Pistons weigh expanded Thompson role alongside Collins

Opened preseason with 109-107 win over Suns

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Ausar Thompson's expanded role, the fit with John Collins, the young Okorie-Lanier backcourt and a whole lot more in the Via @Keith_Langlois on X

What happened: Thompson signed with Detroit on Sept. 22, settling his roster status for 2026-27. Detroit opened preseason with a 109-107 win over Phoenix while testing tweaked offensive looks built around added 3-point shooting.

Why it matters: Sorting the Thompson-Collins frontcourt balance will set early rotation order and spacing responsibilities. Settled roles before opening night reduce experimentation once results count.

By the numbers: Thompson: 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in 18 minutes vs. Suns.

What to watch: Remaining preseason games should clarify Thompson-Collins minutes together and rotation order.

Sources

@Keith_Langlois 2026-10-08T14:04:49.227882+00:00

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