The Detroit Pistons have secured defensive anchor Ausar Thompson with a five-year, $155 million rookie scale extension, a major offseason priority. However, the team's final hurdle is negotiating a new deal with restricted free agent center Jalen Duren, whose situation could lead to a sign-and-trade.
Jalen Duren is coming off an All-Star season where he averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds. At 22, he believes he's earned a contract near the maximum value. The Pistons, however, have reservations following a tough postseason where his lack of floor spacing was exposed. With an October 1 deadline for a qualifying offer, Duren could play the 2026-27 season on a $9.6 million deal and then leave as an unrestricted free agent. Detroit wants to avoid that outcome, making a long-term agreement or a sign-and-trade the preferred paths.
A potential sign-and-trade partner is the Milwaukee Bucks, who could offer sharpshooting big man Myles Turner. Acquiring Turner would directly address a critical need for the Pistons: surrounding Ausar Thompson with more shooting to maximize his defensive impact on the court.
Ausar Thompson is an elite defender, a future All-Defensive Team candidate. But his 25% three-point shooting last season forced head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to be creative with lineups. Thompson spent heavy minutes alongside Duncan Robinson, whose elite shooting helped balance the floor. The primary starting five of Thompson, Duren, Robinson, Cade Cunningham, and Tobias Harris was highly effective, posting a +10.1 net rating and powering Detroit to 60 wins.
The data shows how vital that spacing was. When Robinson was out and replaced by the streaky Ron Holland II, the team's offensive rating plummeted to -57.8 in a very small sample. With Daniss Jenkins in that spot, it was -19.7. This starkly supports the strategy of pairing Thompson with a high-volume shooter.
The Pistons have actively worked to solve this puzzle. This season, they've added several credentialed three-point threats. Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris all shot 40% from deep in the 2025-26 campaign. Having multiple 40% shooters, including John Collins, gives Bickerstaff many more reliable lineup combinations to use with Thompson on the floor.
This added firepower is needed as the team looks to rebound from a tough playoff series. Reviewing the series results, including a 115-94 win on May 15, shows the inconsistency they aim to fix. Building a more versatile, shooting-heavy roster around core pieces like Thompson and Cunningham is the clear plan. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
