Since the Detroit Pistons are expected to be one of the most active teams in the trade market, the fanbase has been mostly focused on the potential trade scenarios. Even though the 2026 NBA Draft is just a week away, not enough attention has been given to what the Pistons should do with the No. 21 pick.
There is obviously a chance the Pistons trade that pick entirely or move up and down in the draft. Given their trade intentions, nothing should be ruled out between now and June 23rd.
If we assume that they are standing pat, however, who are some of the best-fitting prospects they can select?
Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic already reported that the Pistons are interested in Carr. But the Baylor standout may not fall all the way to No. 21. If he does, it would be a no-brainer decision to select him.
Carr is a perfect fit, both in terms of his position and skill set. On paper, he is a three-and-D wing, but he projects to be much more. He was more of a go-to scorer for Baylor last year, putting up 18.9 points per game on very efficient 62.2% True Shooting. He hit over 37% of his threes on a relatively difficult shot diet, including plenty of off-the-dribble attempts.
He would need to get stronger and become a better on-ball defender to be a quality starter, but he has the building blocks and the athletic tools to be a true two-way difference-maker.
Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
The Pistons are looking for more shooting, and it's hard to find a better shooter in this year's draft than Anderson. He shot an incredible 41.5% on 7.9 attempts per game in his sophomore year, making him a special marksman. He can run the pick-and-roll and can provide solid ball-handling and playmaking.
The only thing standing in the way of Anderson being a truly elite offensive weapon is his size. He is undersized at six-foot-one and has a very slight frame. He doesn't have high-end athleticism, making it difficult for him to create against the best defenses. He also doesn't project to be a good defensive player due to his defensive limitations.
Detroit already had him in for a predraft workout, so we can expect him to be an option if he is available at No. 21.
Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke
If players like Carr and Anderson are gone before the Pistons are on the clock, Evans could be a solid fallback option.
The Pistons' top priority needs to be shooting in the draft, and the Duke swingman can certainly fill that need. Evans doesn't have athleticism, playmaking, or defensive chops, but he is an elite, high-volume, high-accuracy shooter.
Thanks to his solid positional size, Evans can get his shot off over defenders with ease. He also has the ability to attack a closeout and make good decisions inside the arc. As a non-stop mover and screener, he would provide very valuable spacing for the Pistons.
Evans also visited the Pistons for a workout. Presumably, he will be an option for the Pistons, and he is expected to be there at No. 21. Whether the Pistons will stay or make a trade before then, however, remains to be seen.
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