With less than two weeks before the 2026 NBA Draft, fans have begun to shift their attention to this year's prospects. The Detroit Pistons, armed with the No. 21 pick, have a chance to address one of their needs with a cost-controlled young player with upside.
Detroit's needs are well-documented. After flaming out early in the playoffs due to their offensive struggles, the Pistons need more shot creation, playmaking, and shooting. They are basically looking for players to take some of the offensive burden off Cade Cunningham.
In fact, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic confirmed what the Pistons are looking for in his latest mock draft. He said that the Pistons are looking for "lead guards who can shoot and create offense" or "wings/forwards who can shoot."
This is hardly surprising to Pistons fans. That doesn't necessarily narrow the draft class all that much. However, Vecenie then named four prospects who fit in these categories.
4 names have emerged as possibilities for the Pistons at No. 21
He said that Bennett Stirtz and Christian Anderson Jr. are two names he has "heard a lot about" as potential fits next to Cade Cunningham. He added that Chris Cenac Jr. and Cameron Carr are potential Pistons targets who fit in the "wings who can shoot" category.
Vecenie had the Pistons select Stirtz in his mock draft, but any and all four of these prospects may be available at No. 21 on draft day. Who GM Trajan Langdon would go for in that scenario remains unclear.
Stirtz and Anderson are similar archetypes. They are both smaller, underathletic guards who are elite and versatile shooters. They can shoot off the dribble, run the pick-and-roll, and play both on and off the ball. Their fit next to Cunningham would be undeniable, but there are legitimate concerns about both players.
Anderson is only six-foot-one and doesn't have above-average athleticism. In today's NBA, that is a difficult combination to overcome. Stirtz will turn 23 before the season, and players of his profile haven't found a ton of success in the NBA in recent years.
Carr and Cenac are different types of players. Carr projects to be a three-and-D wing. He is on the shorter and slighter side to defend the best forwards, but he was one of the best shot-blocking perimeter players in the country. He is also an excellent shooter with athleticism and versatility. Unlike Anderson and Stirtz, he doesn't have playmaking chops, but he could be an even better fit than them as a complementary player.
Cenac, on the other hand, is more of a raw prospect who has elite physical and athletic tools. He projects to be more of a power forward in the NBA and may be more of a play finisher than a creator. He has shown an ability to hit jump shots, but he is probably a few years away from being a real three-point threat.
There will be more pre-draft workouts and evaluations between now and June 23. The Pistons may hone in on a specific prospect when the draft rolls around, or they could keep their options open. Whether they trade up, down, or simply use the No. 21 pick, the Pistons are seemingly focused on the right skill set.
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