Detroit Pistons NBA trade grade for Duncan Robinson: B+
The Detroit Pistons addressed their glaring need for outside shooting with a sign-and-trade on July 1, acquiring Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat in exchange for Simone Fontecchio. The Michigan alumnus will sign a partially-guaranteed three-year, $48 million contract according to league sources, preserving the Pistons' future flexibility while plugging the hole left by Malik Beasley.
Free Press sports writer Omari Sankofa II reacts to the deal with immediate analysis, and grades the move for the Pistons.
Pistons sign-and-trade for Duncan Robinson grade: B+
Why: As far as late pivots go, this worked out pretty well for the Pistons. They needed an elite shooter following news of Beasley's gambling investigation and Tim Hardaway Jr.'s departure to the Denver Nuggets, and Robinson arguably was the best shooter remaining on the market. He's a career 39.7% shooter from deep and made 190 3-pointers with the Heat last season.
Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) drives to the basket past Detroit Pistons forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (8) during the first quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The Pistons had to trade Fontecchio to clear enough salary to pry Robinson away from Miami, and they had to offer at least three seasons because of the league's sign-and-trade rules. His contract, worth $16 million annually, is inflated but essentially a one-year commitment because of the partial guarantee in Year 2. That makes the final year of the deal non-guaranteed, should they move on from him next offseason.
It's a good contract for both sides, and creative work by Trajan Langdon to land a top shooter while maintaining flexibility beyond next season.
Nov 27, 2015; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan Wolverines guard Caris LeVert (23) and guard Duncan Robinson (right) celebrate at the end the first half against the Texas Longhorns during the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort.
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