Detroit Pistons fans and NBA analysts have some mixed feelings about the team’s latest pick.
The Pistons traded up four spots from No. 21 to No. 17 overall to select Stanford point guard Ebuka Okorie.
They reportedly sent three second-round draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies to move up and get him.
Okorie averaged 23.2 points per game as a freshman for the Cardinal in the 2025-26 season, leading the ACC. He could theoretically satisfy the team’s need for a secondary ball-handler and shot creator.
Still, it wasn’t the most obvious or noteworthy pick the Pistons could have made, with many fans reacting stronger to the trade itself than the player Detroit picked.
Here are some of the best reactions from social media.
Pistons draft pick social media reactions
Really interesting choice for the Pistons. Okorie is lightning-quick and a bucket, makes a nice contrast with Cade https://t.co/rUVef5AmnR
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) June 24, 2026
I love the aggression by Detroit to move up for Ebuka Okorie. Elite downhill attacker and will become a better shooter in the NBA. Gonna help the Pistons turnover problem. He logged only 1.9 turnovers per game. Stanford had an 11.9% turnover rate with Okorie on the floor and… pic.twitter.com/R7SlyITaT3
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) June 24, 2026
Wow… Okorie over Cam Carr and Labaron Philon?
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) June 24, 2026
Time to do my deep dive but Okorie is added to the interesting guard room in Detroit
Cade/Daniss Jenkins/Marcus Sasser
Sass is a pretty prime trade candidate this summer
— PistonsThoughts (@PistonsThoughts) June 24, 2026
Ebuka Okorie going to the Detroit Pistons off of these mid-first trades is FASCINATING. This team has prioritized offensive creativity in the backcourt with a player like Daniss Jenkins, and this franchise needs more of those guys next to Cade Cunningham. Very interesting swing.
— Nathan Grubel (@DraftDeeper) June 24, 2026
There, Pistons Twitter got their trade up.
Trajan moved up from 28 to 17 in this draft for $5.4 million and 3 2nd round picks
But he doesn’t know how to make deals
— Keith Black Trudeau (@Charlottean28) June 24, 2026
The Pistons drafted the exact guy we knew they’d pick and I’m not made about it
— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) June 24, 2026
The Detroit Pistons have drafted Ebuka Okorie with the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Welcome to the 313! 🔥#Detroitbasketballpic.twitter.com/TLqtvZyGF0
— SleeperPistons (@SleeperPistons) June 24, 2026
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons NBA Draft expert reactions after trade up
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