East Notes: Pistons, Ausar Thompson, Hornets, Mason Plumlee, Nets

Pistons

The Pistons are still shaping what life looks like around Cade Cunningham — and one of the preseason’s biggest experiments has been putting the ball in Ausar Thompson’s hands more often, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.

Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff said the idea is to unlock another layer of tempo and versatility.

“The tempo he plays at changes how teams guard him,” Bickerstaff said. “He has the ability to make his teammates better.”

Giving Thompson more control also frees Cunningham to find easier shots off the ball.

“Teams decide they want to pick Cade up full court,” Bickerstaff added. “Now his defender has to play off a screen or a shift, and it just makes him a better offensive player.”

Cunningham likes the early results.

“Ausar can initiate offense at a high level,” he said. “Giving him room to get more comfortable with it will be a big weapon for us.”

Hornets

Mason Plumlee didn’t return to Charlotte just to be a mentor. The veteran center said he expects to play a real role on the floor while helping the Hornets chase wins.

“I think I have a lot to offer, especially the young guys in my position,” Plumlee said, via Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “But my understanding is we’re playing to win this year. So that was my interest in coming here and I want to contribute to that.”

Plumlee, 34, joins a young frontcourt that includes 23-year-olds Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Hornets are hoping his experience balances the group while still keeping them competitive in the East.

Nets

Nets owner Joe Tsai recently said during a public appearance that the team hopes to land a “good draft pick” in 2026, and that fans could probably “predict what kind of strategy” the Nets will use this year.

That comment drew attention, but head coach Jordi Fernandez turned it into a compliment for his front office.

“He says he wants a good draft pick because no matter where we pick, our front office is so good we’re going to pick a very good player,” Fernandez told reporters, via Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “So whatever we pick, that’s why he’s excited — because we’re going to pick right.”

Brooklyn enters the season young and unproven after trading away Cameron Johnson and adding five rookies over the summer. Still, Fernandez’s team outperformed expectations last season with 26 wins.

They may not win often this year, but at least they’ll have a clear direction. And, hey, plenty of draft capital to go with it.