Heat forward Duncan Robinson is opting out of his contract for 2025/26 in order to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who says the veteran sharpshooter will work with the team to either figure out a new deal or accommodate a move elsewhere.
Robinson held an early termination option ahead of the ’25/26 season rather than a traditional player option. They have similar functions, but in order to become a free agent, Robinson will technically exercise the option to terminate his contract early, rather than declining that option and playing out his contract. If it were a traditional player option, exercising it would mean opting in.
Had Robinson opted into the final year of his deal, his $19.9MM salary for ’25/26 would have become partially guaranteed for $9.9MM, which would have forced Miami to decide whether to guarantee his remaining $10MM or waive him in order to create $10MM in savings.
Now that Robinson has opted out, he’s not guaranteed any of that money. But he the Heat could potentially work out a multiyear deal that features a more team-friendly cap hit and ensures that the 31-year-old still earns that $9.9MM — and then some.
The possibility of a new three-year deal to keep Robinson in Miami is one idea that has been floated, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
One of the NBA’s best three-point shooters, Robinson has fired up 7.2 attempts per game from beyond the arc in 423 regular season appearances and has knocked down 39.7% of them. In 2024/25, he averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .437/.393/.887, across 74 outings (37 starts).
As Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald tweets, Robinson’s decision takes the Heat from $8MM over the projected luxury tax line to $12MM below it. That gives the team enough breathing room below the tax to either bring back the forward on a new contract or perhaps add a replacement via trade/sign-and-trade or the mid-level exception.
The only Duncan Robinson I acknowledge are the twin towers.
Heat should target Trey Murphy III, too available.
Trey Murphy II is coming off a strong season, averaging 21.2 points.
Pelicans believe that they’ll make playoffs. They want to acquire a playoffs winner.
Odd to leave that kind of bread on the table unless he has a multi-year deal in the works.
Exactly! Dude leaving $$$$$$ on the table for what?
Sounds like he thought he was going to get waived and only paid half his bread. I bet he can get a multi year deal at more then 10mil per year.
My guess is that his agent and Riles have already worked out a new “team friendly” deal that will be announced in the next 2 days
No one can pay him in FA. He must have a deal with Heat.
Probably a 3 year deal that pays more in the future. Helps them out this year.
Im guessing a 3 year 15-21m deal.
I think it may be closer 3/30m… Heat really need pure shooters. If they start Ware & Bam they need shooters to space the floor, otherwise may get wonky with both bigs on Floor…Hero, Mitchell, Jacko new draft pick from Illinois,MAYBE DUNCAN ROBINSON—- Rozier waiting for contract to expire next year…