Gut Reaction: Jazz Trade Simone Fontecchio, Land Kevin Knox & More
With a little over 24 hours left before the NBA trade deadline, the Utah Jazz found common ground with the Detroit Pistons on a deal for 28-year-old forward Simone Fontecchio. Fontecchio joins former Jazzman Bojan Bogdanovic (at least as of now) on a league-worst Pistons squad that has been searching for reinforcements.
In return, the Jazz acquired a 2024 second-round pick by way of the Washington Wizards, former lottery pick Kevin Knox, and international prospect Gabriele Procida. Let’s dive into the specifics and determine if this was a good deal for the Jazz.
Outgoing
Fontecchio was one of the biggest surprises for Jazz fans so far this season. After a disappointing rookie season, he was promoted to the starting lineup in late November and found a role there for the Jazz.
At 6-foot-8, Fontecchio can hold up defensively against bigger wings. Offensively, he upped his three-point shooting to a very good 39% on the year.
On top of that, Fontecchio plays with a ton of effort every time he touches the court — a trait not many guys possess. He’ll be able to help a Detroit team that ranks 29th in the league in three-point makes per game.
Detroit will look to re-sign Simone this offseason when he becomes a restricted free agent.
Incoming
The headliner of the deal is a 2024 second-round draft pick that will certainly be among the first picks on Day 2. Yes, the NBA draft is now a two-day event.
With the Jazz likely losing their first-round pick to Oklahoma City, the front office was able to get in on the action come June. While this draft has gotten hammered for its lack of perceived talent, it’s a sneakily good draft in terms of depth. Because of this, the Jazz can add a good piece on a reasonable contract if they so desire.
The fact that the Jazz were able to get an actual asset out of Fontecchio, who they signed out of Italy and brought over as a 27-year-old rookie, is a masterful move by Danny Ainge and company.
Along with the pick, the Jazz also added Kevin Knox, the former No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Kentucky, who’s bounced around searching for a permanent home. The 6-foot-7 wing is still just 24 years old.
Knox is averaging 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season on a career-high 46.2% shooting. On an expiring contract, Knox will, at a minimum, give the Jazz an athletic wing that they can evaluate over the next couple of months before deciding if they want to keep him around or not.
Just to jog your memory, here’s Knox hitting six three-pointers against the Jazz last season.
Lastly, the Jazz acquired the draft rights to Gabriele Procida — a 6-foot-7 wing out of none other than Italy. Procida was the 36th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, and his inclusion in the Fontecchio deal was far from a throw-in.
Procida has some legit tools and will likely be a piece to keep an eye on as to whether or not the Jazz attempt to bring him over from Europe in the coming years.
The Takeaway
The Jazz have remained steadfast in their goal of building a contender in Salt Lake City. While a serviceable role player, Fontecchio likely wasn’t in Utah’s long-term plans.
With Ochai Agbaji, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh all in need of NBA minutes, the Jazz opted to grab some assets, and they did extremely well. With his impending free agency and rumors that Fontecchio could command over $10 million annually on his next contract, the Jazz did well to sell high on the Italian forward.
I expect the young guys to step into these voided minutes and play well — hopefully well enough that the Jazz continue their upward trend in the standings.
The Jazz are likely not done dealing as we head down the final stretch of trade season. Stay tuned.
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