which is why Detroit would be wise to get him locked in now if he’ll accept that range. Otherwise, the Pistons could be staring at the same decision again next summer.
From there, the path to Duren gets a little easier. Detroit could then approach him with a slightly bigger offer and the added benefit of paying him more than his teammate, a small ego boost that would also recognize his All-NBA season. In the ideal scenario, Thompson lands at around 5/150 and Duren at 5/175, with the contracts front-loaded so the heaviest cap hits come while the Pistons still have room to maneuver.
Those numbers would fit.
Detroit is already on a max deal for Cade Cunningham, but beyond that the books are in good shape. The Pistons are nowhere near the luxury tax aprons, and they wouldn’t be even if Thompson and Duren sign rich extensions. Right now, they’d have the lowest payroll in the league, though that changes once Duren signs and again next season when Thompson’s extension kicks in.
Even then, Detroit would remain in a better financial spot than teams like the Cavaliers, Knicks, Nuggets, Magic and Timberwolves. Most of the league’s top teams are already carrying multiple max contracts and at least one or two more deals in the range Detroit is targeting for Duren and Thompson. That’s part of what gives the Pistons room to breathe: tradable contracts, flexibility and the ability to chase another star later.
Everything depends on Thompson and Duren agreeing to numbers in the $30-35 million per season range this summer. If the Pistons believe Thompson’s deal can help smooth the way with Duren, it makes sense to start there.
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