By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cazoo Baskonia and Simone Fontecchio have parted ways, the team announced Wednesday.
Fontecchio, 26, has already been linked to the Utah Jazz and now detached from the Basque Country outfit is expected to complete his move to the NBA. Using the NBA exit clause on his contract opened the path, as noted by the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The Italian small forward inked a three-year contract to join Bitci Baskonia last summer. He is now expected to sign a two-year contract with the Jazz and debut in the NBA. Meanwhile, he is projected to represent Italy in the approaching EuroBasket stretching from 1 to 18 September.
“Thank you to all the fans for the incredible love from day one,” he said bidding farewell to Baskonia, per the press release, roughly translated with the help of Google, “Thanks to the club, the staff, and my teammates for always supporting me and helping become a better player.”
At Baskonia, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game over 31 appearances in the 2021-22 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. He upped his total of games played to 77, combined with previous stints at Alba Berlin and EA7 Emporio Armani/AX Armani Exchange Milan.
Fontecchio turned pro in 2012, promoted to the senior squad of SAIE3 Bologna, now labeled as Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Shifting to Olimpia Milano four years later, the four-year spell included a season at Vanoli Cremona on loan. From there, he moved to Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia for the 2020-21 season, and went on abroad with one-year stints at Alba Berlin and Baskonia.
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