The Miami Heat’s offseason overhaul has already made them one of the most intriguing teams in the Eastern Conference, but the roster churn may not be finished. With the regular season set to begin in a week-and-a-half, a possible in-season move could bring back a familiar face: Duncan Robinson.
Robinson, now with the Detroit Pistons, is the kind of name that can pop up once the trade deadline starts approaching in February. If Miami is in position to add more help for a playoff push, Robinson fits the profile of a player who could be available through trade or a contract buy-out. And because of his history with the Heat, he would make plenty of sense as a reunion target if the team needs a boost from beyond the arc.
His run in Miami stretched from 2018 to 2025, and it was a long, unusual climb from undrafted rookie to paid sharpshooter. He came out of Michigan in 2018 without hearing his name called, spent time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce during his rookie season, and then earned a full-time spot with the Heat in 2019. By 2021, he had locked in a five-year, $90 million extension, which stood as the largest contract in NBA history at the time for an undrafted player.
The Heat moved Robinson last offseason in a sign-and-trade deal that sent forward Simone Fontecchio to Miami, and they chose not to extend him themselves. Detroit, meanwhile, has added plenty of wing depth. Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince arrived this offseason, and Kevin Huerter was also extended, leaving the Pistons with a crowded rotation on the perimeter.
That setup creates at least one possible trade lane, with a Nikola Jovic-for-Robinson deal mentioned as a scenario. Jovic, 23, looks like Miami’s most likely trade candidate at the moment. The Heat gave him a four-year rookie extension last October before the season began, but that move already looks shaky in hindsight after he became a near non-factor late in the year and appeared in just eight games after January.
Robinson still has two years left on his contract and is set to make close to $16 million in each season. Detroit has also continued to invest in its young core, recently extending center Jalen Duren. If Miami’s perimeter shooting turns into a problem despite the team’s offseason additions, Robinson would be a logical name to circle - especially for a franchise that already knows exactly what he can bring.
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New Yorks stance is what makes the situation worth following, because McBride is on an expiring contract and the Knicks have already paused extension discussions. That creates room for trade chatter, and Miami has been mentioned in discussions that could involve several moving parts, including Tyler Kolek, Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio. The exact framework is still taking shape, but the Heat clearly have a decision to make if they want to get ahead of a crowded deadline market. [Read more 🡒]