During a Zoom call with reporters on Friday, forward Simone Fontecchio explained his decision to re-sign with the Heat, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The 30-year-old Italian earned about $8.3MM last season, but returned to Miami on a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
“I always wanted to stay in Miami,” Fontecchio said. “Last week, they said, ‘Listen we don’t have much room to operate.’ [But] my thought process was I want to stay here. I want to put some continuity to what I was doing here. There is a real big opportunity for the Heat with the Giannis (Antetokounmpo) trade and what it’s going to mean for the franchise and city.”
Fontecchio, who played professionally in Europe until he came to the NBA in 2022, said he spoke to head coach Erik Spoelstra before he agreed to re-sign with the team.
“I wanted to talk to him directly,” Fontecchio said. “We had a great conversation. I wanted to ask him a couple things. It wasn’t like he had to convince me. I was pretty much convinced. Hearing his voice, hearing his thought process and wanting me to stay helped me.”
Fontecchio, who averaged 8.5 points while shooting 37.5% from three-point range last season, also expressed excitement about playing with Antetokounmpo and said he’s looking forward to seeing an imposing defensive frontline featuring the Greek superstar and six-time All-Defensive member Bam Adebayo, Jackson notes.
Here’s more from Miami:
Former University of Miami star Tre Donaldson recently signed a two-way contract with the Heat after going undrafted last month. The 6’2″ point guard explained his thought process on Thursday, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “The Heat culture, I feel like, is the biggest thing. And I like to win, and they do a lot of that,” Donaldson said. “So just trying to be a part of that, trying to develop, understanding what I need to do for myself and my future. And just trying to get better. They do that really well and that’s what I was looking forward to.”
Second-round pick Ryan Conwell struggled with his shot early in his summer league debut at the California Classic, but he maintained a confident approach and finished with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes, notes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I spent so many hours in the gym and I have teammates and coaches that believe in me, so it’s no need to drop my head on one missed shot, and especially in the first half,” said Conwell, who signed a three-year standard deal with Miami after being selected 37th overall. “I feel like I got some really good looks and they just didn’t go in. But I just control what I control and continue just to bring a joy to the team. So, yeah, that’s who I am and that’s who I’m going to try to be to the best of my ability.”
Veteran wing Tim Hardaway Jr. won’t be able to wear No. 10 in 2026/27, as his father’s jersey hangs in the rafters of the Kaseya Center. “My legacy is my legacy. Even though he likes to wear No. 10, that is not coming down from the rafters,” Tim Hardaway Sr. said on WQAM radio in Miami (story via Tobias Bass of The Athletic). The younger Hardaway, who shot a career-high 40.7% from beyond the arc with Denver last season, agreed to a one-year, $6.5MM deal to play for his hometown team.