ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Utah Jazz traded 2nd-year player Simone Fontecchio to the Detroit Pistons for Kevin Knox, a 2024 second-round pick and the rights to Gabriele Procida, the 36 overall in the 2022 Draft.
Detroit Pistons Add 28-Year-Old Sharpshooter Simone Fontecchio
On July 17th, 2022, Fontecchio signed a two-year contract with the National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz in July 2022. Simone Fontecchio, a 6’7 wing, had a successful Italian Professional Basketball career starting at only 17 years old. He became an LBA All-Star in 2014 and won LBA’s Best Player Under 22 in 2015. Simone Fontecchio would win the 2016 Italian Cup and be a 3x Italian Super Cup winner. Fresh into his NBA career on December 7th, Fontecchio made a game-winning dunk in a 124–123 win over the Golden State Warriors. A week later, Fontecchio would have a career-high 24 points on 87% field goal percentage against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Detroit Pistons newly acquired wing Simone Fontecchio averaged 39.1% from three on 4.7 attempts per game for the Utah Jazz this season.
In this clip he displays defensive ability, shot creation, cutting to the basket, and dribble drive.
h/t ZH Highlights | #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/dP113pQz7y
— Brandon Dent | @WoodwardSports #DetroitKoolAid (@DetroitKoolAid) February 7, 2024
After posting 6.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in his first-ever NBA season, Fontecchio has improved this season with averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 50 games for Utah this year. In 34 of Utah’s last 37 games, Simone Fontecchio has averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 26 minutes per game. Fontecchio even tied his career-high of 24 points recently in January 2024 in a 127–90 win against the Dallas Mavericks. Simone Fontecchio will be a restricted free agent following the 2023-24 season. Detroit is currently rebuilding, and Fontecchio should give the Pistons some further options on the perimeter. The Detroit Pistons made the trade because they view Fontecchio as a part of their future core as he joins a group that includes former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, rookie Ausar Thompson, and sophomore studs Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
Former Top Ten Pick Moved Again, This Time to the Utah Jazz
For Kevin Knox, playing for the Jazz will mark his fifth team after being selected No. 9 overall by the New York Knicks in the 2018 Draft. Knox, the 6’7 wing, had a successful amateur career, being awarded Florida’s Mr. Basketball in 2017 and a McDonald’s All-American selection. At the University of Kentucky, Knox would have an impressive season, winning Freshman of the Year for the SEC and being selected as a 2018 First Team All-SEC member. Knox would continue his hot play to start his NBA career. Knox scored 26 points while securing four rebounds and dishing out four assists, along with a steal and a block on the defensive end, in a 136–134 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks in December.
A month later, in January, Knox scored a career-high 31 points, fighting for seven rebounds and two steals in a close 108–105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Kevin Knox received the Eastern Conference’s NBA Rookie of the Month Award for his efforts in December. Since then, the 24 year old Knox has been traded around the league from the New York Knicks in 2022 to the Atlanta Hawks.
From the Hawks to the Detroit Pistons in 2023. The Pistons would then trade Knox to the Portland Trailblazers, who would cut Knox and resign with the Pistons for the 2023-2024 NBA season. Knox has been a regular rotation player for the Pistons, averaging 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 31 games, most of which have come off the bench.
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