RADIO
Isaiah Joe Practices, Nears Return from Hip Injury
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Isaiah Joe (hip) practiced and is nearing a return after missing five games, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Joe has already been ruled out for Sunday against the Lakers, putting Monday's matchup with Washington in play for his return. The 27-year-old is averaging 7.3 points in 14.0 minutes while shooting just 23.1% from deep through three games with Detroit. That number should improve after he hit 42.3% of his threes for Oklahoma City last season. Once Joe is cleared, Kevin Huerter and Daniss Jenkins could have a little more competition for perimeter minutes.
Source: Omari Sankofa II
Source: Omari Sankofa II
Ausar Thompson Participates in Shootaround on Tuesday
Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News reports that Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) fully participated in Tuesday's shootaround ahead of the matchup against the New York Knicks. Thompson missed Sunday's 106-93 win over Philadelphia due to a right ankle sprain, but his participation is an encouraging sign for his availability. If he remains sidelined, Isaiah Joe (hip), if cleared to play, and Javonte Green could see additional minutes, with Jalen Duren (hamstring) already out.
Source: Coty M. Davis
Source: Coty M. Davis
Isaiah Joe Exits Sunday's Game with Hip Injury
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Isaiah Joe (hip) will not return to Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a hip contusion on a hard fall following a fast-break dunk attempt. The 27-year-old's exit adds to a depleted Detroit rotation already missing Jalen Duren (hamstring) and Ausar Thompson (ankle). Joe averaged a career-high 11.1 points while shooting 42.3% from three in his final season with Oklahoma City. If the hip keeps him out Tuesday against New York, Kevin Huerter could be asked to pick up more of the perimeter workload, while Ron Holland II and Javonte Green would have room for a few extra wing minutes.
Source: Omari Sankofa II
Source: Omari Sankofa II
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
Taurean Prince Upgraded to Available on Friday
Detroit Pistons forward Taurean Prince (personal) is available for Friday's matchup against the Miami Heat. Prince missed Tuesday's season-opening win over Boston while attending to a personal matter. The 32-year-old averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23.5 minutes per game with Milwaukee last season while shooting 43.6 percent from three-point range. He appeared in just 26 regular-season contests after undergoing neck surgery in November to address a herniated disc. Although he was cleared to make his Pistons debut, Prince is expected to play a limited role and offers minimal fantasy value outside deeper leagues.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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
Gary Harris Waived by Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have waived guard/forward Gary Harris, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. The 32-year-old arrived from Milwaukee alongside Taurean Prince in the July trade that sent Caris LeVert to the Bucks. Harris averaged a career-low 2.7 points in 13.8 minutes across 48 games last season, though he shot 41.2 percent from three. He hasn't topped 65 appearances in a season since 2017-18 and faced a crowded Detroit perimeter rotation that includes Isaiah Joe and Kevin Huerter. His departure has little fantasy impact, while the open roster spot could prove useful with restricted free agent Jalen Duren still unsigned.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
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
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 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
Wendell Moore Jr. Closes in on a Deal With Partizan
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Wendell Moore Jr. is reportedly on the verge of leaving the NBA, close to signing with EuroLeague side Partizan Belgrade over Hapoel Tel Aviv, per Eurohoops. The No. 26 pick in 2022 never found NBA footing, bouncing through Minnesota, Charlotte, and Detroit for career averages of 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists across 96 games. He was far better in the G League last season, posting 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals for the Motor City Cruise, but that production never translated to the top level. For NBA fantasy, this is a non-event: Moore held no value in any format, and a move overseas simply takes his name off the board entirely.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Taurean Prince Traded to Pistons
The Milwaukee Bucks are trading forward Taurean Prince to the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Gary Harris will also head to Detroit in the deal, while Milwaukee is acquiring Caris LeVert and two second-round picks. Prince averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23.5 minutes last season while shooting 43.6 percent from three-point range. The 32-year-old was limited to 26 regular-season games after undergoing neck surgery in November to address a herniated disc. He gives Detroit another floor-spacing forward, but his fantasy ceiling remains capped by low usage and modest defensive production. Prince would need steady bench minutes to become more than a fringe source of threes.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Caris LeVert Traded to the Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring guard/forward Caris LeVert and two second-round picks from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 31-year-old struggled in his lone season with Detroit, averaging 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 60 games. While the move provides Milwaukee with another veteran ball-handler as they retool their roster following the blockbuster trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a fantasy resurgence is unlikely. The Bucks also recently acquired Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., creating a crowded perimeter rotation alongside Kevin Porter Jr. LeVert will need to overcome this logjam and show vastly improved efficiency to carve out value, making him an afterthought for fantasy managers until he secures a definitive role.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
