Ausar Thompson's next step this offseason is an obvious one: he needs to improve offensively. There are multiple ways for him to grow on that end and reach the level of the best young two-way wings, but fortunately Thompson can improve a lot just by getting more aggressive. Even if his actual shooting or ball-handling doesn't change significantly, Thompson can be a much bigger factor on offense next season if he just changes his approach.
The Pistons just need Thompson to look for his shot
This should be a welcome reprieve for Thompson. It's difficult to completely revamp a jump-shot or take strides as a ball-handler in the NBA, but it's much easier to come in with more scoring aggression. Even if he doesn't add anything to his scoring arsenal, Thompson can be a bigger threat by just attacking the rim more often and with more reckless abandon.
The Pistons might not even need that from him to continue winning regular season games; after all, they got 60 victories last season with Thompson averaging just 10 points per game. But his offensive aggression can make a huge difference in the playoffs. If Detroit wants to make a deep playoff run, they'll need all their best players to draw defensive attention - and Thompson isn't doing that right now.
Thompson has taken about 8 field goal attempts per game throughout the regular season in each of his 3 seasons. But that number drops even further to 7 attempts per game in the playoffs. Ironically, that's when the Pistons need him to assert his will even more. Opposing defenses will tend to sag off Thompson and put additional pressure on Cade Cunningham in the playoffs; the Pistons need Thompson to punish that strategy when it happens.
Ironically, he had seemingly solved this issue in his first-ever playoff run in 2025. As a 22-year-old, Thompson maintained his average of 7 field goal attempts per game against the Knicks in the first round that year, but also took 6 free-throw attempts per game. He was weaponizing his athleticism to attack the rim and forcing New York to foul him, which also led to the Pistons outperforming expectations.
Thompson's aggression would unlock Detroit's offense
The Pistons offense had plenty of flaws that led to a poor output in the playoffs last season, and has even spilled over into offseason contract disputes. Thompson had an incredible playoff run defensively, but his lack of offensive aggression caused issues for his teammates. Not only Cunningham, but also Jalen Duren, were hurt by Thompson's passivity.
In 2025, the Pistons found a lot of playoff sucess with Duren passing to Thompson while he cut to the rim during a pick-and-roll action. Last season, that movement largely disappeared as Duren got more aggressive with his scoring and Thompson cut to the basket less aggressively. If the Pistons can tap back into that strength as a playoff counter, they will have a much more sustainable offense next postseason.
At the same time, Cade himself will also have more options for assisting teammates or scoring his own baskets if Thompson puts himself in scoring positions. In the playoffs, there's no point parking Thompson in the corner if he can't hit a three; defenders will just leave him open anyways. But if he's constantly running around the paint and threatening to either finish a play himself or grab an offensive rebound, then defenders have to pay attention.
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