The Detroit Pistons might not be on anyone’s radar for 2024, but they could surprise us this season.
Young Talent and New Additions:
Cade Cunningham is stepping into his fourth year, although he missed his second season due to a shin injury. Alongside him are rising stars like Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and rookie Ron Holland II, who all have the potential to shine. This offseason, the Pistons added some experienced players under new general manager Trajan Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley are here to help improve the team’s performance after a tough 14-68 record last year.
The Underrated Simone Fontecchio:
One player flying under the radar is third-year forward Simone Fontecchio. Last season, he averaged just 10.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in only 16 games due to injuries. After toe surgery during the offseason, there’s hope that Fontecchio can have a breakout year with Detroit.
According to Omari Sankofa III from the Detroit Free Press, Fontecchio feels healthy now.
Fontecchio on his rehab: "I was able to get back to full 5-on-5 after three months, so thatโs the end of August. Itโs been a month since Iโve been playing 5-on-5. It feels good, the foot is healed and Iโm excited about it."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa)
Fans think it’s exciting when players come back stronger after injuries.
Fontecchio’s Potential Impact:
Last season showed glimpses of what Fontecchio can do on the court. After joining Detroit from Utah Jazz at the trade deadline, his scoring average jumped from 8.9 to 15.9 points per game! His three-point shooting also improved significantlyโfrom 39.1% to an impressive 42.6%โeven as he took more shots per game.
Detroit has been searching for a consistent young shooter who can create space for players like Cunningham and Ivey on offense; having a healthy Fontecchio could be crucial this season as they aim high!
