Highlights courtesy of NBA Europe via YouTube — embedded for editorial and analytical purposes.
Lurking toward the end of the bench in Detroit is a 6’8″ sharpshooter who has seemingly gone completely under the radar. Born in Italy to a basketball-playing mother and a professional hurdler father, Simone Fontecchio began his professional career at age 17.
Throughout his years in Europe, he flirted with joining the NBA and even entered as an early entry in the 2017 NBA Draft. He ultimately decided to stay in Europe until 2022. Beginning his NBA career in Utah in 2022, Fontecchio put up some solid minutes before being traded to Detroit in February 2024. He most recently was traded this summer in a trade to the Miami heat in exchange for fellow sharpshooter Duncan Robinson.
In 16 games to finish the season with Detroit, Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points per game on 42% shooting from three on 6.3 attempts per game. However, his production slipped — down to 5.9 points per game — with his minutes nearly cut in half to just 16 per game, compared to nearly 30 MPG the previous season. His shooting efficiency also declined, dropping from nearly 42% to 33% on fewer attempts. This, combined with not logging any minutes in the Pistons’ first-round playoff series against the Knicks, has pushed this underrated sharpshooter even further out of the spotlight.
Still, with his combination of size and shooting, Fontecchio could play an important bench role on a contender. While his age may be a concern and he’s likely not a long-term starter, he could give a playoff team the kind of boost that proves crucial deep into a postseason run.
Just look at this past NBA Finals for an example. Both the Pacers and Thunder reached the Finals with deep rotations of players moving in and out of the lineup — while teams like the Knicks, Lakers, and Nuggets fell short of expectations. As is typical with Fontecchio’s career, it wouldn’t be a flashy move — but below are a few teams that might benefit from his skillset, especially from beyond the arc.
Being a reliable bench player is one of the hardest jobs in the NBA. If you’re a star, you take your shots — make or miss, you’ll get more chances. But for a bench player, your minutes are unpredictable. One night, you might play 25 minutes; the next, record a DNP. This is the value of a player like Fontecchio.
He doesn’t change your team overnight. But deep in a playoff run, when your offense stalls, he might give you 20 solid minutes of spacing and shot-making. And that might be the difference between advancing or going home.
Fontecchio is not the only player that fits this mold — he’s just one who no one seems to be talking about. But everyone here at Box Office Buckets feels he deserves more of a shoutout.
For teams with spacing issues, Fontecchio could be the floor-stretching safety valve that keeps the offense moving and creates passing lanes for star players. These are the kinds of moves that transform good teams into great ones. It’s not always the stars — sometimes it’s the high-floor role players who show up when you need it most.
Being a reliable bench player is one of the hardest jobs in the NBA. If you’re a star, you take your shots — make or miss, you’ll get more chances. But for a bench player, your minutes are unpredictable. One night, you might play 25 minutes; the next, record a DNP. This is the value of a player like Fontecchio.
He doesn’t change your team overnight. But deep in a playoff run, when your offense stalls, he might give you 20 solid minutes of spacing and shot-making. And that might be the difference between advancing or going home.
Fontecchio is not the only player that fits this mold — he’s just one who no one seems to be talking about. But everyone here at Box Office Buckets feels he deserves more of a shoutout.
For teams with spacing issues, Fontecchio could be the floor-stretching safety valve that keeps the offense moving and creates passing lanes for star players. These are the kinds of moves that transform good teams into great ones. It’s not always the stars — sometimes it’s the high-floor role players who show up when you need it most.
After being traded to the Heat this summer for Duncan Robinson, Fontecchio will be looking to earn a new role in a system he should fit perfectly. The Miami Heat have long made average role players great role players and have no problem handing out minutes if your willing to work hard enough. However, should the pairing go poorly below are some teams that could look to use Fontecchios services.
Potential Teams That May Be Interested
Orlando Magic
The Magic shot just 26% from three during the postseason. Fontecchio could serve as a sized shooter to help stretch the floor while maintaining defensive flexibility. With Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero as emerging stars, Fontecchio could be a cheap, efficient scoring piece off the bench to elevate their offense.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies ranked among the lowest in three-point attempts during the playoffs and have long shown a knack for uncovering under-the-radar talent. Players like Scottie Pippen Jr. and Jay Huff have found roles in Memphis after being overlooked elsewhere. Fontecchio could offer shooting and size to complement Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Conclusion
While Fontecchio is far from perfect, he might just be the guy who delivers exactly what you need — exactly when you need it. His three point shooting abilities could become a key asset on the Heat or if he decides to go elsewhere!
References
- Simone Fontecchio – Wikipedia
- Simone Fontecchio Stats – Basketball Reference
- Pistons Season Rewind: Fontecchio – NBA.com
- NBA Team Shooting Stats – Playoffs (2024) – NBA.com
- Highlights courtesy of NBA Europe via YouTube — embedded for editorial and analytical purposes.
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