The Detroit Pistons made their first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season and took the New York Knicks to six games in a first-round matchup this past year. But this offseason has been about taking the next step and taking advantage of a wide-open Eastern Conference.
So far, the Pistons offseason has been a mixed bag. Detroit re-signed Paul Reed to a two-year contract and inked former Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert to a two-year, $29 million contract. A bigger splash came when they executed a sign-and trade for Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson.
It’s unknown whether these moves will help the Pistons take the next step. But one of the players sent packing in the trade is already thanking Detroit for his time with the franchise.
Simone Fontecchio thanks Pistons fans for the last two seasons. pic.twitter.com/np5zoFTO00
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) July 2, 2025
Former Pistons Forward Simone Fontecchio Says Goodbye to Detroit
Simone Fontecchio was sent to the Heat as part of the sign-and-trade that brought Robinson to the Motor City this week. While Fontecchio will look to write the next chapter of his career in Miami, he took some time to thank Pistons fans in a post on his Instagram account.
“Thank you Detroit, for this beautiful journey,” Fontecchio wrote. “Thanks to my former teammates, a young and talented group with a bright future ahead. I’m sure great things are coming for you! To the management and coaching staff: thank you for helping bring back the energy and culture this franchise deserves. And to all the Pistons fans, thank you for making me feel at home from day one. You are the heartbeat of Detroit, and I’ll carry your love with me into this new adventure.”
Fontecchio spent just over a season with the Pistons after coming over in a trade with the Utah Jazz. The deal that sent Kevin Knox II, a second-round pick and the rights to Gabriele Procida, had limited returns for Detroit, as Fontecchio appeared in 91 games shooting .428/.363/.836 while averaging 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
The Pistons are hoping to get more by acquiring Robinson. The 30-year-old has been mostly a bench player over the past three seasons with the Heat but shot .437/.393/.887 with 11 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. His arrival came with a three-year, $48 million contract and hopes to make up for the loss of Malik Beasley, who is being investigated for violating the NBA’s gambling policy and Tim Hardaway Jr., who signed a four-year, $75 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Whether Robinson is the answer to get the Pistons over the hump remains to be seen. But Fontecchio may have been an adequate price to pay for a team looking to win now.