Detroit

Pistons

Scoring 12 points on 13 shots isn’t the most efficient scoring night, but Thompson contributed meaningful numbers in half a dozen categories. After posting a 7/9/3/1/3 line in his debut Friday, he looks every bit like a top-5 pick. This Pistons team features a backcourt that includes Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Thompson with Jalen Duren and James Wiseman in the frontcourt. It’s going to be a fun season in Motor City.

Duren had 17/8 on Saturday, while Wiseman provided 16/12, as both big men have shined through the Pistons’ first two Summer League contests. This is the starting frontcourt we should expect this season, and both players should be viable in 12-team leagues because of their rebounding and blocking abilities.

Wiseman may be considered a bust in the eyes of many after being selected with the No. 2 pick in 2020, but the talent is still there. He hasn’t played much through his first few seasons due to multiple injuries, so it’s encouraging to see him playing, and playing well, in Summer League. Detroit didn’t have to give up much to bring him in, and their gamble could end up paying off. If he continues to play well in Summer League, he could be worth a late-round pick.

Thompson’s debut wasn’t as exciting as his brother’s, largely due to Jaden Ivey controlling the ball for most of the game. However, he was able to flash the talent that made him a top-five pick. His defensive capabilities should help him contribute early on, even if Ivey and Cade Cunningham will have the ball in their hands during the regular season. Hopefully Ausar will get the chance to do more offensively during the rest of his time in Vegas.

Ivey certainly flashed his talent during his rookie season, but there were plenty of efficiency struggles as he was the focal point of a lottery team. Unfortunately, the struggles continued into Summer League, as he had a poor shooting night and plenty of turnovers. There were also positives to look at, as he came away with five steals and still added some rebounds and assists. However, his fantasy value will always be limited if he can’t improve on his efficiency.

Duren certainly showcased some new elements to his game. After not attempting a 3-pointer during his rookie season, he took two on Saturday, making one of them. It’s unlikely that he turns that into a consistent element of his game, but it’s encouraging to see him trying new things when he can. He’ll have some competition, but Duren should be the starting center for the Pistons this season. If he’s able to play a consistent role, he should be a double-double machine.

The Pistons have a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt, even with the decision ahead of last season to use Isaiah Stewart primarily at power forward instead of center. And with Jalen Duren coming off of a very good rookie campaign, he’s the odds-on favorite to be the starter at the five. So where does that leave Bagley and Wiseman? Likely competing for minutes behind Duren, which would crush the fantasy potential of both players. “Just examining the roster and reading the tea leaves, the most likely candidates to be moved or not be in the rotation are (Killian) Hayes, Wiseman and/or Bagley,” Edwards wrote. While Bagley ranked just outside the top 150 in 9-cat, per-game value last season, Wiseman wasn’t even a top 150 player. Of course, the latter didn’t arrive in Detroit until the trade deadline, so the sample size is comparatively limited. That said, neither Bagley nor Wiseman should be on fantasy managers’ draft boards heading into the fall.

With Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones on the roster now, Washington doesn’t have much use for Morris now. They didn’t get much value back in comparison to his talent, but the move does free up minutes for Delon Wright off the bench. Morris will look to compete for minutes with the Pistons, which may be tough to do with Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson on the roster.

The sharpshooter nailed 2.3 triples on 43.9% shooting from beyond the arc across seven seasons with the Nets. He’ll add some much-needed shooting to Detroit’s lackluster offense.

Omoruyi will make a shade under $2 million next season due to the Pistons’ decision to pick up the option on his contract. According to the report, the undrafted free agent, who was signed to two 10-day contracts by the Pistons before the team locked him in for the remainder of the season, impressed decision-makers with his effort. Omoruyi’s unlikely to be a factor in fantasy basketball, but he’s at the very least managed to guarantee himself a roster spot.