Detroit’s reported Thompson deal puts a price on more than points.

A player averaging 9.9 points can still be expensive to replace. Detroit’s reported commitment to Ausar Thompson puts that argument in dollars: five years and $155 million, according to Yahoo Sports’ September 18 account citing ESPN’s Shams Charania. It was not a team announcement; Yahoo said the club had not announced the deal at publication.

The reported figure averages $31 million a year. The actual salary schedule and cap charges need not follow that simple division. Those details will help determine how the agreement fits Detroit’s other commitments.

The box score is only a starting point

Thompson’s case starts at the other end of the court. Yahoo’s report credits him with an All-Defensive First Team selection and third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. His scoring average alone leaves out the part of his game receiving that recognition.

A defender who can take a difficult assignment gives a coach choices. The lineup around him matters, too. If opponents can exploit an offensive limitation, his team has to find enough shooting and scoring elsewhere to make the combination work. Praising the defense does not make that problem disappear.

Keep the contract argument honest

That is where the contract debate gets interesting. Detroit is committing resources to a role, a player’s development and the combinations it expects to use. A low scoring average does not automatically make the price foolish. A defensive award does not automatically make it wise.

Before judging the price, compare players of similar age and responsibility, and account for when their deals were signed. Then look at the final terms. The headline total is large enough to attract attention; its long-term value will depend on what Detroit can build around the player.

For the Knicks and Nets, the relevance is straightforward: another Eastern Conference team is shaping its future. How Thompson’s defense fits with the rest of Detroit’s lineup will be more useful to watch than an argument that stops at 9.9 points.