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.
he’s not leaving 20 mill.. he’s leaving 10… and in today’s NBA he’s worth more than that.. which is nuts considering the best players in hockey don’t even get 10 lol
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…
Should’ve taken the cash. Gotten waived and made $10m. Then signed where he wanted.