The NBA offseason continues to deliver impactful moves, with veteran sharpshooter Duncan Robinson agreeing to a three-year, $48 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. The acquisition, reported by ESPN on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, comes as part of a sign-and-trade agreement that sends forward Simone Fontecchio to the Miami Heat.
Robinson, 31, had previously declined his $20 million early termination option with the Heat on Sunday, opting to become a free agent. His agent, Jason Glushon, explored multiple market options, including a potential return to Miami, before finalizing the move to Detroit. This transaction marks a significant shift for Robinson, who spent the first seven years of his professional career with the Miami Heat, joining them as an undrafted player in 2018.
For the Detroit Pistons, this signing represents a crucial pivot in their roster construction. The team had reportedly planned to sign guard Malik Beasley to a similar three-year, $48 million contract, but those discussions were paused following news of Beasley’s involvement in a federal gambling probe, as also reported by ESPN. Robinson’s arrival directly addresses Detroit’s need for high-volume, efficient three-point shooting, a role Beasley was expected to fill.
Robinson’s reputation as one of the league’s premier long-range specialists is well-earned. He boasts a career 3-point shooting percentage of 39.7%, a mark that places him among the NBA’s elite. Since the 2019-20 season, Robinson has drained 1,192 three-pointers, ranking him eighth in the entire league over that span, according to ESPN. His ability to stretch the floor and create spacing will be invaluable for the Pistons’ offense.
In the recently concluded 2024-25 season, Robinson played in 74 games for the Heat, averaging 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 24.1 minutes per contest. He maintained a solid 39.3% shooting clip from beyond the arc during this period, as detailed on his ESPN player profile and NBA.com stats page.
Robinson’s journey to the NBA is a testament to his perseverance. After playing college basketball at NCAA Division III Williams College and then the University of Michigan, he went undrafted in 2018. He quickly made a name for himself with the Heat, setting numerous franchise and league records for the fastest player to reach various 3-point milestones, including 1,000 career three-pointers in just 343 games, as noted by Wikipedia and Basketball-Reference.com. His previous five-year, $90 million deal with the Heat in 2021 was the largest contract ever for an undrafted player.
The Pistons, according to ESPN, are looking to build on “last season’s historic turnaround from 14 wins to playoff team.” Robinson joins Caris LeVert as a key free agent addition, signaling Detroit’s intent to continue their upward trajectory and solidify their position as a competitive force in the league. His experience, particularly from two NBA Finals appearances with the Heat (2020 and 2023), will provide valuable veteran leadership to a developing Pistons squad.
This move underscores Detroit’s commitment to acquiring proven talent to complement their young core. Robinson’s sharpshooting and professional demeanor make him an ideal fit for a team aiming to make a deeper run in the upcoming seasons.
