The Detroit Pistons dealt with some notable injuries late in the 2023-2024 NBA season, with one notable absence being Simone Fontecchio, who was acquired in a trade during the season.
Towards the end of the season, Fontecchio was plagued by a bruised toe. The severity of the injury was unclear for a while, but it was eventually determined that Fontecchio's injury would require surgery to repair.
Last week, the Pistons announced Fontecchio underwent successful surgery and is expected to make a full recovery and potentially be available to play at the start of training camp for the 2024-2025 season.
Unfortunately, Fontecchio would not get the chance to represent his country on the international stage. After his surgery, Fontecchio released a statement on social media confirming that he would ultimately not be joining Italy's national team for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“The surgery went well and I am already on the road to recovery,” Fontecchio wrote on Instagram. Basketball News“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in the pre-Olympic tournament in Puerto Rico this summer. It is with great regret for me to leave the national team. I wanted to be on the court and put on the blue jersey this year, especially with such an important goal as the Olympics. I would like to thank Detroit and the national team for the tremendous support they have shown me during this time. As always, I am my players' biggest fan and I wish all my teammates and staff the best of luck.”
With the Olympics now out of the question for Fontecchio, the veteran shooter will now be focused on next NBA season, when he could potentially return to play for the Pistons.
Fontecchio will be a free agent this summer but will be a restricted prospect. Teams can make offers to the veteran, but Detroit can match whatever he agrees to. The Pistons are obviously interested in acquiring Fontecchio, considering they acquired him in a trade last season.
In 16 games with the Pistons, Fontecchio averaged 15 points and shot 43% from beyond the 3-point line. It's a small sample size for a veteran, but his short stint with the Pistons gave him the chance to put together the best performance of his career.
As of the end of the season, there appears to be mutual interest between Fontecchio and the Pistons in reuniting beyond the 2023-2024 season. We'll soon see if the Trajan Langdon-led Pistons view the former Utah Jazz shooter the same way they view Troy Weaver.
