July 7: The sign-and-trade deal sending Robinson from Miami to Detroit in exchange for Fontecchio is now official, according to a press release from the Pistons (Twitter link).
July 1: Free agent wing Duncan Robinson is headed to the Pistons on a three-year, $48MM contract via a sign-and-trade, Shams Charania of ESPN reports (via Twitter). Detroit is sending backup forward Simone Fontecchio to Miami in the deal, Charania adds in another tweet.
While there are no options on the third year of the deal, per Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter links), it’s only partially guaranteed in year two and non-guaranteed in year three. Contracts signed via sign-and-trade must cover at least three seasons.
Robinson terminated his contract with the Heat in order to become a free agent. 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.
He’ll now join a Pistons team in need of shooting after losing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder in free agency while their top three-point threat this past season and another unrestricted free agent, Malik Beasley, is under investigation on gambling allegations.
Beasley was said to be in serious talks with the Pistons about a three-year, $42MM contract before word broke about the gambling allegations. It seems that money – and potentially a little extra, if he plays out the full contract – is going to Robinson instead.
Detroit secured a two-year agreement on Monday with Hawks free agent wing Caris LeVert, who like Robinson played his college ball at the University of Michigan. The LeVert deal is expected to be completed using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Robinson, 31, brings one major talent to the table — the ability to stretch the floor. He has knocked down 39.7 percent of his three-point tries during his 423-game NBA regular-season career.
Robinson made 74 appearances this past season, half of which were starts. He averaged 11 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. He shot 43.7 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from distance.
Fontecchio appeared in 75 games with the Pistons, all off the bench. He averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game but made a disappointing 33.5 percent of his threes after knocking down 40.1 percent in 66 games with Utah and Detroit the previous season. Fontecchio has one year and $8.3MM left on his contract.
Detroit needed to send out at least $7.5MM in matching salary to make the sign-and-trade work and Fontecchio’s contract fits nicely, cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes (Twitter links). The Heat will also come out with a trade exception in the deal, which Gozlan estimates will be worth $6.9MM.
The Heat now have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, while the Pistons are still operating with a few open roster spots and plenty of spending flexibility below the tax threshold.
the second I heard about beasley I was scared of this…. he’s from detroit… damn.. gonna be missed here in Miami
Who is from Detroit?
Beasley’s mom grew up in Detroit
And Duncan went to college at Michigan but is from New Hampshire
This is basically the contract they had on table to Beasley before that news broke. So they are replacing Beasley + Hardaway JR with Levert + Robinson, who coincidentally both went to Michigan like Hardaway JR. Probably an even trade, but a net loss when you add in losing Schroder with no replacement
We also get Ivey back, that has to count for something. I wouldn’t trade Ivey for Schroeder
Ivey is better than Schroder. And still getting better. They are better with those three. Still have cash to spend.
Dang! That’s Beasley type money right there!
Seems like a lot of scrilla for someone who couldn’t get off the bench in Miami. I’d think Hauser type money, maybe 10M a year.
Agree, overpaid. Miami was trying to get rid of him the last 3 years (counting this one) on a contract of 19 m a year and now he gets 16 for 3 more years, almost the same. Should have been 10-12 per year if you are going to give him 3 years like they did
He avg over 24 mins a game. Shot 40% from three and 90% from FT line. So its obviously both of you don’t watch Duncan. He has developed a handle. And is not just a shooter anymore. He fits well in Detroit ….. just with his shooting.
So he is so good that is why Miami was desperate to get rid of him. And you did not mention his defense. He could fit well with Detrot, yes. Like THJ did, both of the same kind
Players like Duncan. IHart, Caruso get paid for fit. Fact is he has gotten better all-around in Miami. Just they can’t pay him cause of cap. Teams have to manage their team salaries today. Heat can’t commit for three years. Pistons can especially after letting Beasley walk. Duncan is a solid bench scorer/shooter. Rotation piece for any team. Salaries for rotation players is about timing. Pistons need him …… I like Duncan.
As mentioned, year 2 is a partial guarantee & year 3 is non-guaranteed. Factor in Fontecchio’s outgoing $8 million, it’s basically a 1 year, $8 million contract
At least he got paid…from moment 1, I knew that Duncan Robinson could be the spacer they dreamed of, and I never flinched, despite people looking at me crazy. Got a chance to tell him early on, and he made 7 3s the next night, and never looked back, and got to tell him about it last year, in a hilarious interaction I’ll always remember. Miami Heat lifer, and will always have a home here. I have to make a decision on the jersey I bought last night now lol, but that was my own fault…its been a long year
Yr 3 is nom guarantee, and yr 2 is partial. I suppose it’s better than $20m he could have opted in?
😳😳😳😳😳
Surprise
I thought Heat would give him two years 20
10 each
Yuck
Robinson’s agent needs some serious praise here. How on earth did he convince the Pistons to give Robinson 48 million bucks? Ty Jerome only got 28 mil. Insane.
Less than $32M is guaranteed. Be interesting to see how much of year 2 is actually guaranteed.
I called it. But I didn’t think they could after signing LaVert. Now they got both. Man …. Pistons ain’t messing around. Pistons still need another big to backup Duren. Have to get one to be taken real serious. I like it. Teams are loading up lols …..
Beleive LaVert and Robinson are an upgrade over Beasley & Hardway…plus a healthy Ivey will build upon the Pistons success from this year.
Yeah, it’s basically getting back to where they were. In fact, isn’t it CLV and Robinson replacing Beasley, Hardaway, Schroder & Fontecchio?
Maybe there was someone else they added..
LaVert is an upgrade over Hardaway but Beasley is FAR better than Robinson.
I’m sure they would have given him that contract if he hadn’t, in theory, screwed up.
Why do teams overpay players and bid against themselves…31, going downhill, can barely do what he does best, which is only one thing.