The Miami Heat’s search for shooting has opened the door to all kinds of speculation, but a Duncan Robinson reunion now looks like a long shot.
After Miami’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the need to add perimeter shooting has become impossible to ignore, and the Heat are expected to keep exploring every possible route. Robinson, the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers, quickly became a popular name in the mix. Chris Haynes, though, has poured cold water on that idea.
The connection made sense on the surface, especially with the Detroit Pistons making moves of their own this offseason. Detroit signed John Collins, extended Kevin Huerter, traded for Isaiah Joe, and is expected to move on from Tobias Harris while also sorting out Jalen Durren’s future. Even so, Haynes’ reporting points in a different direction: the Pistons still need what Robinson brings.
Robinson hit 415 from beyond the arc this past season, and Detroit’s offense was a +7.2 with him on the floor. His value showed up again in the playoffs, where his three-point shooting stood out. His contract was also structured in a way that matters here, since only $2- million of it is guaranteed this season.
For Miami, that means the focus likely shifts elsewhere. The Heat have already added Tim Hardaway Jr. to help address the shooting shortage, and that move eats into their flexibility. His $6.5M salary will go into the mid-level exception, leaving Miami with $8.5M remaining from it, though the team will probably be closer to using $7 million because of its first apron hard cap proximity after presumably signing Ryan Conwell.
That leaves the Heat in a tricky cap situation, but the message locally is to stay patient until July 6th, when the team is said to “have a plan.” There’s also confidence in the front office’s ability to work through the salary cap, with Andy Ellisburg specifically mentioned as someone who does a fine job.
Even with those limitations, Miami is expected to finish building out the roster with veteran minimum signings, giving the team as many usable pieces as possible. And while the roster still sounds like it has room for something bigger - LeBron? - the expectation is that the Heat will find a way to compete this season, not just later on.
A Robinson return would have fit the story neatly. But at this point, it sounds like Miami will have to keep looking.
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