Long-time NBA podcaster Zach Lowe recently had regular guest Howard Beck on his “Zach Lowe Show” podcast to discuss their six most intriguing players for the upcoming season. Both ended up with a Pistons player on their list, and Lowe also revealed that Jalen Duren was on his list of six prior to last season. This national spotlight on young Pistons only serves to highlight the importance of this season for the young core’s development.
Ausar Thompson and Jaden Ivey are the X-factors for the Pistons
Lowe briefly mentioned that Jalen Duren was on his most intriguing list last year, but did not provide further details on why. However, it’s not hard to see why an extremely raw and athletic center playing with an elite playmaking point guard and being surrounded by solid shooters for the first time in his career could make the list. Duren’s performance last season wasn’t perfect, but his growth on the defensive end and finishing ability made it an overall success.
For next season, Lowe announced Ausar Thompson as his single most intriguing player in the league. He mentioned Thompson’s elite defensive versatility and smart offensive game as things to look out for in his first fully healthy season. Of all the Pistons’ young core, Ausar probably has the most unconventional game and his athletic playmaking wing archetype is not a very popular one around the league. His progression and fit with the rest of the core, especially his ability to fit in next to a fellow non-shooter at the center position, may very well be what determines the ceiling of this group.
Howard Beck went with a different Piston on his list: Jaden Ivey. Ivey’s injury midway through last season makes him one of the biggest unknowns in the entire league. Prior to that injury, he was playing exactly the role that the Pistons needed in the starting lineup as a secondary creator and spot up shooter next to Cade Cunningham. However, we didn’t get much of a glimpse of him playing with Ausar and the best version of the team at the end of the year. This coming season will be his chance to prove his shooting last year was no fluke and that he can be the combo guard to complete the Pistons roster.
Many Pistons are ready to pencil in the team to make another leap to contender status after a successful season last year. But the truth is that Cade Cunningham is the only proven commodity in the young core, and next season will be the one that really shows us if his teammates are also fit to be part of the Pistons’ long term future.