Duncan Robinson, the deadeye shooter who helped the Miami Heat make a surprise run to the 2020 NBA Finals, has re-signed with the team. Robinson inked a five-year, $90 million deal to stay in Miami.
The Robinson signing, on its own, is not huge news for the Heat. What really matters is that Miami acquired former Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry in the first hour of NBA free agency on Monday. Having an elite guard alongside him will make Robinson an even better player. He is likely to get higher-quality looks as a product of Lowry being on the floor.
Lowry's floor game, hoops IQ, and basketball leadership should all help Robinson to continue to evolve — not just as a shooter, but as a two-way player the Heat will need this upcoming season.
A natural point of curiosity surrounds the Heat as they prepare for their 2022 NBA season. Many think, understandably enough, that Miami got lucky in the Orlando bubble playoffs from 2020. The team didn't have to travel to Milwaukee or Boston for playoff games, taking away an advantage from teams in the Eastern Conference which were seeded higher than Miami.
However, Heat fans can make the claim that Miami was uniquely unlucky in the 2021 season, given the extremely short offseason which robbed players of the ability to sufficiently rest, relax, and recharge for the next season.
It was not an idle coincidence that the Heat were hit very hard by injuries this past season. They went weeks without being able to field the same starting five. The physical punishment of the season was that pronounced.
With Kyle Lowry arriving in Miami and Duncan Robinson staying in Miami, the Heat — who still need a veteran frontcourt or wing piece — have reason to feel much better about their 2022 NBA title hopes.
The Heat will shoot for the stars, and no one shoots long-range shots for Miami better than Robinson does.