Ausar Thompson signed a five-year, $155 million deal, an extension that was largely viewed favorably for the Detroit Pistons.
Even if Ausar doesn’t improve at all offensively, which seems highly unlikely, he’s still worth this cost, as he’s a game-changing defender.
His is a contract that will likely age well and won’t draw the ire of the fans, as there is nothing that irritates NBA fans and pundits more than a player they view as “overpaid.”
It’s a monicker Thompson avoided with his deal, but Jalen Duren isn’t going to be so lucky.
Jalen Duren put a target on himself
Fair or not, when a player holds out for more money, they’ve immediately put a giant negative spotlight on themselves, especially right now, when economic woes are the biggest topic on the news.
Fans have little patience for hearing about a 22-year-old saying $190 million isn’t enough, and that number (if Duren finally signs for that) is going to look huge next to the one Ausar Thompson just signed.
The Pistons have reportedly leaked that they view Thompson as their second-most important player, and a recent survey of fans said the same, which puts Duren in a precarious position, as he’s likely to be making more money even though he’s not viewed as highly.
That’s a tough spot to be in, as Duren is going to have a ton of pressure on his shoulders to live up to the contract, especially if the Pistons give in and raise their offer above the $40 million threshold they’ve been unwilling to cross.
Fans are going to boo every time he has a bad game, and his playoff performances are going to be put under a microscope in a way that Ausar’s won’t. I’m not saying players should only sign deals that fans and pundits deem reasonable, but when you hold out for that big money, when you use words like “disrespected,” then you’ve put that pressure on yourself.
Ask Tobias Harris how a max deal can change perceptions
If you asked a 76ers fan about Tobias Harris, they would inevitably say awful things about him. They still boo him. They still troll him on social media.
This shouldn’t be the case, as Harris has long been one of the most consistent and respected players in the league. So why do Philly fans have it out for him? It’s because Harris was on a max deal and had a couple of bad games in the playoffs.
That narrative still follows him, even after he was amazing in the playoffs last season, and his regular-season numbers have gone up in the playoffs overall. Why is he a playoff choker?
Because the fans viewed him as overpaid, it’s that simple. The same exact spotlight will be on Duren next season whether he signs the big deal or takes the qualifying offer. He’s put a lot of unnecessary pressure on himself by handling his business this way, and it will be hard for him to live up to the money he’s likely to get.
It won’t be easy, and fans are going to let him know every time he doesn’t. Meanwhile, Thompson will be viewed as a “team first” guy who did the right thing. It may not be fair, but Thompson will avoid the negative spotlight that will be shined directly on Duren.
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