The Detroit Pistons were active early and often on Thursday night in the 2022 NBA draft.
Their third selection, in the second round at No. 36 overall, is wing Gabriele Procida, who played for Fortitudo Kiğılı Bologna in Italy’s top league, Serie A.
Procida averaged seven points and three rebounds for Fortitudo Bologna in 18.5 minutes per game over 26 appearances. He is seen as a future 3-and-D player, having knocked down 38.3% (23-for-60) of his 3-point shots last season.
“He could wind up as one of the best shooters in this class,” said ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
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Standing 6-foot-7, the wing attended the draft combine in May in Chicago, and ran a 3.02-second three-quarter court sprint, tied for the fastest time of all attendees.
The San Antonio Spurs, known for scouting overseas as well as any team in the league having selected gems like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, had the latter speak with Procida at the combine.
The Pistons are expected to treat Procida as a draft and stash — typically a move that keeps the player overseas initially before figuring into NBA plans in future years.
The Pistons started the night grabbing Purdue star Jaden Ivey at No. 5 overall.
Less than an hour later, Detroit moved the 2025 first-round pick it acquired Wednesday when it traded Jerami Grant to Portland, for Memphis freshman Jalen Duren at No. 13 and veteran guard Kemba Walker.
The Pistons are expected to reach a buyout with Walker.
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As part of the Grant trade, the Pistons also got a pick swap from the Blazers — moving from No. 46 to No. 36 — and parlayed that into Procida.
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Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him on twitter at @realtonygarcia.