Rockets selected Ugonna Onyenso with the No. 53 pick in the NBA Draft and traded the pick to the Knicks, who then sent it to the Pistons.
Onyenso, a 6-foot-11 center who spent two seasons at Kentucky and one at Kansas State before joining the Virginia program, is arguably the best rim protector in this draft class. Last season, he averaged an ACC-best 2.9 blocks in just 18.6 minutes per game. While the offensive repertoire is very limited, Onyenso’s ability to block shots is what made him stand out among projected second-round picks. Selected by the Rockets, the 6-foot-11 center’s draft rights were traded twice: first to New York, then to Detroit. With the Pistons moving on from Isaiah Stewart, Onyenso will likely slot in as the third center, with Paul Reed moving into the backup role.