Overview
- On June 25 the Pistons acquired the No. 53 pick through a draft-night sequence that sent the selection from the Rockets to the Knicks to Detroit and required cash payment to the Knicks after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Ugonna Onyenso is a 7-foot center with a 7-foot 4.75-inch wingspan who led college basketball in block rate and averaged 2.9 blocks in 18.6 minutes as a senior at Virginia.
- Detroit projects Onyenso to provide immediate rim protection in its frontcourt behind Jalen Duren and alongside Paul Reed while competing for rotation minutes as a defensive specialist.
- Scouts see offensive upside in his developing outside touch, noting he took more than 20% of his senior-season shots from three and converted roughly 28% of them while shooting better than 70% from the free-throw line.
- Onyenso, who developed at the NBA Academy Africa and in U.S. prep and college programs, said he was surprised and grateful by the pick, and the Pistons will now focus on his defensive role and whether his shooting can expand his minutes.