Negotiations Loom for Pistons as League Buzz Centers on Giannis, Kawhi and LeBron
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Detroit’s postseason run has exposed contract complications for two of the club’s key young players, according to reporting by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps.
Pistons face difficult talks with Jalen Duren
Center Jalen Duren, who averaged 22.6 points and 10.7 rebounds on 67.8 percent shooting after the All-Star break, has fallen to 10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds across 12 playoff games. He was benched for the fourth quarter and overtime of Wednesday’s Game 5 loss in favor of Paul Reed.
An Eastern Conference executive told ESPN that, despite Duren’s struggles, Detroit may still have to match a maximum offer sheet in restricted free agency this summer. The executive cited potential interest from cap-room teams such as Chicago and Brooklyn and warned that the league’s new apron rules could tighten the Pistons’ flexibility.
Ausar Thompson’s extension value estimated at $25 million annually
Wing Ausar Thompson will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension before his fourth season. Thompson, a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, hit six three-pointers all season and shot 57.1 percent at the free-throw line, leading to some late-game benchings during the playoffs. Even so, multiple league insiders told Bontemps they expect offers around $25 million per year, mirroring last fall’s deals for Dyson Daniels (four years, $100 million) and Christian Braun (five years, $125 million).
League chatter from the draft combine
Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo: Several executives believe Milwaukee will seriously consider trading the two-time MVP this offseason. “It just feels like they’re done with the circus,” an Eastern Conference executive said.
Clippers and Kawhi Leonard: Most scouts and executives think Los Angeles should keep Leonard as he enters the final year of his contract, though opinions differ on whether to extend him immediately. One Eastern Conference executive suggested Leonard could draw a sizable trade return, noting his superior health and performance compared with Antetokounmpo over the past two seasons.
76ers front-office opening: Despite heavy long-term salaries for Joel Embiid and Paul George, multiple executives view Philadelphia’s head of basketball operations position as attractive because of the Tyrese Maxey–VJ Edgecombe back-court pairing.
LeBron James’ free agency: The prevailing view at the combine is that James will re-sign with the Lakers. A Western Conference scout said it is “hard to fit him anywhere else,” while an Eastern Conference executive told Windhorst he would grant James a one-year deal with a no-trade clause if he ran the Lakers, citing both ticket sales and local television revenue.
The NBA’s offseason formally begins after the Finals, but league executives are already positioning for a summer that could feature major player movement and significant financial commitments.
Source: HoopsRumors
