2. Putting limitations on Ausar Thompson's role
In his first preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, Ausar Thompson created for himself and others, clamped Devin Booker in transition, and hit a game-tying 3 in the final seconds to send it into overtime. Though the Pistons lost in overtime, Thompson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and a block. A sign of good things to come for Detroit.
Whether he starts or not, Ausar needs to play major minutes this season. He's a 6-foot-7 wing with tremendous upside on both ends of the floor. Thompson started this past Sunday against the Suns. However, Ausar's potential as a super-sub may be worth looking into. One basketball executive close to the Detroit Pistons told me he expects to see Ausar play, "30-plus minutes a night." and continued saying, "He affects the game in a way that very few players in the entire league can."
If his performance on Sunday is any indication, for the first time in a long time, Pistons fan should be very excited about their recent top-five pick.