The Miami Heat were unable to acquire six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade agreement partially due to the low trade value of Duncan Robinson, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“They would have loved to get DeMar DeRozan,” Marks said during a Thursday appearance on NBA Today. “They tried as heck to get DeMar DeRozan, nobody wanted Duncan Robinson, no offense. They had one first-round pick to trade.”
Instead, DeRozan ended up on the Sacramento Kings with a new three-year deal worth $74 million in a separate sign-and-trade on Monday.
As part of the three-team move that also included the San Antonio Spurs, the Kings gave up Harrison Barnes and Chris Duarte.
Robinson still has two seasons left on a five-year, $90 million contract that he signed with Miami in 2021. However, only $9.8 million of his $19.8 million salary is guaranteed during the 2025-26 season (per Spotrac).
His remaining contract value likely didn’t interest Chicago, as the team has pivoted towards a younger roster after previously trading veteran Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bulls received 21-year-old Josh Giddey in return and will pair him alongside 24-year-old Coby White. At 30 years old, Robinson wouldn’t fit on the team’s timeline.
Still, he’s coming off an improved 2023-24 campaign. Robinson averaged 12.9 points and 2.8 assists per game, shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three. However, he ended up with the lowest net rating of any Heat player to appear in at least 50 games last season (via NBA.com).
It’s been a quiet offseason for Miami, as the team has re-signed players such as Kevin Love and Haywood Highsmith. The Heat have also watched others depart in free agency, with Caleb Martin joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $32 million contract.
One bright spot for Miami has been the play of 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware, who dropped 26 points during a Summer League victory on Sunday. If the 20-year-old center continues his strong play, the Heat may be able to bolster their trade packages for future stars.