The OKC Thunder signed Cason Wallace to a five-year, $139 million extension, adding him to the handful of players from the 2023 draft class to get one, a list that also includes Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons.
Thompson signed a deal for roughly $16 million more total, so he will only make around $3 million more per season on average than Wallace.
Thompson’s deal already looked like a steal when compared to guys like Jordan Poole, Immanuel Quickley and Jalen Suggs, who will all make more than Ausar next season.
You can add Wallace to that list, as his deal makes Thompson’s look even better.
Ausar Thompson is the better player with a higher ceiling
Thompson is making more than Wallace because he’s better now and has a higher ceiling overall, but there really isn’t that much difference in their respective annual salaries, which is great for the Pistons.
Both players are excellent perimeter defenders who will be among the league leaders in steals, but Thompson is considerably taller and more versatile as a defender. That’s not a knock on Wallace’s defense, but wing defenders who can defend 1-4 at an elite level are more valuable.
Thompson is a better rebounder and creator off the bounce and shoots a higher percentage (by 10 percentage points) from the field than Wallace, who is more of a spot-up shooter.
The only thing Wallace does better is shoot the 3-ball, but he only hit 35 percent last season, so he’s only around league average.
Thompson will also get an opportunity to be more of a creator this season, which is not a chance Wallace will likely get with all of their guard depth, so there is a chance Thompson’s deal will look even better if he makes a leap as a playmaker.
Much has been made of Thompson’s perceived offensive limitations, but he has averaged just under 10 points per game for his career and Wallace just under eight, so both guys are clearly getting paid more for their defense.
But I love Ausar’s chances of being the more versatile and impactful offensive player, and for his deal to age far better than Wallace’s
The Thunder are not only known for their astute talent evaluation, but for making smart business deals, so the fact that the Pistons got the better player for slightly more makes Thompson’s contract look like a home run for Trajan Langdon.
I expect we’ll see both Thompson and Wallace on the All-Defensive teams again this season, and both guys are worth the money they are being paid right now, but an offensive leap from either one will make their deal a bargain.
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