Author of the article:
Jim Parker • Windsor Star
Published Jun 23, 2023 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read
Detroit Pistons’ general manager Troy Weaver added two more first-round picks to the roster during Thursday’s NBA Draft. Photo by Screen grab /Windsor Star
The Detroit Pistons continue to stack the roster with first-round picks under general manager Troy Weaver.
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The Pistons used their lottery selection on Thursday to grab guard/forward Ausar Thompson with the fifth pick overall, which was just one spot back of his twin brother Amen Thompson, who went to Houston at No. 4.
The 20-year-old Thompson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, but skipped the NCAA route to play at in the Overtime Elite professional league.
The six-foot-seven, 205-pound Thompson played for the City Reapers in 2022-23 and was named MVP after averaging 16.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while averaging 27.6 minutes per game. He led his team to a title in back-to-back seasons as was also named MVP of the Final in both seasons.
While his offensive stats standout, the Pistons believe Thompson can be a major factor in improving the team’s overall defensive play, which will be a focus in 2023-24 under ew head coach Monty Williams after finishing 28th in 2022-23.
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Since taking over as general manager of the Pistons, Weaver has stayed busy during the NBA Draft process and was again on Thursday.
He dealt the first pick of the second round, which was No. 31 overall, along with multiple future second-round picks to Boston get back into the first round at pick No. 25.
With it, the Pistons added University of Houston guard Marcus Strasser.
The 22-year-old Strasser is experienced with four years of collegiate play under his belt and he is older than Pistons’ guard Killian Hayes, who is 21 and was the team’s first-round pick in 2020.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound Sasser was named the American Athletic Conference player of the year and was a consensus All-American in 2022-23. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game while averaging 30.8 minutes per game and hit nearly 37 per cent of his shots from three-point range. Lauded for his leadership qualities, Sasser is also another potential boost for the team’s defence with an average of 1.6 steals per game.
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Strasser will join a crowded backcourt that features 2021 first-overall pick Cade Cunningham along with Hayes at point guard with Jaden Ivey, who was the fifth overall pick a year ago, and Alec Burks at shooting guard with Thompson and Isaiah Livers also able to play that spot.
In four drafts with the Pistons, Weaver now boasts seven first-round picks from the process after adding two more on Thursday to go with Ivey, Cunningham, Hayes, Jalen Duren, who went 13th overall last year and came to Detroit in a deal with Charlotte, as well as Isaiah Stewart, who was the 16th overall pick by Portland in 2020 before quickly being dealt to the Pistons.
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