For the Detroit Pistons to progress, they will need one of their young players to step into a star role and that player could be Ausar Thompson.
Trajan Langdon made it clear in a recent press conference that the Pistons had no intentions of being aggressive this offseason and will instead rely on internal development and working around the “fringes.”
We know that can change quickly if the right deal presents itself, but for now, it appears that the Pistons will focus on retaining their own free agents and hoping another young player makes the kind of leap that Cade Cunningham made this season.
Ausar Thompson is poised for the most improvement, as this will be his first full offseason and training camp, which will allow him to work on things that he didn’t get a chance to last year when blood clots ended his rookie season prematurely and cost him his offseason.
Thompson has lofty goals, and if he gets anywhere near them, the Pistons may have their second star in house.
Ausar Thompson: Defensive Player of the Year with the right offensive improvements
Langdon added that Thompson was working hard this offseason and has the goal of winning Defensive Player of the Year.
It’s not a wild thought, as Thompson had the best net rating on the Pistons last season (of players who appeared in at least 50 games) and his defensive rating was a narrow second to Isaiah Stewart.
Thompson is already one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, and after he puts on more strength this summer (which he will) we could see him even more formidable on that end.
All-Defense is certainly not out of the question for next season, and if Thompson gets anywhere near DPOY, the Pistons will be in business.
Thompson is also reportedly working on his “ball handling” and “shot creation,” specifically out of the pick-and-roll, which are the exact areas in which he needs to improve.
I see A LOT of Pistons fans talking about Ausar’s shooting, and yes, it would be great if he suddenly became a lights out shooter, but Thompson would arguably be more impactful as a consistent playmaker who can finish around the rim.
It’s too early in his career to worry about 3-point shooting when Thompson does so many other things well, so the fact that he is leaning into and trying to bolster his strengths is a smart approach.
If Thompson can get closer to 15 points per game, add a few more assists and cut down on turnovers with greater strength, the Pistons will be close to having their second star when you factor in his elite defense and rebounding.
Twin brother Amen Thompson is already there and is a foundational part of what Houston is building. He came in as the higher rated playmaker, but Ausar can get there with improvements. You know it is killing Ausar that Amen made All-Defense and didn’t, so expect him to be putting in the work this summer to catch his brother.
That’s exactly what the Pistons need to continue to progress as a team.