Detroit Pistons draft: Why some scouts are leery of the Thompson twins

The Detroit Pistons can fall no further than 5th in the 2023 NBA Draft, and if the worst-case scenario does happen, everything is on the table.

That would include trading the pick in a package for an established player, trading back for extra picks or taking a player that may not currently be on anyone’s radar.

Two players that often get mentioned as possibilities for the Detroit Pistons if they drop out of the top three are the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar.

Both brothers are uber-athletic guard/wings who can run the floor and defend, but also have big question marks surrounding their shooting ability.

Most scouts think Ausar has the chance to be the better defender, while Amen is the better playmaker on the offensive end.

The two play in Overtime Elite, which is one thing that some scouts are leery about.

Detroit Pistons draft: Amen and Ausar Thompson aren’t playing “elite” competition

Overtime Elite may have the word “elite” in its name, but compared to the G-League, NCAA and international play, the competition is not quite there.

That’s why some scouts are using caution when evaluating the Thompson twins, as they haven’t exactly been playing against the highest caliber competition as they run up gaudy overall numbers in Overtime Elite, which is why it’s difficult to know what to make of them.

According to HoopsHype, there are scouts who aren’t ready to put them in the top five of the 2023 NBA Draft just yet:

"“The Thompson twins are 20 years old playing against guys 16 and 17 years old,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “It’s tough to trust them. I don’t like their shooting forms at all.”"

This is a fair point to consider, especially when comparing the twins to guys who are playing against older and better competition.

Their highlights are tantalizing, but keep in mind that the twins are the only first-round prospects in Overtime Elite and many of the guys are high school aged players who will end up going to college. Many consider Bryson Tiller to be the third-best prospect in Overtime Elite and he is just 17-years-old.

For that reason, the Thompson twins might be a bigger risk than prospects like Jarace Walker and Cam Whitmore, who have at least played against top college competition.