Pistons provide encouraging update on Ausar Thompson

Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Pistons provide encouraging update on high-upside wing Ausar Thompson

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jul 10, 2024 9:30 PM ET

Detroit Pistons second-year wing Ausar Thompson is brimming with potential.

Whether or not he can reach that potential is now up to new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon and new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, but being healthy is half the battle in the NBA — and the Pistons announced some good news in that regard on Wednesday.

Thompson was unable to finish his rookie season in Detroit due to blood clots, and he's been receiving treatments for the condition ever since.

There was some concern when it was revealed that Thompson wasn't on the team's Summer League squad, but Langdon revealed that he has been cleared to play basketball. The Pistons are just taking their time getting him reacclimated to the grind.

Langdon on Ausar: "He's actually on the court working out today. He just recently got cleared for all basketball activities. Don't want to rush him back."

Said he'll ramp out in Vegas with the vets.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) July 10, 2024

Thompson was Detroit's fifth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which means he's one of the last picks of the Troy Weaver era. The new leadership in Detroit will now be tasked with his development, and there is plenty of it that still needs to happen.

Thompson flashed elite defensive potential as a rookie and acted as somewhat of a "glue guy" for the Pistons, averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The issue was that he shot just 59.7% from the free throw line and only 18.6% from three, so the key to unlocking his true potential will be getting him to shoot to at least league average.

If the Pistons and new shooting coach Fred Vinson can do that — Thompson profiles as a potential two-way star.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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