Veteran Undrafted Small Forward Signs to the Pistons

The Miami Heat had themselves one heck of a season. They struggled with injuries, dealt with drama involving their star player Jimmy Butler, who they eventually traded, and had to pick up the pieces in time before the end of the regular season. They clinched the Play-In Tournament as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. During the Play-In Tournament, the Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks to take the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. However, they were swept by the East’s top team in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Veteran undrafted small forward Duncan Robinson had a player option on his contract and decided to opt out of $19.9 million. Perhaps this is to ensure a championship run for another time. It’s been reported by Shams Charania that Robinson has signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

Robinson went undrafted during the 2018 NBA Draft. He signed a Summer League deal with the Heat that summer. After averaging 12 points on 58 percent shooting, Miami signed the undrafted small forward to a two-way contract. As the Heat were starting the 2018-2019 season with four injured players, they called up Robinson from Miami’s G-League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Although he played 15 games in his first season, the following season, Robinson played in 73 games, starting in 68 of them. He went from averaging three points a game to 14. His field goal percentage went from 39 percent to 47 percent. Robinson’s impact on the court was truly showing. The 31-year-old small forward’s stock rose significantly over the next few seasons, helping the Miami Heat reach the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals. Although both were in losing efforts, Robinson showed how great he can be and how much of an offensive threat he is.

This past season, Robinson played in 74 games with the Heat while starting in 37 of those. In 24 minutes a night, he averaged 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. The undrafted small forward shot 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from downtown. On February 26th, Robinson scored 24 points while also recording five rebounds and six assists in a 131-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Pistons know they’re lucky to have this veteran sharpshooter on their team. He has the chance to be a huge player in this team’s offense.