{"id":130611,"date":"2026-09-22T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/pistons-dream-jalen-duren-scenario-may-become-reality-thanks-to-ausar-thompson\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:00:02","slug":"pistons-dream-jalen-duren-scenario-may-become-reality-thanks-to-ausar-thompson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/pistons-dream-jalen-duren-scenario-may-become-reality-thanks-to-ausar-thompson\/","title":{"rendered":"Pistons&#8217; dream Jalen Duren scenario may become reality thanks to Ausar Thompson"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_9\"><!--qv q:id=a4 q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=a6 q:key=v0hb:QW_2--><!--qv q:key=ft_2--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=a7 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The Detroit Pistons are still negotiating with star Jalen Duren, but Ausar Thompson&#39;s new contract gifts them the perfect scenario. Thompson signed for less than many expected, and as CBS Sports&#39; Sam Quinn points out, that could pave the way for the Pistons to re-sign Duren.\n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=a8 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a9\">The Detroit Pistons are still negotiating with star Jalen Duren, but Ausar Thompson&#8217;s new contract gifts them the perfect scenario. Thompson signed for less than many expected, and as CBS Sports&#8217; Sam Quinn points out, that could pave the way for the Pistons to re-sign Duren.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=aa q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=ac q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/x.com\/SamQuinnCBS\/status\/2101324172878045203--><!--qv q:id=ad q:key=YFn6:mL_1--><\/p>\n<figure on:qvisible=\"q-ZCe8f4N4.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"HU_0\" q:id=\"ae\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So Ausar Thompson&#8217;s new deal starts just above 15% of the cap. If Jalen Duren signs for 5&#215;190, he&#8217;ll start just below 20%. Together, they basically function as one, supermax, 35% contract.<\/p>\n<p>Would you rather have Thompson and Duren, or Devin Booker? Donovan Mitchell? Jaylen Brown?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SamQuinnCBS\/status\/2101324172878045203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">September 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=af q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=ah q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>He mentions that they could offer him a 5-year, $190 million deal with him earning $38 million on average. In doing so, they&#39;d be paying both him and Thompson the equivalent of one max salary slot. \n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=ai q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"aj\">He mentions that they could offer him a 5-year, $190 million deal with him earning $38 million on average. In doing so, they&#8217;d be paying both him and Thompson the equivalent of one max salary slot.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=ak q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=am q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Getting two members of their core under contract for 5 years for the cost of one max salary would be an absolute steal for the Pistons.\n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=an q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ao\">Getting two members of their core under contract for 5 years for the cost of one max salary would be an absolute steal for the Pistons.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=ap q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=ar q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>The Pistons are on the right track in Jalen Duren contract negotiations \n<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=as q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"at\">The Pistons are on the right track in Jalen Duren contract negotiations<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=au q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=aw q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Remember, teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently paying their big three far more. In fact, Oklahoma City is paying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren a combined 80% of the salary cap over the next three seasons. \n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=ax q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ay\">Remember, teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently paying their big three far more. In fact, Oklahoma City is paying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren a combined 80% of the salary cap over the next three seasons.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=az q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=b1 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>However, if the Pistons can pull this off, they&#39;d be paying Cade Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson a combined 60% of the salary cap. That would ensure they could build a sustained contender without breaking the bank. \n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=b2 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b3\">However, if the Pistons can pull this off, they&#8217;d be paying Cade Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson a combined 60% of the salary cap. That would ensure they could build a sustained contender without breaking the bank.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=b4 q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=b6 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>It would also justify their decision to play hardball with Duren and possibly risk alienating him. It will ultimately be up to him whether he decides to take a potential $190 million deal <a href=\"https:\/\/hoopshabit.com\/pistons-worst-case-jalen-duren-scenario-may-soon-realized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">or take the one-year, $9.3 million qualifying offer. <\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=b7 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b8\">It would also justify their decision to play hardball with Duren and possibly risk alienating him. It will ultimately be up to him whether he decides to take a potential $190 million deal <a href=\"https:\/\/hoopshabit.com\/pistons-worst-case-jalen-duren-scenario-may-soon-realized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">or take the one-year, $9.3 million qualifying offer. <\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=b9 q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=bb q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>That would allow him to hit unrestricted free agency after next season but comes with the risk that he&#39;d be turning down a massive payday. \n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=bc q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bd\">That would allow him to hit unrestricted free agency after next season but comes with the risk that he&#8217;d be turning down a massive payday.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=be q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=bg q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/x.com\/Sam_Vecenie\/status\/2102136578403647994--><!--qv q:id=bh q:key=YFn6:mL_1--><\/p>\n<figure on:qvisible=\"q-ZCe8f4N4.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"HU_0\" q:id=\"bi\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So if Shams is saying the Pistons offer is 5\/200M for Duren and he\u2019s not taking it, that\u2019s not definitely a financial decision from Duren given that taking the Qualifying Offer plus a max next summer is less money than that. (Believe that\u2019s 5\/197M).  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZAplWKQKuj\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/ZAplWKQKuj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Sam_Vecenie\/status\/2102136578403647994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">September 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=bj q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=bl q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>The Pistons are setting themselves up for success \n<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=bm q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bn\">The Pistons are setting themselves up for success<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=bo q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=bq q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>I have doubts that Duren would sign the qualifying offer and pass up $190 million, but stranger things have happened. Assuming he comes to his senses, the Pistons could be well positioned to dominate the East for years to come. \n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=br q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bs\">I have doubts that Duren would sign the qualifying offer and pass up $190 million, but stranger things have happened. Assuming he comes to his senses, the Pistons could be well positioned to dominate the East for years to come.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=bt q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=bv q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Having their three best players locked up on an affordable number would allow them to properly build around them. Given that the Boston Celtics couldn&#39;t afford to keep Jaylen Brown, it can&#39;t be understated how important that would be for Detroit.\n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=bw q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bx\">Having their three best players locked up on an affordable number would allow them to properly build around them. Given that the Boston Celtics couldn&#8217;t afford to keep Jaylen Brown, it can&#8217;t be understated how important that would be for Detroit.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=by q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=c0 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>With Thompson now under contract, the last piece of the puzzle is locking up Duren. But if they are indeed offering him around $190 million, they are forcing him to choose between a one-year $9.3 million deal and a massive contract. That should be a no-brainer to most.\n<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=c1 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c2\">With Thompson now under contract, the last piece of the puzzle is locking up Duren. But if they are indeed offering him around $190 million, they are forcing him to choose between a one-year $9.3 million deal and a massive contract. That should be a no-brainer to most.\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=c3 q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=c5 q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/content-enrichment-service.mmsport.minutesvc.com\/oembed?url=https:\/\/content-enrichment-service.mmsport.minutesvc.com\/properties\/307\/embeds\/01ht59sq2gfqs1s--><!--qv q:id=c6 q:key=jBas:mL_1--><\/p>\n<figure on-document:qidle=\"q-BFth47Ks.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"S2_2\" q:id=\"c7\"\/><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=c8 q:key=ekof:QW_1--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=ca q:key=1jXG:QW_7--><!--qv q:id=cb q:key=9yVI:Ef_0--><\/p>\n<div on:click=\"q-CtBgtQLc.js#s_Ytib2zHV0Tc[0 1]\" q:key=\"WY_1\" q:id=\"cc\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=cb q:key=--><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"google-news-widget\" class=\"voltax-google-preferred-source my-5 p-4 flex items-center gap-4 rounded-lg bg-[#F0F0F0]\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3\"><span class=\"font-group-big text-black text-[16px]\">Add us as a preferred source on <span class=\"font-bold\">Google<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a aria-label=\"Follow hoopshabit.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=hoopshabit.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:click=\"q-RL_f6kFR.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"cd\"><span class=\"hidden pt-[1px] leading-[1.4] md:inline\">Follow<\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 4 8\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"h-[12px] w-[6px] md:h-[8px] md:w-[4px]\"><path d=\"M0.5 0.5L3.5 4L0.5 7.5\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hoopshabit.com\/pistons-dream-jalen-duren-scenario-may-become-reality-thanks-ausar-thompson?utm_source=RSS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Detroit Pistons are still negotiating with star Jalen Duren, but Ausar Thompson&#8217;s new contract gifts them the perfect scenario. Thompson signed for less than many expected, and as CBS Sports&#8217; Sam Quinn points out, that could pave the way for the Pistons to re-sign Duren. So Ausar Thompson&#8217;s new deal starts just above 15% [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":130612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130611"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}