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NBA·BREAKING·September 18, 2026 08:39 PM ET

Pistons, Ausar Thompson agree to five-year, $155M extension

No options in the fully guaranteed deal

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 191 min read
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What happened: The extension is fully guaranteed and includes no options, keeping Thompson under contract through 2031. Shams Charania first reported the agreement, which comes while Detroit continues negotiations with restricted free agent Jalen Duren.

Why it matters: Detroit is trying to carry a 60-win foundation into 2026-27 by keeping Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren on the same timeline. Locking in Thompson now leaves Duren's restricted free agency as the biggest remaining contract question for the Pistons' young core.

By the numbers: Thompson started 73 games last season and averaged 9.9 points with a league-leading 2.0 steals and nearly 1.0 block per game. Detroit was plus-7.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, though he shot 25% from 3. Amen Thompson signed a five-year, $208 million extension with Houston earlier this summer.

What to watch: The next contract watch in Detroit is Duren, who is still negotiating after the Pistons reportedly put a five-year offer in the $190 million range on the table. Thompson's 3-point shooting will remain a key swing factor as the roster turns toward 2026-27.

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NBABreakingDetroit PistonsHouston RocketsAusar ThompsonJalen Duren
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