The Detroit Pistons acquired center Ugonna Onyenso from the New York Knicks for cash considerations, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. The move came during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft after New York selected Onyenso with the No. 53 overall pick.
The trade gives Detroit a young interior defender with experience across multiple college programs. Onyenso spent his senior season at Virginia, where he averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 36 games while playing 18.6 minutes per contest.
Onyenso’s defensive production was the defining part of his college profile. He ranked among the top rim protectors in the draft class, recording 2.9 blocks per game in the 2025-26 season. Over his four-year college career at Kentucky, Kansas State and Virginia, he averaged 1.1 blocks in 100 total games.
The Nigerian big man also improved his offensive efficiency over his career. After averaging 2.5 points in limited minutes as a freshman at Kentucky, Onyenso reached 6.5 points per game as a senior while shooting 56.8% from the field. He finished his college career averaging 4.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
Detroit’s decision comes after a 2025-26 season in which the Pistons finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record. Their defense helped them reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.
