If the Miami Heat want to cement their place as one of the league’s top title contenders this upcoming season, they need to ensure they have the best-fitting lineups around Giannis Antetokounmpo at all times. And three-point shooting will be one of the most important traits to look for. That’s why Simone Fontecchio has the chance to quickly emerge as one of their most essential depth pieces.
Fontecchio may not seem like a crucial guy in the grand scheme of the Heat’s rotation. Guys like Nikola Jovic and Bobby Portis Jr. should, in theory, be ahead of him in the depth chart. But Portis is more of a five. And Jovic, despite having shown flashes, is still relatively unproven in the NBA. Fontecchio is a pure shooter.
That’s why he came over to the NBA in the first place. That’s what he can bring to Miami’s lineup. And if he shoots the ball well enough, he could quickly become an important piece next to Antetokounmpo.
Simone Fontecchio could space the floor perfectly for Giannis
Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league. He can get downhill in the blink of an eye, and it takes more than one player to actually slow him down (if they can even manage to do so).
That said, the more people to help over in the paint to contest Antetokounmpo, the more room other players on the Heat will have to take open three-point looks.
Because of that, it will be essential for Erik Spoelstra to keep the floor full of reliable three-point shooters whenever Antetokounmpo is in the game. That’s where Fontecchio can come into play.
Last year, Fontecchio was a 37.5% shooter from beyond the arc for Miami. And in the Heat’s last preseason game, he showed them a dose of what he could bring to the table this season.
In Miami’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, Fontecchio came off the bench and scored 11 points. He shot 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line, and he did it in just under 14 minutes of action. He's been hot from deep range all preseason.
Obviously, Fontecchio doesn’t stand out as one of the Heat’s premier rotation players right now. He’s not the best defender, and he needs to really prove he can be consistent as a shooter.
But with his size and three-point stroke, there’s a real chance for him to emerge as an important piece this year. If he shoots the ball well enough, he could be a great asset for Miami.
Antetokounmpo needs shooters around him, and Fontecchio should get his opportunity to be one of them as the season unfolds.
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