The Pistons have big financial decisions to make this summer with extensions for both Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. They’ve already made some moves to open salary space for the two. Duren has established himself as an All-Star and valuable two-way player who will be a franchise cornerstone for years to come. But ESPN analyst Tim Bontemps recently questioned Ausar’s extension amidst his offensive flaws.
In the loss to the Spurs, Thompson’s offensive limitations really stood out. He provides virtually no spacing and his athletic scoring package was neutralized by San Antonio’s otherworldly interior defense. He was also benched for nearly the entire second half, a decision that was likely more related to defensive breakdowns than his offense.
How will the Pistons handle Ausar Thompson’s extension?
The Pistons will likely want to wrap up Thompson’s extension this summer rather than giving him an opportunity to become a restricted free agent, like they did with Duren. It’s going to cost them financially in Duren’s case now that he’s risen to All-Star status.
Securing Ausar to a long-term extension this summer can resolve that headache early. But the Pistons’ exact offer to him is not a number set in stone. Thompson hasn’t proven himself the way that Cade Cunningham had two years ago when the Pistons signed him to max extension. He’s closer to Duren’s level entering last summer - clearly talented enough to be a building block of the team, but still very raw.
The Pistons are no strangers to offensive limitations capping a player’s overall impact. They’ve seen it in numerous prospects over the years and it’s often turned out ugly. But Ausar has the potential to be a different story.
Not only is Ausar’s defensive ceiling nearly limitless, but he also has clear untapped offensive potential. He’s shown glimpses as a slasher and playmaker, but his lack of consistent aggression and any semblance of a reliable jump shot has held him back.
The Pistons’ contract extension for Ausar will depend on their belief in his next step. If Detroit is confident in his ability to become a two-way force, they should not hesitate to extend him on a big deal. But if serious concerns are creeping into the front office about Ausar’s offensive skillset, we could be in for a long summer of negotiations.
Ausar’s playing time could also be telling of his projected extension. He plays the least minutes of any Pistons starter, and often gets subbed out in crunchtime for better offensive threats. Despite all his talent and defensive playmaking, there are still times where it seems he hasn’t fully earned coach JB Bickerstaff’s trust.
Hopefully Ausar can continue to prove himself going into the playoffs and the Pistons lock him up for a long-term contract ASAP.