Just hours before their scheduled media day at Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Pistons announced that forward Isaiah Livers will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks. According to the team, Livers suffered a Grade III left ankle injury during a pre-training camp workout.
Several days ago, rumors had surfaced on social media that the former Michigan standout injured himself, but nothing had been substantiated until Monday morning.
This isn’t Livers’ first encounter with injuries. He missed 20 games last season due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of action from Dec. 4, 2022, until his return on Jan. 11, 2023, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He then missed five more games in March due to a hip injury. Finally, during an April 4 loss to the Miami Heat, Livers sustained a right ankle injury that kept him out of action for the final three games of the season.
Due to this injury, Livers will not only miss training camp, but barring any setbacks, he won’t suit up for the Pistons until sometime in November. With Livers out of the picture, it opens up an opportunity for the Pistons to take a closer look at other talent during training camp. Tosan Evbuomwan, currently on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pistons, is the only player besides Livers on Detroit’s training camp roster who’s listed solely as a forward.
However, it’s safe to assume that Livers’ absence will result in more playing time for someone who was always projected to see significant minutes, and that is rookie Ausar Thompson. The Pistons selected Thompson with the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, and because of his frame and versatility, the franchise has him listed as a guard and forward. Both Thompson and Livers are listed at 6-foot-7, with the latter being 15 pounds heavier at 230. Because of the similar build, Thompson should have no problem stepping right in.
