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Report: Heat considering waiving Simone Fontecchio before stretch deadline

Simone Fontecchio Heat
(Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

Earlier this summer, Duncan Robinson, the greatest shooter in Miami Heat franchise history, signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

The prize the Heat got back in the sign-and-trade was sharpshooting wing Simone Fontecchio, whose role shrank in his first full season with the Detroit Pistons a year ago. For most of his professional career, he’s been an above-average shooter, but shot just 33.5 percent from 3-point range across 75 games last season.

He’ll be entering the final year of his deal at $8.3 million in 2025-26, but one recent report suggests there’s a chance he doesn’t suit up for the Heat.

Miami Heat could consider waiving Simone Fontecchio for tax reasons, per a recent report:

The Miami Heat currently has 14 players on roster and is $1.6 million above the luxury tax, according to Yossi Gozlan’s Capsheets. They opened up the additional roster spot in the Norman Powell three-team trade in early July.

To get below the tax, Fontecchio “may be waived by the Heat” (via translation), according to Sports Digitale’s Niko Yenibayrak. Yenibayrak notes that Turkish team Fenerbahçe is monitoring the situation.

Fenerbahçe is one of the best teams in Europe. They won the EuroLeague last season with nine Turkish Cup championships, including four in the last seven seasons. A few notable players who play for Fenerbahçe are Wade Baldwin IV, Khem Birch and Brandon Boston Jr., who signed earlier this week.

The waive-and-stretch deadline for players is on Aug. 29. If any player is stretched after that point, his current year salary — in this case, Fontecchio’s $8.3 million — would still be paid out in full.

If done by Aug. 29, Fontecchio would be on the Heat books for the next three seasons at $2.8 million, thus pushing the Heat roughly $3.9 million below the luxury tax. Though they would need to get back to the 14-player minimum by adding a minimum contract. At worst, that costs $2.3 million.

They have been open about ducking it to avoid the repeater tax penalties, but they have until the end of next season before it’s calculated. In essence, the “soft” deadline to get under is by next February’s trade deadline.

I don’t think it would be wise to give up Fontecchio months before you get a chance to see how he would fit — especially when you have months to make a decision ahead of the deadline. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

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SunManFromDogBone
SunManFromDogBone
8 months ago

Does anyone know where I can find the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket TV schedule for August-September. Preferably ESPN, NBATV, TNT, DAZN, YOUTUBE, etc. I would like to see some of the games, especially with our guys (Sweden, Lithuania, Italy) and FIBA’s AmeriCup schedule including Jamaica.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago

not into nfl?

SunManFromDogBone
SunManFromDogBone
8 months ago
Reply to  heatforlife

Ravens in AFC. Rams in NFC. My son lives in Bawlmore. I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

vagibugi
vagibugi
8 months ago

It seems that censors doesn’t allow post links here, because my post with links was on hold.

But search for FIBA Eurobasket 2025, go to official site, there is a list of games.

There is also some kind of stream, where already played games can be watched, and probably live too, but you need to register I m not sure if is a paid service or not.

vagibugi
vagibugi
8 months ago
Reply to  vagibugi

I just purchased it, it cost 20 EUR per year, butit seems it included also all Fiba games around the world.

vagibugi
vagibugi
8 months ago

Everything is based on the message of an European journalist, that one team is monitoring situation.

Monitoring situations is just what basketball teams do in that period of time.

There is a reason Heat traded for him. Spo has a history of line ups featuring a shooting bigs (Babbit, KO, Leonard).

If anything, there is always a chance to trade him as expiring contract later in the season or buy him out next year.

Bout30manth
Bout30manth
8 months ago
Reply to  vagibugi

That’s right. Probably not much more to it. It would only make sense as a salary dump that leads to another step.
I remain hopeful of another step. Tim Legler’s assessment of this roster seems right to me. In my opinion, we need another upgrade, and not just a backup.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago
Reply to  Bout30manth

Norman powell is a great get .credit pat on that one 30 but theres been to many debits lately legler best analyst going now.Wish van gundy and jackson were still on tv major downgrade to rj db.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago
Reply to  vagibugi

ko babbit ko great examples lol,how bout bosh

vagibugi
vagibugi
8 months ago
Reply to  heatforlife

Bosh too, by far the best of them all.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago
Reply to  vagibugi

babbitt leonard should not even be mention as heaters .ko was ok is.bosh a top 5 shooting pf all time possibly,man big 3 was to short a run .riley (chris)boshed that one.lebron let me tell u something whatever the f u want i will do.if u want me to lick your feet so be it.should have been pats response to the goat.i know he prob wanted to go to cleve but pat should have done everything to keep him here.still pisses me off the goat was only here for 4 years.do u think phils letting mj out of chitown

Reality Czech
Reality Czech
8 months ago

I agree with that last line – it doesn’t make sense to waive him before you see how he fits. He is a decent player, physically solid. I am hoping for a different trade rather than carrying that $2.8m for 3 years. That equates to a young player or vet you can’t get.

SunManFromDogBone
SunManFromDogBone
8 months ago

Miami should consider trading Rozier and his $26.6M contract to Sacramento for DeRozan and his $24.6M contract thereby saving $2M, enough to get under the luxury tax. Miami would probably need to include a sweetener (like a second round pick or a young player) as an incentive for Sacramento to agree to the trade.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago

nobody would ever take terry .he was so bad last year and his investigation still pending.yeah maybe throw bam in there u might get terry traded

SunManFromDogBone
SunManFromDogBone
8 months ago
Reply to  heatforlife

Never say never. If they want to get rid of a two year contract for an expiring one year contract they would…especially if Miami adds a sweetener. They could even trade Rozier plus 1 for DeRozan plus 1.

heatforlife
heatforlife
8 months ago

mickey pinching pennies again one of richest men in world lol.

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