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The Detroit Pistons have to be ecstatic about their fifth overall draft pick Ausar Thompson. After the draft lottery, many fans were feeling like they had been punched in the gut. They had the worst record in the league last season and the worst-case scenario was getting the fifth overall pick. The worst-case scenario happened. After the NBA’s annual Summer League, fans are feeling less bad about the draft lottery luck.
Detroit Pistons Ausar Thompson In Summer League
The knock on Ausar Thompson was his shooting ability. While the athleticism was there, his shot still needs a lot of work. His decision to play in Overtime Elite last season also raised questions about how his game would translate to the NBA. In Summer League, Thompson started to calm some of the worries about his game. In the four games that he played, Thompson shot 46% from the field. While this isn’t amazing, it isn’t awful. Teams will not be able to leave him alone when the Detroit Pistons are on offense. They will have to honor his shot.
His rebounding and defense are what was turning heads. His complete lockdown of fellow first-round pick Gradey Dick went viral as he got the steal, made a great pass, and then had a nice alley-oop reverse jam. Throughout Summer League, Thompson made plays that will not show up in the box score but are highly important to winning.
The 2023 Season Is Looking Up
Detroit Pistons fans have to be excited about this upcoming season. Jalen Duren was another player that had an amazing Summer League performance. Marcus Sasser was another rookie that turned heads with a 40-point performance in a game. With Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey in the backcourt, this team has a nice blend of young players and some veterans. The questions mostly revolved around how all of these pieces fit together and how Cunningham comes back from injury.
This is where Ausar Thompson looks like an even better pick for the Detroit Pistons. Thompson doesn’t need the ball to be effective. He showed that he can play off the ball well and put himself in good positions. The team didn’t need another ball-dominant player. They needed a player like Thompson.
Blessing In Disguise
Getting the fifth overall pick might have been a blessing in disguise. Ausar Thompson has a chance to become a very important part of this team. While I am not going to guarantee an All-Star Game appearance or All-NBA caliber play, he does seem to be a player that can be a piece on a championship team. At this point, these are the types of players that the Pistons should be looking for. 2023 is going to be a fun season and hopefully will end in a playoff appearance for the young team.
