Klay Thompson’s buyout with the Mavericks landed at exactly the right moment for the Pistons.
On Friday, Thompson agreed to a buyout in Dallas and is now expected to sign with the Heat after clearing waivers. In another season, that kind of move would have set Detroit up as an obvious suitor.
This time, though, the Pistons can watch it happen without feeling like they need to jump in. They’ve built enough wing shooting into the roster that they no longer have to chase the memory of Thompson at his peak.
That’s a pretty big shift for a team that, even after winning 60 games and grabbing the top seed in the East last season, still had a glaring issue. Detroit’s only real deep threat was Duncan Robinson, and that weakness showed up in the playoffs. But this offseason, the Pistons took care of business by adding Isaiah Joe and John Collins at power forward, giving themselves more shooting where they needed it most.
The moves weren’t flashy, but they mattered. If Detroit had come into the summer still short on shooting, Thompson would have looked a lot more appealing, especially after he shot 39% from three over his last two seasons in Dallas. But he’s no longer the player he once was, and a young contender like the Pistons shouldn’t have to count on him for major minutes.
Shooting is always going to matter for Detroit, especially with the team clearly committed to non-shooters in its young core. On paper, Thompson still carries the shine of one of the deadliest shooters in league history.
In reality, the age is showing. His defense has slipped, and so has his ability to handle a heavy minutes load.
For a serious team, bringing him in to play a significant role would have been a sign of desperation.
Detroit also has reason to feel better about its wing depth than it has in the past. Robinson and Joe were both among the league’s most prolific shooters on a per-minute basis last season, and either one can arguably offer more from deep right now than Thompson. The Pistons should also be stronger on the perimeter defensively, which matters because their success still leans heavily on that end of the floor.
A few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine Thompson hitting the open market and Detroit being able to pass without second-guessing it. That’s where the Pistons are now, and for them, that’s a good place to be.
In Other News...
Cade Cunningham Is Already Pushing Pistons Toward Their Next Big Step
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For a young team trying to turn a breakthrough into something bigger, that kind of player-led initiative matters. It also comes at a time when the roster picture is not fully settled, with Jalen Durens status for the workout still unclear as he works through contract negotiations with the Pistons, leaving one key piece of the group in question as the next step comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Pressure Point That Could Define Their Next Step
The Pistons have reached a familiar kind of crossroads, the sort that shows up when a young roster starts to look promising but still feels short of the firepower needed to matter in the East. Cade Cunningham has become the center of the conversation, with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson giving Detroit pieces to believe in, yet the bigger picture still leans toward a team trying to find enough offense to make the next step feel real.
With the conference tightening around them, the question is no longer just about patience or internal growth. Detroit may have to decide whether to keep protecting draft capital or use it to bring in more immediate help around Cunningham, because the current mix still leaves too much pressure on him to carry the scoring load. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Crucial Extension Decision With Ausar And Duren
The Pistons have two major extension calls sitting at the center of their offseason, with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson both eligible for new deals as Detroit tries to lock in its young core. The club still has room to maneuver under the cap, but the order of operations matters here, and the front office appears to be treating the two negotiations as connected rather than separate.
Thompson has become the first priority in the process, which makes sense given the way Detroit wants to structure the rest of its spending. Once that piece is settled, the focus can shift back to Duren, where the numbers and timing may become more complicated. For now, the Pistons are still navigating the framework of both talks, with no agreement officially in place yet. [Read more 🡒]