When the Detroit Pistons traded Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter of the Chicago Bulls, they were able to secure a 2026 pick swap with the Timberwolves for their troubles.
The pick currently sits at 21st, so the Pistons have moved up nine spots, a nice bonus for what was ultimately an unsatisfying trade.
The Pistons decided they’d seen enough of the Jaden Ivey experiment, which had the same questions lingering over it from the day it started. Could he provide secondary ball handling and be the sidekick to Cade Cunningham? We’ll never know.
What we do know is that the Pistons still need those things along with more 3-point shooting, skills we could see them target in the draft depending on where they end up selecting and who is available.
In their latest mock draft, Bleacher Report has the Pistons grabbing a plug-and-play rookie who is a better on-paper fit with Cade Cunningham.
Detroit Pistons draft: Bennett Stirtz fits the high floor, low ceiling model
A lot can happen between now and the draft and there is no guarantee the Pistons will take anyone, but after not having a first-round pick last offseason, Trajan Langdon may be more inclined to use this selection and not trade it away, especially in a draft advertised as deep.
B/R has the Pistons taking Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz, another combo guard who can handle the ball and more importantly shoot it. He’s a bucket getter with solid 52/40/84 shooting splits and is already launching more than six three-pointers per game.
It’s that last trait the Pistons would be most interested in, as they are one of the worst in the NBA when it comes to 3-point shooting and their only knock down shooter is Duncan Robinson, who is on the wrong side of 30 and whose contract is not fully guaranteed.
Here’s what B/R had to say about Stirtz:
“Up to three 30-point games just in February, Bennett Stirtz has been able to create separation all day off change of speed, ball-handling and footwork maneuvers.
He was also showing off his tough shotmaking when defenders remain attached. And his off-ball scoring was on display on a number of clever cuts.”
He averages over 20 points and nearly five assists per game, so he’d potentially provide some of that shooting and ball handling the Pistons need. He’s also no slouch on defense, as he led the MVC in steals in his junior season and is swiping 1.4 per game in this one.
The downside is that he’ll be 23 years old, so his ceiling is in question, but that may concern the Pistons less, as they will be good again next season and may be looking for someone who can contribute right away.
Bennett Stirtz would be an interesting choice, especially with Chaz Lanier already in the pipeline and the Pistons’ roster with a glut of guards.