Photo: Zachary Taft ~ Imagn Images
DETROIT ~ The Detroit Pistons made a move on draft night, trading up from No. 21 to No. 17 to select Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie. Coming off a 60-win season and the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Detroit entered the draft looking to strengthen its backcourt. Instead of staying put, the Pistons sent three future second-round picks to move up four spots, signaling a focus on immediate contribution rather than long-term development.
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(CONTINUED) Okorie arrives after a productive college season in which he averaged 23.2 points per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point range. At 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds, he profiles as a scoring guard capable of creating his own shot and handling secondary playmaking duties. His efficiency and scoring output should help address Detroit’s need for another reliable perimeter option alongside its primary ball handlers.
The move reflects a shift for the Pistons, who are building on an already established core. Guard Cade Cunningham averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists last season, while center Jalen Duren contributed 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. With those pieces in place, Okorie is expected to provide additional scoring depth and backcourt support as Detroit looks to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.
