RADIO
Ausar Thompson Iffy for Sunday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the Detroit Free Press' Omari Sankofa II. Thompson stepped on Andrew Wiggins' heel during Friday's 128-111 win over Miami and did not return, finishing with four points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 19 minutes. He opened the season with an 11-point, 11-rebound, five-assist double-double against Boston. With Jalen Duren (hamstring) already out, another absence would further thin Detroit's rotation, with Isaiah Joe and Javonte Green candidates for added minutes.
Source: Omari Sankofa II
Source: Omari Sankofa II
Ausar Thompson Exits Friday with Undisclosed Injury
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (undisclosed) exited Friday's 128-111 win over the Miami Heat midway through the third quarter and did not return. Thompson appeared to roll his right ankle after stepping on Andrew Wiggins' heel and limped to the locker room shortly afterward. He finished with four points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in 19 minutes. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had no postgame update, leaving Thompson's status for Sunday in Philadelphia unclear. Ron Holland II replaced him after the injury and could take on a larger role if Thompson can't play.
Source: Zachary Weinberger
Source: Zachary Weinberger
Ausar Thompson Could See Expanded Playing Time
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson is expected to play more than 26 minutes per game this season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said an increased workload is "the expectation," though Detroit may manage those minutes differently because of everything Thompson is asked to do. The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 26.0 minutes last season, leading the NBA in steals per game. That bigger workload already showed up in the playoffs, when Thompson played 30.5 minutes per game and averaged 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. If Detroit keeps him closer to that range, his defense should carry even more fantasy weight. The tradeoff is still at the line, where he shot just 57.1 percent last season.
Source: Hunter Patterson
Source: Hunter Patterson
Ausar Thompson Agrees to Five-Year Extension with Pistons
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The fully guaranteed deal follows a season in which Thompson earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks across 73 games while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. His 6-for-24 mark from three and 57.1 percent free-throw shooting remain fantasy concerns, but Thompson's elite steals production gives him considerable value even without much scoring. More minutes would only raise his defensive-stat ceiling.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Paul Reed Primed for Expanded Role with Pistons
Detroit Pistons forward/center Paul Reed is in line for a more featured role as the team's backup big this season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Patterson views Detroit's decision to trade Isaiah Stewart to Memphis as a vote of confidence in Reed, who earned the promotion in the playoffs. The former G-League MVP forced his way into the rotation against Cleveland in the second round, averaging 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in roughly 13 minutes per game while going 24-for-34 from the field. With Stewart's 22.7 minutes a night now up for grabs, Reed's 61.7 percent shooting from last season and his knack for steals and blocks give him legitimate late-round appeal. His value could climb even higher if restricted free agent Jalen Duren's contract standoff drags into training camp.
Source: Hunter Patterson
Source: Hunter Patterson
Ron Holland II Rebuilding His Jump Shot This Offseason
Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II has spent the offseason working to become more of a perimeter threat, Roundtable's Eric Rutter reports. The former No. 5 pick shot just 25.3 percent from three last season, and the spacing issue followed him into the playoffs, where his role collapsed and he picked up multiple DNPs. Holland still averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 regular-season games, so the defensive profile remains useful. The problem is the crowd. Detroit added Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris this summer, while Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter are already in the shooting mix. Holland has the tools to force his way into minutes, but until the jumper shows up in games, he is more of a camp monitor than a draft-day target.
Source: Eric Rutter
Source: Eric Rutter
Ron Holland II in Line for Bigger Role with Detroit
Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II should have a more pronounced role next season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The opening is partly defensive after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis in June, but the bigger fantasy swing comes on offense. Patterson notes that Detroit needs either Holland or Ausar Thompson to become a more reliable scoring piece, leaving Holland with a cleaner path if his jumper and handle take a step. The 21-year-old averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 games last season, including five starts. The defensive stats are useful, but his 25.3 percent three-point shooting keeps the ceiling shaky. John Collins and Taurean Prince give J.B. Bickerstaff veteran alternatives, so Holland is a camp name to track rather than a locked-in fantasy target.
Source: Hunter Patterson
Source: Hunter Patterson
Pistons Guarantee Paul Reed's Salary for 2026-27
The Detroit Pistons fully guaranteed center Paul Reed's $5.6 million salary for the 2026-27 season, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Reed's backup-center path looks cleaner after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis, and Jalen Duren remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. Reed averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes across 65 games last season, but his per-minute production popped when Detroit needed more. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.0 minutes over five second-round games against Cleveland, shooting 24-for-34 from the field, and the Pistons went 8-3 in his 11 starts. If Duren signs, Reed is a useful reserve. If Duren's talks drag, Reed could open camp with a real minutes bump.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Pistons Weigh Ausar Thompson Extension
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson is in line for a long-term extension, but talks appear tied to the team's unresolved negotiations with restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Thompson led the NBA with 2.0 steals per game last season and earned All-Defensive First Team honors while averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. The offensive limitations remain clear, but his role beside Cade Cunningham and Duren gives him steady fantasy appeal through steals, rebounds, assists, and defensive stats. A deal in the low-to-mid $30 million annual range has been floated, though nothing appears imminent until Detroit gets more clarity on Duren.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Isaac Jones Targets Standard Deal with Pistons
Detroit Pistons forward Isaac Jones is determined to earn a standard contract, telling Coty Davis of The Detroit News that he does not want to stay on a two-way deal forever. Jones, 26, has been far more productive in the G-League than the NBA, winning a title with Stockton in 2025 before making the 2025-26 All-NBA G-League First Team with Motor City. He averaged 22.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 blocks for the Cruise, then helped his case with a strong Summer League. Jones brings motor, size, and finishing, but until Detroit gives him a full roster spot and real minutes, he is just a watch-list name for fantasy managers.
Source: Coty M. Davis
Source: Coty M. Davis
Tobias Harris Inks Two-Year Deal With San Antonio
Free-agent forward Tobias Harris is signing a two-year, $31 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 15-year veteran fills a need on the Spurs' roster: a stretch four who can create plays off the dribble and rebound. Harris averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 46.9% shooting from the field and 36.8% from downtown last season as a starter in Detroit. He may not be a starter in San Antonio. The team found success with Julian Champagnie, who just signed a new deal himself, in the starting lineup in the second half of the season. Either way, expect a decrease in usage for Harris on what is a much deeper roster.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
John Collins Lands With Pistons on Three-Year, $51 Million Deal
Free-agent forward/center John Collins has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Collins spent last season with the Los Angeles Clippers and averaged 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 blocks while shooting 55.2% from the field. Detroit adds a vertical spacer and pick-and-roll finisher next to Cade Cunningham, who averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists. The fantasy fit is useful, but not without a squeeze. Jalen Duren still owns the center spot, so Collins may need strong efficiency and steady power-forward minutes to climb past mid-tier appeal.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Isaiah Stewart Gets Traded to Grizzlies
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Stewart will make his way to Memphis in exchange for three future second-round picks. There has been speculation for weeks that Stewart could be moved as part of a cost-cutting decision. The expectation is that Paul Reed will slide into his role behind primary center Jalen Duren. The Pistons could potentially add another forward or center on a cheaper deal in free agency. As for Stewart, he should play significant minutes off the bench as the backup to Zach Edey. This past season, Stewart averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks across 22.7 minutes per game in 58 contests with the Pistons last season. The assumption is that his value should increase with the move to Memphis.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Isaiah Stewart Available in Trade Talks
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart is available in trade talks, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. The report notes that Detroit is searching for more shooting and playmaking, and Paul Reed could see a larger role if Stewart is moved. Stewart has two years and $30 million left on his deal, with the second season carrying a team option. The 25-year-old averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists last season, while Reed posted 7.8 points and 4.5 boards in a smaller role. A move could help Stewart if he lands with a team that needs frontcourt defense, while Reed would be the immediate fantasy name to monitor in Detroit.
Source: Sam Amick
Source: Sam Amick
Isaiah Stewart Could Draw Trade Interest
Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart could be an interesting trade target for teams this summer. Stewart is one of the best rim protectors in the league and is on a reasonable contract for the next two seasons. Last season, Stewart averaged career highs in blocks (1.6) while averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds across 22.7 minutes per game. The Pistons don't have a ton of incentive to trade him, especially with Jalen Duren possibly leaving in free agency. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Pistons feel out some trade offers, but they probably won't move Stewart unless they get blown away.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Source: Detroit Free Press
