The Detroit Pistons will have the 46th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to go along with their lottery pick and could use it to bolster their scoring.
The Pistons were at or near the bottom of the league in pretty much every offensive category but definitely need some players who can shoot the 3-ball, as they were 29th in 3-point percentage and really didn’t have a guy who hit them consistently.
They should get internal improvement from Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey, but they also need some guys who can spread the floor for these two to work in the mid-range.
The Pistons also need an elite defensive wing, but improving their bench shooting has to be a priority as well.
There are some interesting scoring prospects in this range, and one international player who the Detroit Pistons would definitely consider if he is there when they choose with the 46th pick.
Detroit Pistons Draft: Gabriele Procida
Gabriele Procida is a 6-foot-7 wing who plays for Bologna in the Italian League, where he is considered one of the top NBA prospects.
He only averaged seven points and three rebounds per game, but has the kind of skillset that should translate to an NBA bench.
He’s a guy who already knows his role and will come to the NBA knowing exactly what he needs to do to make a roster.
He has a couple of glaring weaknesses but one big strength that could make him a fit with the Detroit Pistons if he is there in the middle of the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
2022 NBA Draft: Gabriele Procida’s strengths and weaknesses
Procida is a shooting guard/slash wing who has good height for the position at 6-foot-7 but needs to put on some strength.
His lists of weaknesses is probably longer than his strengths, as he is not a good creator with the ball, is not a great athlete and could struggle to defend quicker players in the NBA.
What Procida does exceedingly well is shoot the 3-point shot, as he hit just under 40 percent of his attempts this season and has one of those pure, effortless releases where you are shocked when it doesn’t go in.
You can see from these highlights that Procida already has NBA range and is actually not a terrible defender even though he lacks elite athleticism.
He’s very good at moving without the ball in his hands, coming off screens and draining the catch-and-shoot 3-point shot, so if he can improve his strength and handles, he’ll have a spot off someone’s bench because every team is looking for elite 3-point shooting.
Would the Detroit Pistons take a risk on such a one-dimensional player?
Detroit Pistons draft: How Gabriele Procida fits in Detroit
Did I mention that the Detroit Pistons need shooting?
Last season they had exactly zero players coming off their bench who could hit a 3-point shot, as the guy they had penciled in for that role (Frank Jackson) was injured and regressed to shooting just 30.8 percent from long range.
The Pistons have team options on Jackson, Hamidou Diallo and Luka Garza and could let all of them walk to try and find shooting upgrades.
Procida projects to be a Duncan Robinson type, a guy who can stroke the 3-point shot and is smart enough to play within a team defensive scheme.
Adding a 3-point specialist to the bench makes sense for the Detroit Pistons, as he would fit well with guys like Killian Hayes and Marvin Bagley III, who will do most of their damage in the lane and need shooters to kick it out to.
Procida is a guy who will create space with his shooting, which is something the Detroit Pistons desperately need.
If he is still available when they choose at 46, I think the Pistons will take a hard look at this international shooter.
For our complete second-round series, click here.