JULY 12: The Pistons have officially re-signed Fontecchio, according to the NBA’s transaction log.
JULY 6: The Pistons and free agent wing Simone Fontecchio are in agreement on a two-year, $16MM contract, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Fontecchio, 28, played professionally in Europe from 2012-22 before signing with the Jazz two summers ago. He spent a season-and-a-half in Utah, then was traded to Detroit at this year’s trade deadline.
In 66 total games (43 starts) for the Jazz and Pistons in 2023/24, the Italian wing averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24.9 minutes per game, with a strong shooting line of .460/.401/.818.
Because he only has two years of NBA experience under his belt, Fontecchio was eligible for restricted free agency, and the Pistons issued him a $5.2MM qualifying offer to ensure that he wouldn’t be able to sign with another team without Detroit getting a chance to match.
It didn’t come to that, however, as the Pistons and Fontecchio have worked out a new deal directly, less than a week after the free agent period officially opened.
Fontecchio will provide additional shooting on a team that is prioritizing spacing the floor around rising star guard Cade Cunningham. Detroit has also agreed to sign Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris while acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr. in a trade with Dallas.
Fontecchio’s new deal won’t affect the Pistons’ cap room, since his $5.2MM cap hold has already been accounted for in the team’s cap projections. Detroit will be able to go over the cap to officially re-sign him using his Early Bird rights.
They have vets now. Vets that have something to prove.
We’re going to be in purgatory as long as Gore remains owner. He promised when he took ownership we would compete for championships. We have gotten worse every year. No Superstars will ever sign here.
They started from scratch this offseason. All they could do.
That said…what would you have preferred they have done this summer??
You realize they don’t choose who wins the draft lottery, and that guys like George or LeBron or any other Max player is NOT signing here as a free agent…I mean, it’s literally NEVER happened unless you consider Josh Smith as an all-NBA, Max player
Troy Weaver was atrocious. I have questions about Langdon. But choosing to gripe about the team AFTER they have an actual promising week of activity for the first time in several years is kinda weird
That has always been the case. Superstars go to big markets or a winner.
We finally have a competent GM and not just a supposed draft guru.
I am excited to see the young talent actually have a chance to learn and develop properly, or not, but at least we will give them a chance to succeed and able to reach their ability.
Hopefully some spacing will open lanes for Cade, Ivey, Thompson and Holland and now with these new vets and a motivated front office/ coaching staff we are hopefully on our way.
The pistons will be better this year!