The Detroit Pistons just handed Ausar Thompson a massive contract extension. He inked a five-year, $155 million deal with the Pistons, which comes out to an average annual value of $31 million per season. With that number on the board, the Oklahoma City Thunder could end up paying the price. Because Cason Wallace could end up wanting that or more.
Right now, it seems pretty clear that Thompson is the better player. At least, the more proven player. He’s been more integral to the Pistons’ success than Wallace has been for the Thunder, if for no other reason than pure opportunity. But Wallace has a better offensive game. And with Lu Dort gone, his opportunities should skyrocket.
And if Wallace plays well enough to the point where his offense is better than Thompson’s – while his defense is already elite – perhaps he could use Thompson’s contract as leverage. He might want that number or more, and that could make OKC’s life harder.
Ausar Thompson's contract could set the market for Cason Wallace
This summer, the Thunder spent a lot of their time trying to get under their second apron. That was their goal, and by the end of the offseason, they succeeded in that goal.
In three separate trades, the Thunder shipped out Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins in moves that were pure salary dumps. Dort and Wiggins ended up with the Atlanta Hawks, and Joe got traded to the Pistons.
Next summer, OKC will run into the same problem. Right now, the Thunder are already slated to be $3.8 million above the second apron. And if this summer was any indication, they don’t want to be there.
And to make matters worse, that number is before a Wallace extension, meaning they will have to re-sign him and then trade guys to get under the second apron.
Thompson just got paid the big bucks to be the lead defender in Detroit. He’s going to be making $31 million a season, which is what the best role players in the NBA get paid.
If Wallace has a good season next year, he could look at the Thompson contract – another guy in his draft class – as a barometer for how much he gets paid.
And if that ends up being the case, then it would put the Thunder over $30 million above the second apron (and that’s if Wallace doesn’t want even more than Thompson).
Detroit’s Thompson contract could set the value for Wallace, especially if he has a good season. And that’s tough for OKC.
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