Detroit Pistons take giant swing by picking Overtime Elite's Ausar Thompson in NBA draft

The Detroit Pistons took a big swing in Thursday’s 2023 NBA draft just as general manager Troy Weaver predicted two nights earlier.

Weaver and his brass selected Overtime Elite wing Ausar Thompson — an athletic playmaker who could give the team a defensive identity it has lacked in recent seasons.

The Pistons, despite falling to the fifth pick in May's lottery, had a talented list of wings and forwards to choose from, and entered the day with a glaring need for a defensive-minded player who complements their young core of players led by Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

According to a Pistons source, the team was impressed with Thompson's unique blend of speed, power and toughness. That, along with his competitiveness on defense, pushed him toward the top of their draft board.

"Super excited," Thompson said on ESPN's broadcast moments after his name was called. "I’m super excited to meet my coaches, meet my teammates and just grow with them, and try to contend."

SHAWN WINDSOR: Pistons draft Ausar Thompson, a player that would fit on their greatest teams

Thompson was viewed as one of the more well-rounded prospects in the lottery after averaging 16.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game last season while shooting 48.1% overall in 16 games. He and his twin brother Amen, who was drafted one pick earlier by Houston, are both nearly 6 feet 7 in shoes, with 7-foot wingspans and produced a long highlight reel of flashy dunks and passes. Ausar will be one of the NBA’s better athletes from the moment he takes this court this October.

While there are significant question marks about how the twins will handle the transition from Overtime Elite — a new professional basketball league for up-and-coming prospects aged 16 through 20 — to the best league in the world, the Pistons were high on the duo and view Ausar, 20, as an upside swing who will plug several roster holes.

Ausar is viewed as having a wing skillset at 218 pounds. He’s not quite as good at handling the ball and breaking down defenses as his brother, but he’s an engaged defender who moves his feet quickly, sees the floor well offensively and thrives in transition. Along with Ivey and Jalen Duren, the Pistons will have a bouncy, athletic core that should be able to capitalize on fastbreak opportunities.

Ausar is a poor outside shooter with rigid form, hitting just 29.8% from 3 during the regular season on 3.8 attempts per game, and 66.2% from the free throw line on 4.7 attempts per game. Opposing teams did not mind leaving him open in OTE, and NBA defenses will similarly challenge him to shoot. However, he improved his 3-point percentage to 38.5% in the playoffs making 15 of 39 attempts in five games to win the championship. He was named regular season MVP and Finals MVP.

If his shooting improves to league average, he should be a perfect fit for a team that needed a little bit of everything from the wing positions, particularly on defense. Ausar is a jack-of-all-trades, and the Pistons are high on his long-term potential.

Thompson is the fifth lottery pick selected since Weaver was hired in 2020, and seventh first-round pick.

Villanova freshman wing Cam Whitmore was long thought to be the favorite to go No. 5, with Houston freshman power forward Jarace Walker and Central Florida freshman power forward Taylor Hendricks also in the mix.

Thompson fits new coach Monty Williams' "0.5" offensive system as a connector and quick decision maker.

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The Pistons are coming off of an NBA-worst 17-win season, but have around $30 million in cap space and will look to move up the Eastern Conference ranks next season.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons select Ausar Thompson at No. 5 in NBA draft