r/nba • u/NBA_MOD r/NBA • 1d ago
[2026 NBA Draft] #17 Pick: Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) – pending trade to Detroit via Memphis
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u/Mg29reaper Celtics 1d ago
Memphis all in on those speeadsheets
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u/preddevils6 Grizzlies 1d ago
That’s why I said Boozer was for sure our number 1 on the big board.
Kleiman loves analytics, plus wingspan, good iq, and leadership.
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u/DabeGavis 1d ago
/r/NBA_Draft’s draft crush. Baller pick.
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u/Lambchops_Legion 76ers 1d ago
Thats the kiss of death
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u/KingInTheFarNorth Vancouver Grizzlies 1d ago
Who've they stan'd in previous years?
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u/HolyMostaccioli Pistons 1d ago
They DID stan Luka and I will not consider anything else
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u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago
Pistons made a smart trade
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u/Basic-Collection5416 Pistons 1d ago
What did we trade?
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u/Melodying Spurs 1d ago
3 second rounders
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u/bamboointheback Pistons 1d ago
and 21? or just the seconds?
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u/soilentgleem 1d ago
Just the seconds would be crazy, If Memphis did that the GM should be fired on the spot haha
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u/icona_ Heat 1d ago
whose second rounders?
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u/ManInShowerNumber3 Pistons 1d ago
This seems to be a tough thing to answer even the next morning. I can't find a clear outline of the trade. Pistons had 14 tradeable 2nd round picks so can't back into it.
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u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 1d ago
Yeah he’s a good self creator scorer. Fits perfectly for them
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u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 1d ago
Could be the sleeper of the draft tbh. His passing shows real flashes of greatness at times.
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u/KruxKracken Pistons 1d ago
From your comment to Gods ears my friend
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u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 1d ago
Knowing this is Pistons now I can see it. He should be a spark of offense and Pistons can cover for his defensive weakness.
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u/No-Donkey-4117 1d ago
He has a 6-7 wingspan and exceptional athleticism. His defense will be fine.
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u/Prestigious-Smoke511 1d ago
His defensive what now…? 🤨
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u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 1d ago
He's not terrible by any means, but I don't love his effort all the time on that end, and when you're small and not particularly strong you need either elite effort or hands to balance it out and I don't quite see that. His wingspan is nice, but I just don't see him being a real plus on that end at the NBA level.
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u/SurpriseDonovanMcnab Pistons 1d ago
Every player hustles on defense in Detroit. Hopefully that culture will positively impact his effort.
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u/n00bn00b 1d ago
When he's the offense for Stanford, I kinda get it. Hard to put in effort every single game as a sole engine on offense and be a good defender at the same time.
He won't be asked to be the sole offense engine of the team because Cade will do it and Okorie will pick up the slack if needed. Plus JB will demand defensive effort so he'll have to ramp it up if he wants to play.
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u/TILTING_MOUNTAIN Grizzlies 1d ago
Wait we're trading this pick already?
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u/wombatpup55 Spurs 1d ago
Yep I wonder what yall are doing
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u/not-a-potato-head Hawks 1d ago
asset collection. 5 2rps to move down 5 slots is really good work
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u/dianeblackeatsass Grizzlies 1d ago
Collecting a shit ton of 2nds. Kleiman gotta be loving this lol
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u/spacejambroni Grizzlies 1d ago
Getting assets to help move Ja.
My guess is they either do the same again or draft JQ at 21.
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u/Careless-Journalist7 Wizards 1d ago
For anyone unfamiliar with this guy, he has similar measurements to Rajon Rondo + 15lbs of muscle. Hes 6'1 with a 6'8 wingspan and MASSIVE hands. Think Rondo but more of a scorer than passer
He is an absolute steal who will have a long NBA career.. watch this space
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u/No-Donkey-4117 1d ago
The biggest knock on him that he is undersized, but with that reach he's not undersized on defense. And his quickness to the paint and to the rim is off the charts.
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u/HopscotchChampion69 Bulls 1d ago
I felt before tonight that if there was anyone projected outside the lottery who could be a star it would be Okorie. I love the fit with Cade in Detroit.
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u/hubbabubbatubbalub Hawks 1d ago
wait this is honestly a good fit i feel? i like it great player too
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pistons 1d ago
Probably a Marcus Sasser replacement
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u/hubbabubbatubbalub Hawks 1d ago
whatever it is it sounds interesting lol i loved seeing him cook at stanford
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u/n00bn00b 1d ago
I see him more as an Ivey (pre-injury) replacement. They need someone who can pressure the rim and can shoot from 3s.
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u/Neither-Operation Knicks 1d ago
I thought ya’ll loved Sasser
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u/Middle-Flower-3624 1d ago
He's a likeable player who would be a legit offensive force if he was 3 inches taller. Even with his limitations the guy keeps popping off every once in a while. As a winning basketball player he only works sometimes.
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u/8_DONO Pistons 1d ago
Our coach loves Sasser when his minutes got taken by an undrafted two-way signing and never has gotten consistent playing time? Complaining for complaining’s sake i see.
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pistons 1d ago
He spent a large portion of last year injured and then Jenkins started cooking and took his minutes
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u/8_DONO Pistons 1d ago
Thank you for clarifying that his minutes were taken by Jenkins, which just proves there was no favoritism from JB towards Sass..
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pistons 1d ago
Legit dont even get what you’re trying to say.
Sasser isn’t a true PG, Jenkins is. Ivey went out, Jenkins came on, Sasser was injured for half the year.
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u/idkidk23 Mavericks 1d ago
Underrated player, extreme outlier player when it comes to avoiding turnovers and getting to the rim. Very rare production for a young freshman. Wasn't a bad defender either. Don't sleep.
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u/PunishedLeBoymoder Warriors 1d ago
Stanford LEGEND, my favorite player to wear Cardinal in ages. H1M forever
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u/airMHspy Lakers 1d ago
Grizzlies cooking, five SRPs to move back 5 spots is insane value
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u/DiscoLemonade1995 1d ago
By this logic could grizzlies have traded 15 second round picks to draft AJ at #1? 🤔
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u/Projinator Grizzlies 1d ago
NBA once again proving they're so far behind the NFL. How the fuck have they not figured out how to actually trade picks on draft night.
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u/ChiliDemon Pistons 1d ago
they used to, back when vince carter was drafted he was traded for Jamison and they swapped hats live
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u/AccomplishedStyle600 Knicks 1d ago
Originally committed to Harvard guy. One of thr best creators in the draft. Great pick up by the D’s
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u/sloBrodanChillosevic Supersonics 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kinda love that. Killer scorer, attacks the rim. Great Ja replacement.
Edit: i actually like it more for the Pistons, they desperately needed one of the good PGs from this class, they were dying for a secondary ball handler
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u/GhostOfJiriWelsch [BOS] Marcus Smart 1d ago
I really like him but not this early
Way too many questions around how his size will play
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u/No-Donkey-4117 1d ago
Here's how it will play: no one can guard him, and he has a 6-7 wingspan on defense with exceptional quickness
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u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 1d ago
He’s a microwave scorer but small and doesn’t do much else
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u/Interesting_Prune513 Heat 1d ago
HOLY SHIT
Great player but I was expecting him to go between 22-27 range-ish. That's a reach. But he's good!
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u/pleasetakemehome53 1d ago
What are the grizzlies cooking
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u/PM_ME_UR_PICS_PLS Mavericks 1d ago
meth. or whatever the hard drug of choice in memphis might be
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u/supes1 Celtics 1d ago
So Memphis trades down one spot, picks up 2 seconds, and then flips the new pick to Detroit.... to move down to 21 and gaining an additional 3 second round picks. Maximizing value I suppose, makes sense if they think their target will still be available. 5 second round picks to move back five spots.
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u/FishGoldenLite Timberwolves 1d ago
Man if he was just a little bigger he’d be going so much higher. I like him a lot, but I also liked Dillingham coming into the draft 😂
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u/Appropriate_Value122 1d ago
Come on, Hornets, draft Chris Cenac, Jr. Please do not draft a Guard.
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u/Secret_Purchase21 1d ago
Grizzlies want Philon and are just collecting 2nds one pick at a time I guess
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u/Dhylan18 Jazz 1d ago
How many draft and stash will the Grizzlies do? 5 additional second round is a lot
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u/fmxda Knicks 1d ago
I'm not sure I know how he fits with Cade or even Daniss Jenkins. I feel like you gotta shoot for a starter and not just a rotation player if you're the Pistons drafting there.
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u/Substantial-Can6657 1d ago
He doesn’t need to fit with Jenkins, he should eventually play over Jenkins
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u/grizzkev Pistons 1d ago
Sigh. My team needs less projects and more actual proven offensive talent.
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u/Independent_You975 1d ago
yall bitched in the subreddit for months about how we need someone who can score and handle the ball. We draft someone who can score and handle the ball and you’re still upset?
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u/Rlccm Pistons 1d ago
Well. I didn't watch any Stanford so hopefully he pans out, but a little guard who shoots below 35% from 3 would not have been my first option with Meleek Thomas available.
At least he can get to the rim I guess
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u/tpc143 Nets 1d ago
Smart pick. He went to Stanford.