Pistons 2026 NBA Draft grades for every pick

The Detroit Pistons surfaced as a rising player in the growing Kawhi Leonard trade rumblings. No trade went down on the two NBA Draft nights involving the Los Angeles Clippers star. But Detroit became active on the trade market.

Yet the Pistons realtered their draft class in the process.

Karim Lopez looked ready to head to the Motor City. But his selection became short-lived. Then Detroit added a talent via trade. Time to hand out these grades for each pick including the trades.

Ebuka Okorie

Guard, Stanford 

Round 1, Pick 17

Okorie’s arrival became made possible by the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC sent him to Detroit in one of the many trades of the night.

The guard looks like a flourishing fit here anyway. He brings an attacking downhill style that draws contact but still finishes to the hoop strong. That approach is perfect for a blue collar city like Detroit.

Okorie’s pressure to the rim adds this element for Detroit: Creating shot opportunities for Cade Cunningham and the other shooters on the floor. Detroit already watched Donovan Mitchell open up the Cleveland Cavaliers offense in the playoff upset. So now the Pistons respond by adding a downhill attacker at guard.

Grade: A 

Ugonna Onyenso

Forward, Virginia 

Round 2, Pick 53

Like Okorie, the former Virginia Cavalier Onyenso arrived via trade. This one from the Houston Rockets via the New York Knicks.

The Nigerian native heads to the Pistons fresh off delivering career highs in points at 6.5, plus blocks with 2.9. Head coach JB Bickerstaff gains a key rim protector here. Onyenso also brings lots of collegiate big game experience having played in the SEC at Kentucky, then Kansas State in the Big 12 before landing in ACC country.

Detroit should embrace his defensive energy. Especially for a franchise that has long pride themselves on hard-nosed defense since the Bad Boys era.

Grade: B

Pick 21 Trade Grade: A

History was made as Lopez emerged as the first Mexico native to land in the first round of the draft. But his Pistons stay became short lived thanks to the Grizzlies. He even did an interview on draft night in his Pistons hat before the trade was officially announced.

But Lopez brings a blue collar post scoring and rebounding presence to Grind City. This pick cleared room for Detroit to nab the more greatly needed guard option Okorie.

Isaiah Stewart Trade Grade: B+

Stewart handed Detroit some bruising defense, yet became limited as a scoring option.

Memphis gains much needed defensive help especially for Zach Edey. But the Pistons needed to clear up cap space, hence why this move became made.

So now Detroit gains additional draft capital moving forward through three future second rounders. This hands the Pistons new flexibility to build around Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and company.

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