The Detroit Pistons may be focused on their playoff run, but the future is already looking bright. Thanks to a savvy trade-deadline move, the Pistons jumped up seven spots in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft and now hold the No. 21 overall pick. That swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves—part of a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls—has fans and analysts buzzing about who might be wearing a Pistons jersey next season.
While the team battles it out in the Eastern Conference playoffs alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, mock drafts are already offering some tantalizing prospects. Here’s a look at two names that could bring a spark to Detroit’s second unit.
Bennett Stirtz, Guard, Iowa
Stirtz is a sharpshooter who could solve Detroit’s need for perimeter scoring around star Cade Cunningham. Last season, he knocked down 35.8% of his three-pointers on nearly seven attempts per game, while averaging 19.8 points and 4.4 assists. After leading Drake to a 31-4 record and an NCAA tournament win in 2024-25, he transferred to Iowa and helped the Hawkeyes reach the Elite Eight. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo notes: “Detroit has a need for added shooting around Cade Cunningham and can go several directions at this spot. Stirtz is capable of bolstering the second unit and also adding spacing playing off the Pistons' various playmaking wings.”
Trey Swain, Guard/Forward, Texas
Swain brings a different kind of energy. In his lone season with the Longhorns, after transferring from Xavier, he averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. He’s an aggressive driver who attacks the rim with confidence, but his shooting mechanics need polish—his slow, elongated release makes it easy for defenders to close out. Still, he’s a career 80% free-throw shooter, suggesting the touch is there. Defensively, he’s a ballhawk who averaged 1.5 steals per game over his college career. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie describes him as “an aggressive downhill player who should have zero issue pressuring the rim, even in the NBA.”
Whether Detroit adds a knockdown shooter like Stirtz or a versatile playmaker like Swain, one thing is clear: the Pistons are positioning themselves for a bright future. And with Ausar Thompson’s impact on the court becoming undeniable, this draft pick could be the next piece of the puzzle.