Simone Fontecchio set to join Miami Heat in sign-and-trade deal

Jul 03, 2025 124

Simone Fontecchio’s future is now clear. The Italian star is set to join a new NBA team, marking the end of his time with the Detroit Pistons. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Fontecchio is reportedly part of a trade deal between the Pistons and the Miami Heat that would send Duncan Robinson to Detroit. The two teams have agreed to a sign-and-trade worth $48 million over three years.

If the deal goes through and Fontecchio remains on the Heat roster, he would become the first Italian player in franchise history—a milestone moment for him and a small but meaningful chapter in NBA history.

Fontecchio joined the Pistons during the 2023–24 season after a stint with the Utah Jazz and played some of the best basketball of his career in Detroit. Under head coach Monty Williams, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 16 games (starting in 9), shooting an impressive 42.6% from beyond the arc. Those performances earned him a two-year, $16 million deal signed last summer.

However, this past season wasn’t as productive. With JB Bickerstaff taking over as head coach, Fontecchio saw a reduced role. He played in 75 games, all off the bench, averaging under 6 points in 16.5 minutes per game. Still, he was a steady contributor for a solid Pistons campaign, finishing the season with 40% shooting from the field and 33.5% from three-point range.

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