As things stand right now, the Detroit Pistons are in a pretty good place when it comes to the second apron. However, they have still yet to extend Jalen Duren. That's going to cost them a pretty penny. But next summer is when things get tricky, because Ausar Thompson will need a new deal. At that point, they will have three players on big contracts, and they could run into the same problems that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics have.
OKC just traded Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that was effectively a salary dump. They needed to get off Dort's money in order to duck below the second apron. Last summer, the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to avoid the second apron, and they traded Jaylen Brown this summer to open up future financial flexibility.
Duren is going to cash in this offseason, and unless he leaves Detroit, that means the Pistons are going to be paying three players a ton of money starting next season with him, Thompson, and Cade Cunningham.
Ausar Thompson could be nail in coffin for Pistons' second-apron woes
Cunningham is already on a max contract. He's one of the best players in the league. He's deserving of the deal. But so it Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. So is Jayson Tatum. That didn't stop their teams from having to make financially motivated decisions.
Let's say Duren ends up making around $30 million on his next contract. He probably wants a bit more than that, and the Pistons probably want to pay him a bit less than that. He and Cunningham would be making around $80 million combined.
Then, let's say Thompson gets around the same number. Maybe he'll get a bit less, but if he takes a leap next season, anything could happen (unless he extends this summer). Then, the Pistons will have three players making $110 million.
But not only that, but they will also have John Collins making $17 million and Duncan Robinson making $15.1 million (if they choose to guarantee his contract for the 2027-28 campaign). That's a lot of money tied up into five players.
The second apron is set at $221 million right now. It will inevitably go up a bit by the time 2027-28 comes around, but still, the Pistons will have five players making roughly $142 million. And that's if Duren and Thompson both sign for $30 million.
That number is also without considering the Pistons' need to re-sign guys like Daniss Jenkins (who could want a payday), Paul Reed, Javonte Green, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris. Detroit needs depth. But it also probably doesn't want to deal with the second apron so soon.
Thompson’s upcoming extension could be the final piece that lures the Pistons into the second-apron trap Boston and OKC have had to navigate in recent years.
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