“Purposely Didn’t Bring Him In” – Miami Heat Executive Reveals Secret Plan to Sign Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson was a delightful surprise this season. The former Michigan player became an important piece for the Miami Heat in their historic playoff run. Robinson averaged close to 14 points per game during the regular season and about 11 points in the playoffs. It was Robinson’s clinical shooting from the arc that made him so key.

Perhaps his best game came was his Game 5 performance against the Los Angeles Lakers. With the series on the line, Robinson aided the Heat by dropping 26 points, including 21 points from the arc.

Robinson’s journey to the NBA is highly unconventional. Unlike most rookies entering the league, Robinson played all four years of college basketball. He spent three years at the University of Michigan, where he established himself as a historic player. He is fourth on the all-time three-pointers made list for Michigan. Robinson entered the NBA draft in 2018. But he was never selected by a team in the draft.

Heat planned to get Duncan Robinson

Luckily for him, the Miami Heat signed him to an NBA Summer League contract. His performances earned him a two-way G-League contract with the Miami Heat. He became an official member of the Heat roster ahead of the 2019-2020 season. It was his performances during the regular season that saw him get good minutes with the team. He also became a fan-favorite alongside rookie Tyler Herro.

The Miami Heat took a chance with Duncan Robinson. And he has repaid their faith in kind with spectacular performances in the regular season, and the playoffs. But it was not blind faith from the Heat.

Miami Heat official Chet Kammerer has revealed to the Sun Sentinal the genius chess moves the Heat made to acquire Robinson. According to him, the Heat gambled, letting him go undrafted and not acquiring a second-round pick.

“We purposely didn’t bring him in…Didn’t get invited to Portsmouth. He didn’t go to Chicago. He had very few workouts. I saw him, I said, ‘Guys, I’m telling you, if this guy is on the board [after the draft], he needs to be on our summer-league team.’ I wasn’t thinking, ‘Well, I’m going to ask our owner for $2 million to get the pick to get him.’

“Because I thought he was totally under the radar. I was in contact with his agent. We had already told him, ‘If he doesn’t get drafted, we want him.’ “

The shrewd move on the Heat part got them a diamond in the rough. With the Heat having no second-round draft picks this year, could we see another find like this?