Jalen Duren has High Praise for Pistons Sharpshooting Forward
One of the first moves the Detroit Pistons made on deadline day was acquiring forward Simone Fontecchio from the Utah Jazz. In his first few weeks with the team, he has proven to be an extremely underrated pickup.
When the Pistons brought in Fontecchio, it was reported that they viewed him as a key piece moving forward. His play thus far is a testament to why the front office was so high on him.
In his first 13 games with the Pistons, Fontecchio is averaging 15.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.0 APG. What has stood out most is his outside shooting. Since coming to Detroit, the 27-year-old is shooting 43% from beyond the arc on over six attempts per game.
Following the Pistons' win over the Charlotte Hornets, Jalen Duren was asked about Fontecchio's shooting. He not only praised his skills as a marksman, but cited his overall aggressiveness on the offensive end.
"Sniper, man. He's an elite shooter. One thing I think is underrated about him is his aggressiveness attacking the rim. Sometimes he'll attack and go to dunk and surprise me," Duren told reporters.
Fontecchio had a strong outing against the Hornets, scoring 17 points on 63.6% shooting. However, he had arguably his best game with Detroit earlier this week. In 32 minutes off the bench against the Mavericks, Fontecchio erupted for 27 points and went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Floor spacing has been an issue at times for the Pistons, which is why Fontecchio has thrived. His presence has helped in a big way, mainly by opening up the floor for Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Seeing how well he's meshed with the group so far, the Pistons are certain to do everything they can to retain Fontecchio in free agency this offseason. Trading for him mid-season benefited them greatly, as they'll have his Bird Rights.
