The Detroit Pistons aren’t quite on the clock, but they do have some thinking to do.
The 2026 NBA Draft will take place from June 23-24, with the Pistons’ first-round pick coming at No. 21 overall. And though the Pistons have a need for ball-handling and shooting, there isn’t a consensus from draft experts on whom Detroit should pick.
The Pistons have the No. 21 overall pick thanks to a converted pick swap from the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired in the Jaden Ivey trade from this past deadline. The Pistons are looking to upgrade their 3-point shooting and ball-handling to support star point guard Cade Cunningham.
Here is a roundup of what NBA draft experts think the Pistons are going to do with their pick:
Detroit Free Press: F Allen Graves, Santa Clara
Our Pistons insider Omari Sankofa II thinks the Pistons will target a mid-major big, one that could check many boxes at one time.
“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,” he writes.
USA TODAY: G/F Dailyn Swain, Texas
USA TODAY’s Bryan Kalbrosky thinks the Pistons will target Texas wing Dailyn Swain with their first-round selection.
“After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and helping lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball,” he writes. “The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition.”
ESPN: PG Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo’s most recent mock draft has the Pistons taking a Big Ten point guard, one that averaged nearly 20 points per game for the Iowa Hawkeyes this past season.
“[Stirtz’s] ability to organize in the half court and keep defenses honest with his shot helps his case to play immediately, but his age [22] and average athletic ability will make him a more specific fit for teams,” he writes. “Rival teams expect the Pistons to target an offense-minded player here, with Detroit’s glaring need for shooting coming to bear in the postseason. Adding a ball-handler who can take pressure off of Cade Cunningham might also be prudent.”
Yahoo Sports: G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor thinks the Pistons might deal their pick, but if they decide to keep it, they could go for the Arkansas wing.
“He has the confidence to ‘run for president,’ according to Arkansas head coach John Calipari. You could see that on the court the way he never hesitated to fire, stepped right into the lead role when Darius Acuff was sidelined at Missouri to close the regular season, and willed Arkansas to the SEC championship game with 29 against Ole Miss. He’s a legit NBA shooter with deep range, a quick release, and creation juice off the bounce,” he writes.
CBS Sports: PG Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
CBS’s Matt Norlander thinks the Pistons will find their ball-handling from one-and-done point guard Ebuka Okorie.
“Okorie was one of the best scorers in college basketball last season — though he wasn’t a dead-eye shooter. Okorie’s 3-point selection was good-not-great. He’s slightly undersized [but has a 6-8 wingspan] and makes up for it with on- and off-ball savvy,” he writes. “The Pistons could use a quick-learning backup combo guard who can play his way into the rotation sooner than later and help Cade Cunningham’s supporting cast.”
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons NBA mock draft roundup: What will Detroit do at No. 21?
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
