Should the Nets pursue Pistons' Ausar Thompson via trade this summer?

The Brooklyn Nets head into this offseason with plenty of decisions to make, especially as it pertains to the 2026 NBA Draft and how they build the roster from there. Brooklyn is still in the early stages of its rebuild, but next season could be the year for them to strive for making the postseason. Could a defensive stalwart be what the Nets acquire this summer?

"Ausar Thompson is going to be extension-eligible and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. That's not someone the Detroit Pistons will give [a]way," Dan Favale wrote for Bleacher Report. Favale's article proposes three players that each NBA team could pursue this offseason via trade and Thompson is one of the players he suggested for Brooklyn given the team's recent defensive struggles.

"With that said, he's sometimes found himself on the outskirts of the closing lineup.  If Detroit flames out of the postseason earlier than expected, he could hit the chopping block as it pursues bigger-time offensive upgrades," Favale continued. As Favale pointed out, Thompson is eligible for a contract extension after this season ends, but the Pistons have already picked up his $11.1 million club option for the 2026-27 campaign.

Thompson, 23, had one of his better seasons in the NBA this year as he averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 52.5% from the field and 25.0% from behind the three-point line. While Thompson's shooting is currently the biggest weakness in his game, he can pretty much do everything else on the floor, similar to his twin brother, Amen, with the .