Pistons news: Ausar Thompson's shot, Ron Holland and a training camp surprise

Detroit Pistons training camp is underway and there are already some interesting stories developing with the regular season now only three weeks away. 

The most important is the health status of Ausar Thompson, who has not yet been cleared for full-contact activities and has been relegated to drills. 

That hasn’t stopped Thompson from getting work in, as he’s been tweaking his shot with shooting coach Fred Vinson and working on his handles. You can see the new form here and judge for yourself. 

Everyone looks good unguarded in practice, so we’ll have to see how this translates to live action. The question is when that is going to be, as Trajan Langdon said there is “no timeline” yet for Thompson’s full return. 

With the first preseason game just four days away, this has to be the primary concern of the Pistons and their fans, as Thompson is a big part of their future. 

Ron Holland II figures out who Paul Reed is in training camp 

Paul Reed is not exactly a household name, but rookie Ron Holland II couldn’t have picked him out of a lineup before training camp according to a recent piece Keith Langlois on NBA.com. 

Holland was surprised by how good Reed is and I believe a lot of Pistons fans are going to feel the same after seeing him. 

He’s not been talked about much, as most of the focus has been on how the JB Bickerstaff will use Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. 

But don’t count Reed out as a key part of the rotation, he blocked 1.3 shots per game as a full-time starter with Joel Embiid out last season, which makes him one of the Pistons’ best rim protectors. 

He’s also working on expanding his range according to Langlois: 

“Reed’s shooting has really opened eyes. He didn’t shoot from three much in Philadelphia – the Sixers had too many other proven options – but, like most young big men, it’s a skill that takes multiple seasons to develop to the point it can be incorporated into game plans. Now might be Reed’s time. His shooting form is unorthodox, but it works for him. 

Where he fits in the mix with Jalen Duren the odds-on favorite to start at center and Isaiah Stewart saying this week that he’s looking forward to getting back to his roots at the five after spending most of his minutes last season at the four remains to be seen. But a Reed who represents a legitimate 3-point threat opens up a lot of possibilities for J.B. Bickerstaff as he plots a rotation blueprint.” 

If Reed does increase his volume and accuracy from 3-point range it would help solve some of the Pistons’ depth issues at the four, allowing Stewart to play most of his minutes at the backup five, where he can be a legit stretch option for Detroit. 

Both Reed and Simone Fontecchio (who are making combined what Isaiah Stewart makes next season) could end up being two of the best bargains in the NBA, which is something teams will increasingly need in the apron era. 

The Pistons are much better prepared to absorb an injury this season, as Reed played in all 82 games last year, which will give them some insurance.