Fontecchio underwent surgery on his left great toe Tuesday, and he is expected to return by the start of training camp, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Fontecchio missed the final 14 games of the regular season due to a contusion on his right great toe, but he was a solid performer for the Pistons. The 28-year-old averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes, starting in nine of 16 games. The sharpshooter is a restricted free agent, and he will likely garner interest from multiple teams including the Pistons. However, Fontecchio has made it clear that he is interested in returning to Detroit.
Pistons' Jared Rhoden: Solid numbers off bench Sunday
Rotowire
Rhoden chipped in 16 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 123-95 loss to San Antonio.
The second-year forward played a season high in minutes as the Pistons' roster limped to the finish line on a tough campaign. Rhoden showed an intriguing mix of skills in his late-season audition, going 7-for-13 from three-point range over the final three games while averaging 11.7 points, 4.0 boards, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists in 25.7 minutes a contest, but he'll likely still be competing for a spot at the end of the bench in camp next summer.
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Pistons' Marcus Sasser: Pops for 17 in finale
Rotowire
Sasser notched 17 points (6-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and one block in 31 minutes during Sunday's 123-95 loss to the Spurs.
Making his seventh straight start, Sasser drained multiple three-pointers for the sixth time during that stretch. The 23-year-old rookie averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 assists, 2.3 threes, 2.0 boards and 0.9 steals in his starting stint, but the Pistons' overloaded backcourt likely doesn't leave him with a clear path to consistent minutes next season, as Cade Cunningham (knee), Jaden Ivey and Quentin Grimes (knee) all seem set for significant roles when healthy.
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Pistons' James Wiseman: Big double-double Sunday
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Wiseman finished Sunday's 123-95 loss to San Antonio with 21 points (8-17 FG, 5-7 FT), 17 rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 40 minutes.
Making his second straight start and sixth since March 22, Wiseman set a season high in boards en route to his seventh double-double of 2023-24. The 23-year-old center has still not lived up to expectations as the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but in his six starts over the final weeks of the season, he averaged 14.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes a contest while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor. Wiseman will be a restricted free agent this offseason, but it's not clear if he wants to return to Detroit, or if the Pistons intend to bring him back, with Jalen Duren entrenched as the team's starting center.
Fontecchio (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
A right great toe contusion caused Fontecchio to miss the final 14 games of the season. However, before that, he was making an impact for the Pistons, who acquired his services at the trade deadline. In 16 appearances (nine starts) with Detroit, Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. The sharpshooter will be a restricted free agent this summer.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Out for finale
Rotowire
Duren (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against San Antonio.
Duren will be sidelined for a second consecutive contest due to back spasms, marking the end of his 2023-24 campaign. The second-year center flashed talent when available with averages of 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game, but his rhythm was disrupted by a series of ankle and back injuries that limited him to 61 appearances. James Wiseman will likely pick up a start at center in Sunday's finale.
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Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Downgraded to out
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Cunningham (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
As expected, Cunningham has been downgraded from doubtful to out and will miss the regular-season finale. The third-year guard rebounded from a lost 2022-23 campaign and averaged career highs in points (22.7) and assists (7.5) per game this season. The Pistons' season was disappointing, but Cunningham was a bright spot and figures to be a key part of Detroit's future.
Cunningham (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
Cunningham is dealing with left knee tendinopathy, and the Pistons are unlikely to play him in the final game of another lost season for Detroit. Cunningham has missed the last six games, and it wouldn't be shocking if he were to be available given the fact Detroit has nothing to play for Sunday.
