There's no telling if the Detroit Pistons will even own a first-round pick when the 2026 NBA Draft comes around, but unless they make a bold swing to bolster the roster around Cade Cunningham, all signs point to Detroit making a selection during night one of the draft.
At No. 21, the Pistons are outside of the lottery, and at that point of the draft, most selections are used to take a swing on raw prospects who, in the best-case scenario, can develop into a star, but at worst-case, be at least a useful rotation player.
Obviously, Detroit could get wild and make a push to move up in the draft order, but given Trajan Langdon's typical draft approach, a move of that nature is unlikely.
The Pistons will have several intriguing options to choose from, but one prospect in specific could allow Detroit to take a swing at a lottery-level talent without lifting a finger.
Pistons should take the swing on Koa Peat
Koa Peat is a prospect that many thought could have been one of the top picks in the 2027 NBA Draft with another year of college.
Instead, the Arizona standout opted to forego his sophomore season with the Wildcats and keep his name in the NBA Draft, which many were shocked about.
The forward averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, while shooting 52.8% from field goal range and 35% from three during his lone season at Arizona.
Looking at his numbers, you'd question what the concerns are for a talent with elite size and efficient shooting splits, but arguably, the concern about the raw talent's game is his jumper.
Peat's not as efficient a shooter as his splits suggest, and some would even consider his jump shot to be broken.
Still, at 6-foot-8, there's plenty of interest about the potential that Peat possesses, especially if he's able to correct his jump shot, which many have pinned as his biggest downfall as a prospect.
And with his two-way potential and ability to get to the rim with ease, he's the exact high-upside swing that could be the exact boost the Pistons need.
Detroit needs to take a swing and trust their development
Obviously, Ausar Thompson's struggles offensively don't offer much encouragement about the developmental system in the Motor City, at least not in terms of prospects whose main issue is their jump shot.
Despite that, there was plenty of conversation about how Peat could have been a lottery selection before the college season and even more buzz about what his draft stock would have looked like this time next year if he returned for another season in the Big 12.
The talent is there, and Detroit is in a position where they can afford to take a swing on raw potential and mold Peat into the player they need him to be.
If the Pistons trust their development, there's no reason why Peat couldn't be a player that fits into J.B. Bickerstaff's system.
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