The 2026 NBA Draft is just around the corner.
The Detroit Pistons will have the No. 21 overall pick in the first round on Tuesday, June 23 (8 p.m., ABC/ESPN).
It’s a draft especially strong at the top, but also deep through the rest of the first round. The Pistons will look to add a contributor after the third 60-win season in franchise history – and a second-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs.
Here’s how I think the first round may shake out, and who the Pistons could target.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F
Vitals: Freshman, 6-9, BYU.
2025-26 averages: 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 51% shooting overall.
One of the best pure shotmakers in any recent draft, Dybansta is an absolute monster with the ball. He can bully defenses with his unique mix of power and ball-handling, combined with seemingly automatic touch from midrange and great explosion for a player his size. The Wizards are getting a day-one star with the top pick.
2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-6, Kansas.
2025-26 averages: 20.2 pts, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 43.8% overall, 38.2% from 3.
An injury-plagued lone season of college hurt Peterson’s case as the top-overall prospect, but he remains a top-three lock due to his elite tools. Peterson is everything you want in a No. 1 option – one of the draft’s best shooters and ball-handlers with a deep bag of tricks, a strong all-around athlete and the size and will to be a strong defender.
3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cam Boozer, F
Vitals: Freshman, 6-10, Duke.
2025-26 averages: 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 55.6% shooting, 39.1% from 3.
If he falls to No. 3, teams may look back and wonder why Boozer wasn’t the clear-cut top prospect. Statistically, he’s one of college basketball’s most productive players ever – an offensive hub who sees the floor as well as any point guard, plows through defenders at the rim and knocks down 3-pointers at a high clip. He’s a basketball genius whose impact will outweigh his perceived limitations as an athlete.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F
Vitals: Freshman, 6-11, North Carolina.
2025-26 averages: 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.5 steals.
Athletically, Wilson is everything you want in a modern power forward. He’s incredibly bouncy and made his presence felt on the glass and at the rim, and his defensive numbers popped. The Bulls need a superstar, and Wilson may have the most upside of anyone outside the top three.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-6, Illinois.
2025-26 averages: 17.9 points, 5.1 reboundss, 4.2 assists
NBA teams widely view the top three of this draft as locked in, with Wilson the favorite at No. 4. The draft begins to open up here, and Wagler is a compelling option as a big guard who shoots the ball and sees the floor at high levels.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Darius Acuff Jr., G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-2, Arkansas.
2025-26 averages: 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, 48.4% shooting, 44% from 3.
A Detroit native and Cass Tech alumnus, Acuff is an elite shooter and ball-handler who profiles as a go-to offensive weapon in the NBA. His lack of size and verve on defense hurts him, but he’s too good on the other end to fail. As Jalen Brunson recently proved, you can build around small guards with Acuff’s capabilities.
7. Sacramento Kings – Kingston Flemings, G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-4, Houston.
2025-26 averages: 16.1 points, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals.
In what’s likely to be a long line of guards in the first round, Flemings stands out because of his elite speed and relative lack of holes in his game. He’s a blur with the ball in his hands and smart with it as well, and he proved himself as a three-level scorer with an affinity for midrange jumpers.
8. Atlanta Hawks – Mikel Brown Jr. , G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-3, Louisville.
2025-26 averages: 18.2 points, 4.7 assists.
After moving on from Trae Young this past season, the Hawks go with a guard who has similarities. Brown is a deep-range 3-point shooter and strong passer who would fill a long-term need for an Atlanta team whose starting point guard, CJ McCollum, is entering unrestricted free agency.
9. Dallas Mavericks – Brayden Burries, G
Vitals: Freshman, 6-5, Arizona.
2025-26 averages: 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals.
A year after drafting Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall, the Mavericks need to surround him with talent. Burries has strong two-way potential as one of the better defensive guards in this class, as well as a strong shooter (39.1% from 3) who can make plays with the ball.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Aday Mara, C
Vitals: Junior, 7-3, Michigan.
2025-26 stats: 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks.
Regardless of if they keep or trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, Mara checks multiple boxes in the middle – a gifted passer for his size who also is arguably the top rim protector in the draft, standing a massive 7 feet 3.
11. Golden State Warriors – Yaxel Lendeborg, F
Vitals: Senior, 6-10, Michigan.
2025-26 averages: 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 steals.
The Wolverines could have as many as three players selected in the lottery. Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year, was one of the best players in college basketball last season and is a near-lock to be drafted in the top-20 due to his ability to impact every facet of the game. His age (24) is the primary reason he could fall outside of the top 10.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nate Ament, F
Vitals: Freshman, 6-10, Tennessee.
2025-26 averages: 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists.
The Thunder, who have arguably the NBA’s deepest roster, can afford to look down the road with their pick here. Ament’s efficiency underwhelmed (39.9% overall, 33.3% from 3). But he drew fouls at a high rate, has good shot mechanics and showed flashes of being able to make plays with the ball.
13. Miami Heat – Morez Johnson Jr., F/C
Vitals: Junior, 6-10, Michigan.
2025-26 averages: 13.1 pts, 7.3 rebs
The third Michigan player off of the board, Johnson is a Heat-coded player. His game is built around his powerful frame and he’s one of the top and most versatile defenders on the board. Johnson was efficient at the rim, but has to show that he can knock down 3’s consistently.
14. Charlotte Hornets – Jayden Quaintance, F/C
Vitals: Sophomore, 6-10, Kentucky.
2025-26 averages: 5 points, 5 rebounds.
Center is a big need for the Hornets. Complications from a torn right ACL and meniscus in April 2025 ended up sidelining Quaintance for the majority of his sophomore season, during which he only played four games. When healthy, he projects as one of the top rim protectors in the draft.
15. Chicago Bulls – Hannes Steinbach, F/C
Vitals: Freshman, 6-11, Washington.
2025-26 averages: 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 steals.
Though he has “tweener” concerns on the defensive end, Steinbach is the strongest rebounder in this class and an efficient interior scorer. He also showcased some shooting touch, making him an intriguing big who could thrive next to Matas Buzelis.
16. Memphis Grizzlies – Dailyn Swain, F
Vitals: Junior, 6-8, Texas.
2025-26 averages: 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals.
Swain has a unique archetype as an NBA wing – a prolific downhill driver with the size and strength to finish through many defenders, and a capable passer. He can create his own looks but needs to improve as a shooter, knocking down 34.4% of his shots on low volume last season.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Carr, G/F
Vitals: Sophomore, 6-6, Baylor.
2025-26 averages: 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 blocks.
One of a handful of prospects in the Pistons’ draft range who are strong positional and skill fits, Carr could be a home run for the Thunder at No. 17. He’s one of the best, purest “3-and-D” prospects in the first round – a skilled outside shooter who hit 37.4% of his looks, an explosive above-the-rim athlete and a capable defender due to his huge wingspan and knack for blocking shots.
18. Charlotte Hornets – Chris Cenac Jr., F/C
Vitals: Freshman, 6-11, Houston.
2025-26 averages: 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds.
The Hornets double down on bigs and go with Cenac, who is still finding his game on both ends but has the tools to be a long-term piece at power forward or center.
19. Toronto Raptors – Labaron Philon Jr., G
Vitals: Sophomore, 6-3, Alabama.
2025-26 averages: 22 points, 5 assists, 1.2 steals.
Add Philon to the long list of multi-faceted guards in this class. He shot 50.1% overall and 39.9% from 3, and was more than comfortable taking shots from any part of the floor. He lacks size and weight (175 pounds) on defense but not willpower, and he makes smart decisions with the ball.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Bennett Stirtz, G
Vitals: Senior, 6-3, Iowa.
2025-26 averages: 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals.
The Spurs have ball-handlers, but none who are also good 3-point shooters. Stirtz is a true floor general and a strong shooter, especially off-ball, and could thrive as a strong fit alongside Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper. He exemplifies the traits the Spurs historically value.
21. Detroit Pistons – Allen Graves, F
Vitals: Freshman, 6-8, Santa Clara.
2025-26 stats: 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists ,0.9 blocks, 0.9 steals, 51.2% shooting, 41.3% from 3.
Among the Pistons’ needs to address this offseason – a rotation power forward who eventually can take over from Tobias Harris, reliable 3-point shooting and a capable ball-handler who can take pressure off Cade Cunningham. In Graves, they may be able to check all three boxes, on some level.
Graves’ analytics elevate him to a potential first-round target. He was highly productive in just 22.6 minutes per game, scoring efficiently both inside and from the arc with quick and accurate passing reads (just 0.7 turnovers per game), healthy block and steal numbers and a knack for rebounding.
The rest of his profile reveals red flags, however. He came off of the bench for a No. 10-seed Santa Clara team that snapped a 30-year tournament drought. His NBA competition will be significantly better than the West Coast Conference. And Graves isn’t a great athlete, which he makes up for with smarts and positioning. His viability at No. 21 largely comes down to the Pistons’ belief in his outside shooting and connective qualities on offense, as well as his ability to hold up on the defensive end.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons mock draft 1.0: A mid-major star makes sense at No. 21
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
