What we learned at Detroit Pistons training camp: Ausar Thompson ready for takeoff
The NBA preseason has arrived.
The Detroit Pistons will host the Phoenix Suns at 3 p.m. Sunday, kicking off a four-game exhibition slate before the regular season tips begins Oct. 25. The team is coming off of an insightful week of training camp, with recently hired head coach Monty Williams taking stock of a young roster eager to move on from a 17-win season.
Here's what we learned about the Pistons during camp as they prepare to play their first game:
Starting lineup taking shape
In regards to the Pistons’ opening night rotation, only one thing has been obvious — Cade Cunningham will start. With a new head coach comes uncertainty on how the rest will shake out. But Williams has offered hints.
His rotation will likely only include three big men, as Williams said it’s likely that one of James Wiseman or Marvin Bagley III will be the backup big. Given that Williams also said the pick-and-roll combination between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren could give the Pistons an advantage, we can assume that Duren and Isaiah Stewart will be the starting frontcourt.
Jaden Ivey is fresh off of a promising rookie season that saw him start 73 games. There have been no indications he will lose his starting job, and the Pistons need to evaluate his fit next to Cunningham. Pinning down small forward is trickier. Williams could stick with sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, or give the nod to rookie Ausar Thompson — whose defensive instincts and athletic gifts have impressed.
It’s possible, if not likely, Williams will tinker with lineups beyond the first few games.
THE ROOKIE: Ausar Thompson wowing Pistons coaches, teammates
“There’s times where you can’t figure out your team until 10, 20 games into the season,” he said. “You’re still trying to win every game until you do that, but I think there are teams in the league, the top teams, they’ve got it down. There’s about 15 of us that are still in a position where it’s like, we need some time to make sure we’re seeing what we need to see. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, especially when you have a new team like ours.”
Williams impressed with Killian Hayes
The stakes have been a little different for Killian Hayes. The Pistons’ 2020 seventh overall pick is playing for a second contract, as he become a restricted free agent next summer. His scoring struggles, along with Detroit’s recent draft investments and overall depth at point guard, has called his future with the franchise into question.
Williams likes what he has seen from the fourth-year guard, saying he’s been “terrific” and a leader. With Cunningham, Ivey, Alec Burks and Monte Morris all presumably being in the rotation, it’s tough to see room for a fifth guard. But Hayes is making a strong case.
“He’s big,” Williams said. “I like big guards. That doesn’t mean I don’t like small guards, but I like big guards that defend. He has a good feel for the game, he makes the right plays. I told him if you just compete every play, you’re going to stand out. He’s somebody that I heard about when he was coming out the draft and I’ve followed him from afar, not in-depth but I have followed him a little bit. I was looking forward to coaching him because I see the size, I see the attributes.
“He has a chance to be really effective for us. We’re still early in the process, but he’s had a really good camp.”
Isaiah Livers may have a significant role once he returns
A Grade III left ankle sprain will keep Isaiah Livers off the floor for six-to-eight weeks. It’s another tough blow for the 6-foot-7 Michigan alumnus who has played just 71 games through two seasons due to injuries.
Even though he hasn’t participated in training camp yet, Williams is eager for his return. Livers is a career 37.8% 3-point shooter and one of their better defenders. There’s always room in the rotation for a 3-and-D wing.
“He’s a two-way guy, smart,” Williams said. “He can play with the ball better than I thought, watching him play pickup before we started training camp. He can make a pocket pass, he knows how to play in 0.5 (offense). He does a number of things well and he’s smart. Talks on defense. It’s unfortunate that he had an injury, because he was having a great summer. He’s been working on his body. We can’t wait to get him back because he’s gonna add some value to both sides of the ball.”
Ausar Thompson is ready
The fifth overall draft pick this summer has been the talk of Pistons camp. His teammates believe he’s already capable of handling tough defensive assignments. His athleticism and defensive instincts have stood out to Williams. Given the Pistons want to improve substantially on defense this season, it seems natural Thompson will get opportunities to prove himself.
But it’s tough to predict how rookies will handle the transition to NBA speed and physicality. Based on his performance thus far, Williams believes his transition won’t be difficult.
“He has physical gifts and natural playing abilities that allow him to overcome things that he might not know,” Williams said. “We think he’s going to be phenomenal and we think he’s going to be an integral part of our team. There’s a chance that could happen right away, just based on what we’ve seen this summer and in camp.”
SHAWN WINDSOR: Cade Cunningham is finally healthy. And he's ready to prove a point
Defense is a big priority
Williams was blunt — if a player is a “blowby guy” on defense, they will have a tough time getting on the floor.
Many of his rotation decisions will revolve around defense. But with a young roster with few proven defenders, he’ll have to have a level of patience as well. Of the bigs, only Stewart has been a positive on that end. Defensive growth from Duren, who has the tools to be an elite rim protector, would go a long way toward helping the Pistons accomplish that goal. Williams is putting pressure on the guards to limit dribble penetration, as well.
"You look at our team, you have to look at the defense,” he said. "That’s something that, just looking at the numbers on paper, if we’re gonna, which we will, take a jump, the defense has to improve. And it’s not just the defense in the halfcourt setting. We’ve gotta be better at not fouling. We’ve gotta be better in areas that allow for you to put less stress on your offense. And we’ve shown in segments that we can do it when you watch the film from last year. It’s can you maintain your defensive discipline over the course of the season. That just comes from a lot of work, and you gotta have some toughness and a lot of will to be a good defensive team in this league.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
Listen to "The Pistons Pulse" with new episodes each Tuesday morning, wherever you listen to podcasts. Catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
For (preseason) openers: Suns
Matchup: Pistons (17-65 in 2022-23) vs. Phoenix (45-37 in 2022-23), exhibition opener.
Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit, NBATV; WWJ-AM (950).
Regular-season opener: At Miami Heat; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What we learned at Detroit Pistons camp: Ausar Thompson to takeoff
