Top prospect cancels workout with Pacers, fueling speculation of draft promise

Thompson and his identical twin brother, Amen, starred for Overtime Elite the last two seasons, where Ausar was the Finals MVP both years. While Amen is considered the better athlete and playmaker, Ausar is considered the better defender. Not surprisingly, both brothers measured at 6’5 3/4” at the draft combine.

Now, Ausar Thompson has withdrawn from a planned individual workout with the Indiana Pacers, who hold the No. 7 pick in next week’s draft. That’s a very strong indication that some team ahead of the Pacers has made a draft promise to Thompson; that is, agreed to pick him if he’s available, in exchange for him not working out for other teams.

With three prospects and his own twin almost certain to go ahead of him, that leaves the Detroit Pistons at No. 5 and the Orlando Magic at No. 6 as potential promisers. Detroit is well-stocked with athletic defenders with shooting issues, so the best bet is Orlando.

The Magic have Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and All-Rookie Franz Wagner, so they have the space to be patient with Thompson’s development. Traditionally, they love long-armed athletes like Thompson and with a second lottery pick, they’re well-primed to bet on his sky-high potential.

At the very least, it is unlikely that Thompson won’t be available for the Pacers at No. 7. Adjust your mock drafts accordingly.