The Philadelphia 76ers still have a couple of roster spots available for taking, but with one of those already reserved for an obvious cog, the front office still has some scouting to do in the market. But now, it seems like they might not need to do that anymore if they just keep their eyes open on what could unexpectedly unfold in the market.
According to a certain Europe basketball insider, the Heat are reportedly considering parting ways with forward Simone Fontecchio to the end that their team can get some more financial flexibility heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
The Italian forward, who spent last season with the Pistons, saw himself get shipped to MIami for sharpshooting wing Duncan Robinson early in the offseason. While Fontecchio was very serviceable, it would appear that the Heat do not value him as much.
If that is the case, the 76ers should immediately jump at the opportunity to add Fontecchio for their final roster spot (with the other one already reserved for Quentin Grimes). The front office would be hard-pressed to find a better player at this point in time to fill their last opening on the lineup, and Fontecchio definitely fits the mold of what they need at forward.
76ers get gifted with a potential steal of the offseason if rumor is true
At 6’8”, Fontecchio boasts ideal size at small forward — something the front office has been steadily looking for in the face of their rather undersized configurations as the roster is currently constructed.
The Italian turned in very modest numbers last season, but he was largely a victim of a much reduced role thanks to Detroit ushering in Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley. As a result, he ended up averaging just 16.5 minutes per outing — a far cry from the 30.3 average he saw with the same team in his brief stint a season ago.
Fontecchio also drained just 33 percent of his three-point tries. But beyond that figure and given his shaky role, that is perhaps palatable. Just a year ago, he knocked down over 40 percent of his attempts from rainbow country, which displays his ability to be a solid presence from beyond the arc when given a consistent load.
The 76ers badly need two things at forward — size and three-point shooting. And with Fontecchio, the team will undeniably be hitting two birds with one stone so long as he becomes available as rumored.
Adding Simone Fontecchio would easily be the biggest steal of the offseason, all things considered. The Philadelphia 76ers cannot afford to be picky, but he is most certainly a player who will fit right into what the team needs for their final roster spot.