JULY 27: After formally parting ways this week with Baskonia, Fontecchio has officially signed with the Jazz, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 17: Italian small forward Simone Fontecchio is signing a two-year, $6.25MM contract with the Jazz, Fontecchio’s agent Sam Goldfeder informs Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). News of the deal was first reported by Cesare Forgione of EuroDevotion.
Fontecchio is considered the top international free agent prospect at his position by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (via Twitter). Givony opines that Fontecchio possesses enough positional versatility to also play at shooting guard or power forward.
Fontecchio, then with Italian club Virtus Bologna, first declared for the 2015 NBA draft before ultimately withdrawing his name from consideration. He worked out for the Celtics, then led by current Jazz president Danny Ainge, during that initial process in 2015. He later went undrafted in 2017.
The 6’8″ wing most recently joined Spanish club Baskonia for the 2021/22 season. During 31 ACB League contests with Baskonia, he averaged 12.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 1.7 APG. The 26-year-old also posted shooting splits of .465/.410/.851 last season.
Fontecchio has also suited up for Italian clubs Olimpia Milano and Reggio Emila and German team Alba Berlin.
EuroHoops reports that Fontecchio’s three-year contract with Baskonia includes an exit clause, expiring this month, that allows him to sign with an NBA team. EuroHoops adds that the Lakers had also been considering tendering an offer to Fontecchio.
Thanks to their trade of All-Star center Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves and current rumblings that All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell could be next, the Jazz have been quite active during the 2022 offseason. That said, the Fontecchio signing will mark the team’s first actual free agent addition this year.
Utah will likely use a portion of its mid-level exception to sign Fontecchio.
How does Utah even have roster space to be signing free agents after the haul of players (and draft choices) they stole from the Timberpuppies for Gobert??
Calling them puppies tells me you’re a Knicks fan who thinks that’s funny. But really it just shows that many Knicks fans are insecure and have to put others down to feel superior. No need for that.
As for the Jazz, they had 13 players on the roster, including Juzang and Sneed. This gives them 14. However, if I had to guess then there are more players being sent out from the Jazz. Juzang is also one of their 2-way contracts so he’s not one of the regular 15 roster spots. That means they still have 2 more spots (13). 3 if they convert one more of their young guys to a 2-way, if possible (12).
WRONG !!
Not a Knicks fan.
Just Anti – Timberpuppies.
Ooh timberpuppies, we got a dangerous one here guys.
How can anyone be “anti” Timberwolves? They just had their first playoff appearance in awhile. I’m not aware of any existing rivalries. Anyone else know of any? Milwaukee, perhaps?
I’m guessing you didn’t like the Gobert trade they did because it drove up the price for either Donovan or KD? I can empathize with that. Still, no reason to be petty. Instead, express your feelings. This is a relatively safe space. =) Lol
Looks like a very skilled player! He has really good extended range! Makes me think the Jazz might be retooling around Donovan after all. Knicks fans won’t like that. Lol
Could this be 1 of the 2 wing shooters I’ve been saying they need? Not sure if anyone has seen him play. I’m wondering if he can defend as well. If so, it’s not surprising the Lakers were in on him, since they need 1 more 3 and D wing player
Who cares about the loser Lakers?
They were in the article as a potential suitor…
maybe Bojan replacement?
If he can shoot in the NBA as well as he did in Europe, he’ll be one heck of a find.
Curious to know if he once had a pre-draft wokout for the Celtics…when Ainge was there.
Lol, but yes, it says so in the summary above. =)
I imagine he’s kept tabs on a bunch of players over the years.
I remember listening to a front office guy chat about old scouting reports. The guy was asked about old written ones and what they do with those, etc. He said they’ve all likely been transcribed by now and everything is kept on a server somewhere. However, he kept copies for himself. I imagine Ainge does the same. He may even have scouting reports he kept to himself in case it ever got out he liked someone.
It is surprising the Lakers didn’t pounce on this guy because of their needs. I do think the Jazz are bringing him in as an insurance policy. I’m guessing all the older veterans will be dealt at some point this season.
I was listening to an interview recently, at some point in the last month I think, where they were talking about how they were moving into a new building for the front office, and getting rid of everything paper related, and going full digital, and I think it was a broadcaster who was a former coach and in his 90s that said he still had a bunch of files of old scouting reports on like Wilt, and bill russell, and Jerry west and stuff like that…I cant really remember who it was for some reason, and the GM said like O ya, actually definitely dont throw those out, maybe send them to Springfield…it might have been the Lakers. I normally remember stuff like this, but I’ve had a lot going on in my mind lately
I would imagine people remember players they were previously interested in they didnt bring over. Even I do that