The Pistons have felt no regrets this season about giving up Simone Fontecchio to acquire Duncan Robinson. Fontecchio got off to a hot start with the Heat but has cooled back down to his level in Detroit from last season. As the Pistons make cuts to refine their playoff roster, it’s clear that Fontecchio wouldn’t have a consistent role on this team anyways.
Fontecchio’s career is heading downhill quickly
After a nice stretch to open the season in Miami, Fontecchio has seen an expected regression to the mean. He’s producing at a rate similar to his output on the Pistons last year, which wasn’t good enough to crack the rotation for extended minutes. On the season, Fontecchio is averaging 8 points per game while shooting 40% from the field and 37% from three.
His outside shooting has been great at times, but is much too streaky for a true title contender. The variability in his 3-point percentage (59% in October but just 22% in February) would be too much alongside the Pistons’ defensively slanted lineups. And of course Fontecchio has a major weakness in the non-shooting aspects of his game.
He doesn’t offer much if he’s not hitting his shots. Fontecchio isn’t a strong playmaker or defender, so his impact is completely dependent on his shooting. In Detroit, he could never get into a good rhythm because he needs the ball in his hands to be effective. And when you have an All-NBA guard like Cade Cunningham at the helm, there won’t be many meaningful possessions for Fontecchio to take over.
With these weaknesses and yet another disappointing year, Fontecchio might not have much longer left in the NBA. He’s only in his 4th season but already 30 years old. When he becomes a free agent this summer, Fontecchio will have a hard time convincing teams to give him another shot. Even the veteran minimum contract might be more than teams are willing to offer him.
Duncan Robinson has been much better for the Pistons
On the other side of the trade, Duncan Robinson has given the Pistons exactly what they needed. He’s been the team’s only reliable shooter all season long and that steady hand has been crucial to the offense. His 3-point percentage has never dipped below 35% for a month and has generally hovered over 40%.Â
His underrated other skills, such as playmaking and defensive effort, have also been a boon for Detroit. Unlike more one-dimensional players like Fontecchio, Robinson has found ways to contribute even when his shot isn’t falling or teams are selling out to take away his looks. He’s a master of using his gravity to open up teammates, and it’s made him the perfect fit for the Pistons.