Simone Fontecchio likened his game to former Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson. (Mandatory Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
You could argue that Duncan Robinson was the poster child of the Miami Heat’s developmental system, which has produced numerous talented undrafted players, including Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Caleb Martin.
After exercising his $19.9 million early termination option when his contract was halfway guaranteed through July 8, the Heat lost Robinson in unrestricted free agency to the Detroit Pistons. The young, budding Pistons — who secured a top-6 seed in the East last season after a historic year-by-year improvement (in terms of W-L — inked Robinson to a three-year, $48 million deal. Though the acquisition was done via sign-and-trade, and the Heat were able to acquire fourth-year wing Simone Fontecchio in return.
Roughly 24 hours after the deal became official, Fontecchio, currently in Italy, prepping to play in EuroBasket, spoke to reporters and likened his game to the former Heat sharpshooter who he was dealt for.
“I watched a lot of Duncan Robinson in the last three years, because I think our skill set is pretty similar,” he said, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “Of course, he’s a tremendous shooter and he did an amazing job all the years in Miami and I was always kind of looking at him, the way he was getting off shots and I always kind of wanted to do the same thing. I think I can try to play like a little bit off handoffs, running off screens, do a little bit of that.”
In 193 career games, Fontecchio’s averaged 7.6 points on 41.9 percent shooting and 36.3 percent from 3-point range (3.9 3PA) across 18.9 minutes per game. His best season came in 2023-24, split between the Utah Jazz and Pistons, posting 10.5 points and 3.7 rebounds on 46.0/40.1/81.8 shooting splits.
He dealt with a toe injury in March 2024 that ultimately required surgery and affected his overall impact in 2024-25, where he took a step back.
He’s not quite the all-around player that Robinson is, nor is he the 3-point shooter. Though Fontecchio, when healthy, can shoot the rock. He’s got a fairly quick and high release with good balance and lift at 6-foot-8, 210 pounds.
It’s unclear what his role will look like in the Heat’s rotation because we don’t know what the final roster looks like. Miami still has work to do after acquiring Norman Powell, who put the Heat less than $2 million above the luxury tax.
After all, Fontecchio’s still unseasoned as a player, but the 29-year-old still has room to grow and could be a 3-point spark plug in the back-end of the Heat’s rotation, when it’s all said and done.
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