Watch: Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson hits reverse alley-oop after defensive stop
The Detroit Pistons loved Ausar Thompson at pick No. 5 in the 2023 NBA Draft because of his extremely high ceiling.
He's raw, without a doubt, but the Pistons took Thompson because he's an incredible, 6-foot-7 athlete who can be a show-stopper in transition and an absolute lockdown defender against all five positions. That's the floor for Thompson.
The ceiling? Well, he has the raw tools to develop into a perennial NBA All-star, especially if he refines his three-point shot.
That's the reason Detroit general manager Troy Weaver stuck at No. 5 rather than trading up and out (which was a popular suggestion). It's the ceiling that makes Thompson such an intriguing pick and the floor that makes him a safe pick for a team building a young core around the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
That floor — Thompson's basic set of skills as the No. 5 pick — was on display in Detroit's latest Summer League game. And mind you, that basic set of skills is anything but basic.
Just watch:
That's the two-way potential that has fans of the Pistons so excited.
Detroit was woefully awful on defense while winning just 17 games last season, so look for Thompson to provide a spark on that end immediately.
If his athleticism allows him to consistently finish at the rim in the NBA like this, though?
The sky is the limit.
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