The Detroit Pistons made a pair of moves on Wednesday ahead of NBA’s trade deadline.
The team acquired Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio for Kevin Knox II, the rights to Gabriele Procida and a 2024 second-round pick, the Free Press confirmed. That selection is currently No. 32 overall (more favorable of Washington or Memphis).
Later in the afternoon, the Pistons traded Monte Morris to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Free Press confirmed, in exchange for guard Shake Milton, wing Troy Brown Jr. and a 2030 second-round pick.
The Pistons are now one player over the NBA roster limit of 15, meaning another move must be made before all is settled at the 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Fontecchio, 28, is listed at 6 feet 7, 209 pounds, and shooting 39.1% from 3-point range this season. He’s averaging 8.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game over 50 games (34 starts) for Utah, which is 26-26 and 10th in the Western Conference. He could find an expanded role on a Pistons team lacking shooting, size and defense on the perimeter. The second-year wing, who signed a two-year, $6.3 million contract with Utah last summer after playing in Europe for 10 seasons, grades out as a strong offensive rebounder and solid defender.
A source told the Free Press the Pistons view the sharpshooter, who is entering restricted free agency this offseason, as a great fit with their young core, and will look to secure his future in Detroit. Several contending teams competed for his services, but the Pistons were able to acquire him with the juicy second-round pick.
Both Brown and Milton were fringe rotation pieces for the Timberwolves (35-16), who are tied for first in the Western Conference. Both players have non-guaranteed contracts for next season, meaning they won’t eat into Detroit’s cap space plans for this summer.
Morris, 28, is a Flint native who arrived in Detroit via a trade with the Washington Wizards last summer for a second-round selection. The 6-foot-2 point guard — Michigan’s Mr. Basketball 2013 winner — dreamed of playing for the Pistons, but his time was cut short due to injury and now this trade.
He only recently made his season debut Jan. 24 after being out with a right quad injury, but hasn’t shot the ball well in six games. He is a career 38.9% 3-ball shooter that has never averaged more than one turnover per game. He’s on an expiring contract worth $9.8 million, making him an attractive trade target.
The Pistons parted with Knox, 24, who signed a one-year deal with the team in November for the second season in a row. It’s also the second time the Pistons have traded the 6-7 wing at the deadline. Knox gave the Pistons depth at forward and averaged 7.2 points in 31 appearances, including 11 starts, making 33% of his 3s.
Procida, 21, was the No. 36 overall pick in the 2022 draft. The 6-7 Italian wing is playing in Germany currently for ALBA Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga. He averages 8.7 points across 23 games this season (three starts) for ALBA Berlin, which is third at 11-5 in the 18-team league. He’s making 57.2% of his 2s (43-for-75), 30.3% of his 3s (27-for-89) and 77.3% of his free throws (34-for-44).
Milton, 27 and 6-5, brings point guard chops, size and off-ball experience, having spent the previous five seasons with Philadelphia, before signing a two-year, $10 million deal with Minnesota in free agency. He’s averaging just 4.7 points per game this season on the worst efficiency of his career (44.4 eFG%). He was taken 54th overall in the 2018 draft out of SMU. He has $5 million non-guaranteed for next season.
MORE: Ausar Thompson is living up to his defensive promise and proving Pistons right
Brown, 24 and 6-6, was the 15th pick out of Oregon in 2018 by the Wizards, and now joins his fifth team in six years. He averaged 4.2 points over 11.1 minutes per game in 37 appearances this season, making 36.9% of his 2.3 attempts from 3-point range per game, and has some defensive versatility. He has a non-guaranteed deal for $4 million next season.
The Pistons now are without a second-round pick until 2027, and still owe a protected first-round pick to the New York Knicks.
TRADE REACTION: Pistons fans call trade for Simone Fontecchio a ‘great move’
The Athletic was first to report the Pistons-Wolves trade.
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Next up: Trail Blazers
Matchup: Pistons (6-43 entering Wednesday) at Portland (15-35).
Tipoff: 10 p.m. Thursday; Moda Center, Portland, Oregon.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
More online: Wednesday’s game at Sacramento ended after this edition went to print. Visit freep.com/sports for the game result.
