LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: Brandon Weems, Maverick Carter, Keith Dambrot, & LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo during the game on April 6, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
John Calipari’s deep NBA connections are the open secret to his legendary recruiting success. Need proof? Look no further than the 44 of his college players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
However, the assistants who have grinded alongside him haven’t always replicated that success when taking the reins themselves. Historically, the 11 Calipari assistants who moved on to Division I head coaching jobs have scraped together a combined record of 1,491–1,522.
But one former Kentucky staffer is breaking the mold by bypassing the college coaching route entirely. According to an official release from NBA.com, Brandon Weems has been promoted to general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Weems cut his teeth in Lexington, landing his first coaching job with Kentucky. He quickly climbed the ladder to become the program’s assistant director of basketball operations, serving as a vital behind-the-scenes piece of the Wildcats’ 2012 national championship run.
His rise in Cleveland’s front office is backed by hard results. Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman praised the move, stating, “He has been instrumental in our player evaluation and roster-building processes, has a deep understanding of our culture, and has grown into a tremendous leader.”
Adding another cool layer to the promotion, Weems was actually a high school teammate of Akron’s own LeBron James. The King would leave Cleveland only to return and bring an NBA title home to Cleveland in 2016.
Now, Weems is tasked with helping construct another championship roster for that same franchise, this time building around Donovan Mitchell.
UNITED STATES - MARCH 26: College Basketball: NCAA Final Four, Michigan State Magic Johnson (33) in action vs Indiana State, Salt Lake City, UT 3/26/1979 (Photo by James Drake/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X23267)
It wasn’t like Magic Johnson came out of nowhere. In his senior year in high school, Johnson, along with Albert King, who picked Maryland, and Gene Banks, who chose Duke, was one of the top three players, at least according to Street & Smith’s annual basketball magazine.
Johnson would choose Michigan State, and by his sophomore year, he emerged as a highly unusual player. At 6-9, Johnson played point guard, which was a revolutionary move. Not many guys who were 6-9 were capable of playing point guard, much less as well as Johnson did.
Johnson led Michigan State to the Elite Eight in 1978, only to fall to eventual national champion Kentucky, 52-49 (Kentucky would go on to beat Banks and Duke in the national championship game, 92-88).
In 1979, as a sophomore, he became iconic in the 1979 championship game against Larry Bird and Indiana State, as the Spartans won their first title, 87-75.
There were many great players before Johnson, and many after, but consider this: there have been players who are similar to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant being the best. There are players who have been compared to Larry Bird. Luka Doncic comes to mind.
Perhaps his greatest win came in his rookie season in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could not play, so Johnson, the point guard mind you, took over at center. He finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.
You can’t really compare anyone to Johnson. He is utterly unique in basketball history. Perhaps the one player to rival his uniqueness is 5-3 Muggsy Bogues.
TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 21: David Stockton #11 of the Valley Suns warms up prior to the NBA G-League game against the Indiana Mad Ants on January 21, 2025 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Gonzaga Bulldogs point guard David Stockton was signed by the Phoenix Suns to a training camp deal and was soon after waived on Friday, Sept. 18, RotoWire reports. This move pushes the son of Hall of Famer John Stockton to rejoin the Valley Suns, the Phoenix Suns’ G League affiliate, this fall. That organization’s general manager is former Gonzaga student manager Brendan Sabean.
The last time the now 35-year-old Stockton appeared in an NBA contest was with the Utah Jazz during Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets on May 4, 2018. In his short-lived NBA career, he has suited up for eight total games with Utah and the Sacramento Kings.
Stockton is a nine-year NBA G League veteran who has averages of 16.3 points, 6.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 29.5 minutes played across 244 career games (185 starts). He last competed in the G League with the Valley Suns during the 2024-25 season and has been a part of the Indiana Pacers’ Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Memphis Grizzlies’ Memphis Hustle, Los Angeles Lakers’ South Bay Lakers (now the Coachella Valley Lakers), and Sacramento’s Reno Bighorns (now the Stockton Kings) dating back to 2014.
Throughout his professional basketball career, Stockton had international stops in the countries of Croatia, Australia, Germany, and Puerto Rico.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Joshua Kushner attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)
Mark Walter may be selling the Lakers, but the new owners plan to take a money-making page out of the Dodgers’ playbook nonetheless: Dump the ticket brokers and leverage control over the resale market to drive up the cost of a ticket.
As a result, the average price for a Lakers ticket could rise from $217 to $361 within the next two years, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing documents prepared for potential investors.
Thrive Eternal, the sports properties company run by incoming Lakers owner Joshua Kushner, declined to comment because the NBA has not yet approved the sale.
However, the $361 figure was intended to illustrate to potential investors how much incremental ticket revenue the Lakers could gain by booting the brokers, not to signal another immediate and steep price hike, according to a person familiar with the deal but not authorized to comment publicly about it.
In February, under Walter’s ownership, the Lakers announced significant increases in ticket prices for the 2026-27 season. No announcement has been made for seasons beyond then, but the investor presentation provides information on how prices have increased for NBA tickets across the league.
Sports teams often enjoyed long and beneficial relationships with brokers, who bought out blocks of season tickets. That guaranteed the teams with revenue, with brokers benefiting from a markup for popular games but taking the risk that tickets to less popular games would sell at a loss, or not at all.
Over the past decade, the Dodgers and other teams have kicked out the brokers and taken that risk themselves, with the aid of dynamic pricing: the constant raising or lowering of ticket prices based on real-time supply and demand. For the Dodgers, the worst tickets seldom fall to market rate, because the team would rather live with a few empty seats rather than condition fans to hold out for a lower price.
The Dodgers lead the major leagues in attendance, on pace to sell 4 million tickets for the second consecutive season. The Lakers played to 99.8% of capacity last season, according to ESPN. So the calculus is simple for both teams: Sell a $100 ticket to a broker, who would then sell it for $200; or cut out the broker, sell the ticket for $200, and pocket the $100 difference.
Kushner and former Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger agreed last month to buy controlling interest in the Lakers, at a $12.5-billion valuation. The world’s most valuable sports team, according to Sportico: the Dallas Cowboys, at $15.5 billion.
According to the Journal, the Thrive Eternal investor pitch projected that the Lakers could leverage increases in ticket prices, media rights, sponsorships and international growth to generate close to $600 million in annual profit by 2037, when the value of the franchise could reach $30 billion.
Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong holds a 4% stake in the Lakers. He is not selling his stake in the Lakers, his attorney told The Times last month, in part because “we believe they are still undervalued.”
New ownership, led by Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger, purchased the team for a record-setting $12.5 billion. Kushner and Iger plan to get the Lakers’ valuation to at least $30 billion within the next 10 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The investment firm led by Kushner, Thrive Capital, noted several aggressive financial projections featured in an investor presentation. The new Lakers ownership group laid out plans to expand the franchise via international growth and new local media rights opportunities.
Joshua Kushner attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Getty Images
Assuming that TV and streaming rights double in value, the moves above would reportedly increase the Lakers’ valuation, per Thrive Capital.
The Lakers are already a lucrative professional sports franchise with the team on pace to generate $681 million in revenue in 2026. Ticketing and media rights are set to account for the largest share of revenue this year.
Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film “The King’s Man” at Leicester Square in London, Britain. REUTERSJeanie Buss, CEO, Governor, and Co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, holds a new Lakers jersey as the team hosts a 2021-2022 season kick-off event at the UCLA Health Training Center. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Under ownership’s new plans, revenue is set to reach at least $1.6 billion by the end of 2037.
While Kushner and Iger purchased the majority stake in the Lakers from Walter, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the Buss family’s role in the franchise. Five of the Buss siblings have announced their intentions to sell their remaining 17.8% stake in the team.
The star forward posted a video on Instagram with highlights throughout his time in LA with the phrase “thank you” centered in the frame.
“I truly appreciate your unwavering support during both the highs and lows. Thank you, Clip Nation,” Leonard wrote in his Instagram caption.
Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Kawhi Leonard on Instagram:
“I truly appreciate your unwavering support during both the highs and lows. Thank you, Clip Nation.” pic.twitter.com/GZvW11wrCE
The 35-year-old notably turned off comments on the post.
Leonard’s departure comes at a nightmarish period for the Clippers organization. After the NBA’s investigation, the team was stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million. Owner Steve Ballmer faces a yearlong suspension for violating the league’s salary cap circumvention rules.
Leonard was also punished for his involvement in the scandal and was fined $700k. The Clippers initially traded the star forward to Toronto in June, but the trade was put on hold amid the NBA’s investigation.
Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in action during a game against the Sacramento Kings. Getty ImagesKawhi Leonard sent a message to Clippers fans. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
After the findings were released, the NBA approved the deal and the trade became official.
Leonard returned to the Raptors at a convenient time as the Clippers will have to navigate uncertain times for the future of the franchise. Moreover, the organization is facing a potential federal criminal probe for circumventing the salary cap.
There are several question marks surrounding the Clippers following the league’s punishments. But Leonard will have no part in the team’s recovery from the scandal.
But he did manage to send one final message to Clippers fans.
As Jalen Duren remains a restricted free agent, the Pistons have agreed to terms with Ausar Thompson.
Thompson, already one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, signed a $155 million extension over five seasons, averaging $31 million per season, according to multiple reports.
Thompson, 23, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, one spot after his twin Amen, who agreed to a five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets in early September, making them the highest-paid set of twins in NBA history.
The Pistons and Duren remain at a summer-long standstill, with reports that the center is tied to a possible deal with the Kings, although Detroit remains keen on retaining the All-Star center.
Ausar Thompson finished No. 3 in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2026 behind Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama and Thunder standout Chet Holmgren.
Ausar Thompson has re-signed to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Pistons. Getty Images
The Oakland, Calif., native was also named to the All-Defensive First Team, becoming the Pistons’ All-Defense honoree since Tayshaun Prince in 2008, and the first to achieve the coveted first team distinction since 2006.
Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season while leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per contest.
In the playoffs, he dropped to 8.2 points per game, although his rebounds soared to 7.9 per contest, with his assists and steals remaining at 3.1 and 2.0, respectively.
The uber-athletic wing shot 52.5 percent from the field during the regular season and still hit over 50 percent from the field during the postseason.
Jalen Duren remains without a long-term commitment from the Pistons. Getty Images
Duren, who capped off his fourth season, finished 2026 as the runner-up for Most Improved Player to winner Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Hawks.
Duren finished with 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 65 percent shooting last season while earning his first All-Star bid.
The 22-year-old averaged 11.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in his first three seasons.
Duren, however, dropped off significantly in the playoffs, finishing with averages of 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds and just 51.4 percent shooting, a notable step-down from even his showing in a six-game series against the Knicks in 2025, where he posted 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.5 dimes on a nightly basis.
Detroit and Ausar Thompson have agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $155 million contract extension, news first broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports.
Thompson is one of the NBA's elite perimeter defenders and was named First Team All-Defense last season, while averaging 9.9 points per game and starting 73 games for a 60-win team. He averaged a league-leading two steals a game plus nearly one blocked shot a night. The Pistons see Thompson as a core part of their future (some would argue more critical than Duren) and getting him locked down at this price is a good deal.
That said, a contract averaging $31 million a season is a bet on Thompson's offensive game — especially his outside shot (25% from 3-point range last season, and that was an improvement) — taking some steps forward. Right now, Thompson is considered a non-shooter and that can clog the offense at times, even though the Pistons were an impressive +7.5 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the court last season.
Ausar's twin brother, Amen Thompson, signed a five-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets this summer. The twins were selected back-to-back in the 2023 NBA Draft, Amen at No. 4 to Houston, then Ausar at No. 5 to Detroit. Both are considered freak athletes, even by NBA standards. While Ausar has proven to be the better defender (although Amen made an All-Defensive team two seasons ago), Amen has considerably more offensive pop.
While the Pistons have worked things out with Thompson, they are still negotiating with Duren, who is a restricted free agent. The Pistons reportedly have put a deal in the five-year, $190 million range on the table, but Duren, coming off an All-NBA and All-Star season, wants an average salary of at least $40 million a season.
Detroit is trying to lock down its core with Duren, Thompson and already under contract Cade Cunningham. That group won 60 games last season, but learned some hard lessons in the playoffs, where they exited in the second round. While Duren has taken a lot of criticism for his postseason struggles, part of the issue is that playing him with Thompson at the same time put two non-shooters on the floor, which allowed both the Magic and Cavaliers to pack the paint and make life especially difficult for Duren. Detroit is doing the right thing locking up this core, it has championship potential, but if Thompson doesn't become at least a threat from beyond the arc, Detroit could face tough roster construction decisions down the line.
Pelle Larsson drives on Hornets wing Kon Knueppel during the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026.
Pelle Larsson is a name NBA fans should get used to this season.
The Swedish wing just agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension to remain in Miami, where the Heat are coming off a transformative summer, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.
The last year of the deal, which would be for the 2030-31 season, is a mutual option.
The deal will see Larsson — who will still bank a rookie-scale $2.3 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season — reportedly make $13.5 million in 2027-28 to begin the extension before getting annual increases.
Pelle Larsson drives on Hornets wing Kon Knueppel during the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Larsson is expected to play a huge role in his third season on a Heat team looking to contend once again.
The team executed a blockbuster for Giannis Antetokounmpo in late June, a deal which also netted Bobby Portis.
Miami sent an extensive package in the deal, highlighted by former All-Star Tyler Herro, Sixth Man of the Year contender Jaime Jaquez Jr., recent first-rounders Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis and a combination of first-round picks, including No. 13 overall in 2026, which Milwaukee used to select Nate Ament out of Tennessee.
Larsson, 25, made a big leap in his second season, jumping from 4.6 to 11.4 points per game in 2025-26, starting in 54 of his 70 appearances.
Pelle Larsson is the leader of the Swedish National Team. FIBA via Getty Images
The two-way swingman also saw his rebounds climb from 1.7 to 3.5 and his assists from 1.2 to 3.4 per game in his increased role.
The 6-foot-5 glue guy also shot nearly 50 percent from the field for the season and 32.3 percent from 3, going 62-for-192 from beyond the arc.
Larsson is also the top player on the Swedish National Team.
This offseason, he averaged 26 points per game across four contests with Sweden in FIBA 2027 World Cup qualifiers, where the team went 3-1 and pulled off an upset against Lauri Markkanen and Finland in Helsinki on Aug. 27. Larsson had 31 points in the game.
In last summer’s EuroBasket tournament, he averaged 18.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while leading Sweden, though it went 1-4 and was eliminated in Group Play.
The Warriors didn’t have an eye-popping offseason.
But they had an under-the-radar acquisition that could help them: They added Frank Vogel to their coaching staff as an assistant.
Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Frank Vogel looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Jan. 10, 2026. Getty Images
Vogel is bright. He’s defensive-minded. He led the Lakers to an NBA championship in the 2020 bubble at Walt Disney World.
When Steve Kerr (who won five championships as a player and four as coach) decided to return to Golden State’s helm this summer, he made it clear that the team and the coaching staff had some major areas in which they needed to improve.
Kerr added that he recently rewatched every turnover the Warriors committed last season. He believes they need to tighten the ship, bolster their decision-making and work on their fundamentals.
Vogel can help with all of that.
He’s known for transforming defenses. When he was the head coach of the Pacers from 2011-2016, he helped lead them to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and 2014, in large part because of their discipline on the less glamorous side of the court.
Kerr has long been one of the league’s top coaches. He has a great staff. They helped the Warriors become the league’s modern-day dynasty, winning four championships in eight years from 2015-2018.
But it’s clear the Warriors could use some fresh eyes, too.
And Vogel will be very helpful with that.
Since the Warriors won their last championship in 2022, they’ve struggled. They haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs the last four seasons. In two of those seasons, they missed the postseason altogether.
That said, those are guys who have lived atop the league the last decade and are used to winning.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, left, and assistant coach Frank Vogel look on during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors will surely look to make some major moves ahead of the trade deadline to shore up their roster holes. And Vogel will be there to help oversee it all.
Vogel has a keen eye. In many ways, he got the raw end of the deal when he was fired by the Lakers in 2022 after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in 2021 and missed the postseason in 2022.
But that wasn’t Vogel’s fault.
After the Lakers won their first championship in a decade in 2020, they parted ways with some key pieces of their championship squad to acquire Russell Westbrook, a move that will live in franchise infamy. Someone had to take the fall for the Lakers’ dysfunction. Vogel was first in line, a fate many coaches around the league have suffered in a role that often resembles a carousel.
After coaching the Suns from 2023-24 and serving as an assistant for the Mavericks last season, Vogel has landed with a veteran-laden team and a future Hall of Fame coach who will surely appreciate his skills.
A pairing of Kerr and Vogel just seems right.
There’s old blood. There’s new blood. And there are two great minds who have independently carried teams across the finish line now working in tandem.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 10: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on April 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons finally came to terms with a core member of its young core … and it wasn’t Jalen Duren. While the extended standoff between the All-NBA center and the Pistons continues, the Pistons swooped in and took care of a different kind of business, signing young forward Ausar Thomspon to a five-year, $155 million rookie extension, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Thompson has already established himself in the upper echelon of defenders in the NBA. At first blush, it might seem crazy to give a player who has averaged less than 10 points per game and isn’t a threat from deep a $31 million average annual contract. However, talk to any Pistons fan, or anyone who watches Pistons games regularly, and this truly feels like a steal.
Thompson thrived last season and set a high bar as a premier wing defender. He was an All-NBA First Team selection and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
And consider Ausar’s twin brother, Amen, who was picked one spot ahead of Ausar and signed a $208 million deal with the Houston Rockets earlier this offseason. Amen is certainly the superior offensive player thanks to his distribution skills, but he is also not quite the defensive presence of Ausar. To get Ausar at nearly $50 million less than Amen is a bit shocking to me, to be honest.
That doesn’t mean that Thompson can be a finished product. He certainly needs to become a legitimate offensive threat in some form or fashion. But he’s an S-tier perimeter defender, rebounds the hell out of the ball, can run the floor, and he’s just 22 years old. To be able to lock up Thompson through his age 28 season to play alongside star Cade Cunningham is a commitment to building a championship-level team for the Pistons.
You can’t ask for much better by way of complementary building blocks than Thompson and Cunningham. However, you know what is even better than a great two-person core as you try to build your way to a championship roster? A three-person core. And therein lies the Jalen Duren conundrum.
It has been widely reported and confirmed by sources close to the team that the Pistons are eager to sign Duren to a contract that would significantly exceed the $155 million Thompson deal. But Detroit is offering a deal between $185 million and $190 million, and Duren wants a deal exceeding $200 million.
I have no reason to believe either side is disputing this, representing the gulf in negotiations, and somehow neither can reach a deal. In fact, if you’re willing to believe Duren’s side, their player is willing to take his $9.6 million qualifying offer in order to chase a max contract next offseason. That would amount to him netting less than what the Pistons are reportedly offering over the same five-year window, but pride can do funny things to a guy.
While we wait for the inevitable conclusion to the Jalen Duren saga, at least we can take comfort in the knowledge that one of the NBA’s three best defenders is locked up long term with the Pistons.
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 14: Pelle Larsson #9 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Miami Heat think highly of Pelle Larsson, and they’re backing up their belief in the former Arizona Wildcats guard with a major extension.
Larsson has agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension with the Heat, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal comes with a mutual option for the 2030-31 season.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson has agreed to a new four-year, $60 million contract extension, with a mutual option for the 2030-31 season, Austin Brown and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/wVsi86w9yY
The contract extension makes Larsson one of the highest-paid players from the 2024 NBA Draft class despite being taken midway through the second round. Larsson has outperformed his draft selection (No. 44 overall) through two seasons in the NBA, becoming a vital part of Miami’s rotation.
Last season Larsson averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Larsson started 54 of the 70 games he appeared in after only starting eight games as a rookie.
The extension comes as a huge payday for Larsson, who was projected to earn $2.3 million this coming season. For Miami, the extension gives the team control of a young guard who was otherwise poised to enter restricted free agency next summer.
Miami is in win-now mode after trading for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in early July. The Heat also signed Klay Thompson this offseason.
Larsson’s former Arizona teammate Keshad Johnson enters his third season with the team after signing as an undrafted free agent.
The Detroit Pistons have locked up one of their core players.
Just not the one people thought would sign first.
The Pistons and Ausar Thompson agreed on a five-year contract extension worth $155 million on Friday, Sept. 18, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the extension has not yet been announced publicly.
The deal, which does not have any opt-outs, kicks in next season and secures Thompson's future with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2023.
Thompson took another step in 2025-26, his third NBA season. His otherworldly defense was validated during awards season. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind two centers – winner Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. Thompson was later named to the All-Defensive first team, becoming the first Pistons player to receive the honor since Ben Wallace in 2005-06.
Thompson and the Pistons beat the 6 p.m. ET, Oct. 19 deadline to sign a rookie extension. He will make $11.1 million in his fourth season to complete his four-year, $36.2 million rookie contract.
Thompson's new contract kicks in for the 2027-28 season and ends in 2032, and will play him $31 million per season. NBA contracts are guaranteed, unless otherwise stipulated.
Ausar Thompson stats in NBA with Pistons
Thompson's per-game averages and stats during the 2025-26 regular season:
73 games (72 starts)
9.9 points
5.7 rebounds
3.1 assists
2.0 steals (NBA-best)
0.9 blocks
1.5 turnovers
26 minutes
52.5% field goals (7.9 attempts – 303-for-577)
25% 3-pointers (0.3 attempts – 6-for-24)
57.1% free throws (2.6 attempts – 109-for-191)
54.5% true shooting percentage
Thompson was the leader of the league's No. 2 defense, which forced more turnovers and blocked more shots per game than any other team.
Ausar Thompson playoff stats
Thompson's per game averages and stats during the 2025-26 playoffs:
14 games
8.2 points
7.9 rebounds
3.1 assists
2.0 steals
1.8 blocks
1.6 turnovers
30.5 minutes
50.5% field goals (6.9 attempts – 49-for-97)
14.3% 3-pointers (0.5 attempts – 1-for-7)
51.6% free throws (2.2 attempts – 16-for-31)
52% true shooting percentage
Ausar Thompson draft pick
Thompson was drafted by then-Pistons general manager Troy Weaver in 2023 at No. 5 overall out of Overtime Elite in Atlanta – at the time, a new professional basketball league for up-and-coming prospects aged 16-20.
Ausar Thompson height and weight
Thompson, born Jan. 30, 1993, in San Leandro, California, will turn 24 years old on Jan. 30, 2026. His height is listed at 6 feet 7 in shoes, his weight is listed at 205 pounds and he measured with a 7-foot wingspan at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. His twin brother, Amen, plays for the Houston Rockets.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson was a standout for Sweden in FIBA World Cup qualifying this summer. He scored 23 points against France (not enough for the win, but he outscored Victor Wembanyama). He completely outplayed Lauri Markkanen, leading Sweden past Finland with 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting and adding five boards.
Miami is banking on more of that kind of play from Larsson around Giannis Antetokounmpo in the coming years, which is why they have locked him up with a four-year, $60 million contract extension, something first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania and confirmed by other sources. The final year of this deal is a mutual option. That extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season, Larson will make $2.3 million this season on the remainder of his rookie contract.
Larsson was a second-round pick out of Arizona in 2024 and has shown real growth in his game in his two NBA seasons. In 70 games last season, 54 as a starter, Larsson averaged 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, and while he's not a great 3-point shooter yet (32.3% last season), he is an efficient scorer overall, with a 60.5 true shooting percentage last season. Erik Spoelstra is a big fan and called him the ultimate glue guy. While he started last season, it's expected he will begin this season coming off the bench behind Klay Thompson.
Larsson has sort of taken over the role Miami hoped Nikola Jovic would fill, but Jovic fell out of Spoelstra's rotation last season. About a year ago, the Heat and Jovic agreed to a four-year, $62.5 million extension that kicks in this season. On that front, the Larsson contract is a real value (the Heat are hoping for more from Jovic this season).
The Warriors are locking in for the 2026-27 NBA season, where their goal is to return to being true title contenders. But they will run things back with virtually the same roster as last season, with players like Draymond Green set to play a big role once again. Things could look much different for Green this season, though.
Golden State has a lot to prove this season and used the offseason to regroup and reset, understanding that players’ roles will have to change if the franchise wants to be a part of the playoff conversation. Over the offseason, head coach Steve Kerr shared what a new role could look like for Green on The Tom Tolbert Show.
Green spoke about Kerr’s comments on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, and gave a candid response about how the team wants him to play this coming season.
“As far as shooting threes, for the first time in my career, Coach Kerr told me towards the end of last year, he pulled me to the side and he’s like, ‘Draymond, I want you shooting the three.’ And I was like, ‘Oh s—.’ It was like an out of body experience, because I had never really heard him like confidently look me in my eye and say to me, ‘Yo, I want you shooting the basketball,” Green said on his podcast. “Even when I was shooting the ball great. It was just something that I had never heard. When he told me, the confidence level rose immediately.
“That was great for me, and now being able to go into the season with that mindset of like, I catch, I’m open, I’m firing. For me, ultimately, it’s going to help my shooting percentages, because it’s a lot different shooting the three when you catch and you’re not sure if you should shoot the three, or when you catch and you’re looking for the next action because that’s kind of your role in the offense. It’s a lot different shooting that three, because then it’s no longer a rhythm three.”
Green, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, is one of the greatest defensive players to ever grace a basketball court but is not the most effective scorer. Averaging a career high of 14 points per game back in 2015-16, he has not averaged double figures in scoring since 2017-18. Steph Curry has been the Warriors’ top scorer in this era, but nearing the twilight of his career, the Warriors need to find ways to help Curry and take some pressure off of his shoulders.
Green has shown signs that he can shoot the ball well over the course of his career and has a career 3-point percentage of .321. The Warriors will face very good scoring teams this season, so if Green is able to work on his shooting ability even more, Golden State could be even more competitive in a wide-open NBA.
Green is entering his 15th season in the NBA and with the Warriors, hungrier than ever to add a fifth ring to his collection. A four-time All-Star, nine-time NBA All-Defensive team pick and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Green’s career is Hall of Fame worthy, and a fifth ring would surely cement his status. Re-signing with the Warriors on a one-year deal this offseason, it is safe to say that Green and the Warriors are going all-in.
