When would Ausar Thompson be picked in previous drafts?
By Indy Perro
Thompson Twins in the 2021 Draft
In the 2021 draft, the Thompson twins might have gone third and fourth. The truth is, they aren’t that far from Cade Cunningham.
Amen Thompson is a point guard in the body of a small forward. Sound familiar? Motorcade, like the Thompson twins, can distribute the basketball, shows excellent court awareness, has the size to defend four positions, and is highly skilled.
Cunningham’s maturity and professionalism, even at a young age, stood out to the Detroit Pistons organization and ESPN’s pundits on draft night. The Thompson twins have both showed similar maturity and professionalism.
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Cunningham’s ability to orchestrate an offense against NBA defenses separates him from the Thompsons. Certainly, Ausar Thompson projects to be a three-and-D wing with exceptional awareness and the ability to cut and run the floor. He’ll complement Cunningham with his basketball IQ but shouldn’t be compared as a facilitator.
Either of the Thompson twins would’ve been a competitive pick when compared to anyone not named Cade Cunningham or Evan Mobley. Mobley’s combined physical gifts and skills set him apart from the field, at least in my mind. He came in second in rookie of the year voting and enjoyed an excellent first season.
In his second season, Mobley struggled a bit. The style of play in Cleveland changed with the addition of Donovan Mitchell, and teams prepared for Mobley, which meant last season he needed to adjust in ways he hadn’t yet developed. Still, a sophomore slump aside, Mobley projects to be one of the best players from that draft.
Behind Cunningham and Mobley, teams might have valued the Thompson twins when compared to Jalen Green, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Suggs, Josh Giddey, and Jonathan Kuminga.