Charania: optimism growing on Ausar Thompson extension in Detroit

Shams Charania of ESPN said Brandon Miller and Ausar Thompson are both in active extension talks with their teams ahead of the October 19 deadline, singling out Thompson as the one with growing optimism for a deal in Detroit.

Charania now says talks between Miller's camp and Charlotte are expected to pick up pace in the coming weeks on a rookie-scale extension, with growing optimism there too, as the Hornets view him as a cornerstone with no interest in letting him leave.

Charania also flagged Cason Wallace, Brandin Podziemski and Jaime Jaquez as extension candidates worth watching, though he offered no specifics on Scoot Henderson, Anthony Black or Dereck Lively II.

Hornets executive Jeff Peterson had said in July he'd discussed a long-term deal with Miller, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.