Pistons Extend Qualifying Offer to Fontecchio

The Detroit Pistons have extended a qualifying offer to Simone Fontecchio, making him a restricted free agent. This move allows Detroit to match any offers he receives during the offseason, retaining the 28-year-old Italian player who averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 16 games last season. Fontecchio was acquired from Utah in a three-team trade in February, where the Jazz used Detroit’s second-round pick to draft Kyle Filipowski. Recently hired Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon also secured Tim Hardaway Jr. from Dallas for Quentin Grimes and three second-round picks. Detroit, currently without a head coach, drafted Ron Holland of the G League Ignite with the fifth overall pick. The Pistons, who have had the NBA's worst record for the past two years, have not won a playoff game since 2008.