Heading into the final year of his five-year contract, Duncan Robinson exercised his $19.9 million early termination option Sunday, just hours before the deadline.
Approximately half ($9.9M) of Robinson’s 2025-26 salary was guaranteed through July 8, and exercising it allowed him to potentially find a new home or re-work a new deal with the Miami Heat at a team-friendly cost as free agency opens up Monday at 6 p.m. EST.
While a reunion between the two sides remains possible, one Eastern Conference foe is expected to emerge as a threat for the 31-year-old sharpshooter, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
Pistons could be a threat to sign Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson:
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, federal authorities are investigating Pistons guard Malik Beasley for a gambling scandal dating back to the 2023-25 season, when Beasley was with Milwaukee. According to Charania, Beasley, 28, was in talks for a three-year, $42 million deal to remain with the Pistons, but those talks have since been put “on pause.”
Now that they are forced to pivot at the 11th hour, Detroit’s expected to target the greatest shooter in Heat franchise history.
“The Pistons, meanwhile, are likewise said to be weighing a run at Miami’s Duncan Robinson to potentially fill their sudden need for shooting in addition to the interest in LeVert,” The Stein Line’s report read. “Robinson opted Sunday to bypass his $19.9 million player option for next season, but the move was made, sources said, with the expectation that the Heat and Robinson would work together on a new deal or pursue his exit via sign-and-trade.”
Robinson averaged 11.0 points on 43.7 percent shooting and 39.3 percent from 3-point range last season; over his last six seasons, he’s drained a combined 39.9 percent of his 3-point attempts (7.3 3PA!!!). He’s an excellent advantage exploiter, movement shooter and tertiary playmaker.
While the Pistons have roughly $47 million in cap holds tied to Dennis Schroder, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Beasley, they would have cap space available if they renounced them. So, in a perfect world, they wouldn’t have to acquire Robinson via sign-and-trade.
Losing Robinson for nothing would be another example of poor asset management by the Heat. While they have more flexibility to use their non-taxpayer mid-level and execute sign-and-trades, you could argue that they can’t afford to lose Robinson because of his skillset, even though he would fill up their 15th-and-final roster spot ahead of the new season.
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BREAKING NEWS! TERRY ROZIER CLEARED IN FEDERAL PROBE!
Duncan has been awesome. But I really want the Heat to continue with going young.
Resigning Duncan is not this terrible thing most here try to portray. There is nothing stopping the Heat from letting Duncan torch and catch a desperate team at trade deadline since this is a gap year. Trade him at that time for something of value. They could get more in that scenario than a sign and trade right now. What are we going to get from Detroit?
At a very reasonable price, perhaps. We might not get much from Detroit except salary cap relief.
Heat listed as a team interested in N Alexander-Walker. Interesting considering our roster limitations, which means …. 😛
Man I hope we go in the right direction here. I am biting my tongue on this one even though what we should do here is a no brainer for me. I will say, there is no room for any more mistakes. We have an already difficult path back to contention.
You may be biting your tongue, but your position is coming through loud and clear. This should not be about how likable he is. He is a really nice person, smart, well spoken, gives his all, doesn’t complain, mentors others. Overall, a great success story. Broke shooting records of one of the greatest players that ever played. He expanded his game. But for the Heat right now, proper financial decisions for the upcoming season and beyond must be taken into account relative to salary cap flexibility.
No, I actually want us to move on from him, but because he’s so likable, and because I think he’s being re-signed, I am trying not to be harsh. I just want to win and I think keeping him is not our best move.
Yes, we are in agreement here.