The Miami Heat have looked like legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference this NBA season. They are currently tied for first place with the Chicago Bulls and look like they will be in the thick of things for the duration of the season.
Given the current standing of the team, you can be sure that Pat Riley will look to make some moves to upgrade the roster. He has shown in the past he is willing to pull the trigger on any move if it will get the team closer to competing for another championship.
Unfortunately for Miami, making a trade could prove difficult. KZ Okpala looks like the only asset with any value they may be willing to move. They are also lacking draft capital, as that avenue has been exhausted in previous moves.
Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are locked in as the team’s core. However, could Duncan Robinson, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal in the offseason and looked like a part of their core, be made available?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Miami Heat To Consider At Deadline
According to Matt Moore of The Action Network, there is a belief around the league that Duncan Robinson is a player that the Miami Heat are open to holding trade talks about. Given how things have gone on the court recently, this isn’t too surprising.
Robinson has seen his role in the rotation shrink recently. A big reason for that could be his 3-point shooting. He has struggled with his stroke this season, knocking down only 34.8 percent of his attempts after making 40.8 percent last season and 44.6 percent the season before that.
If he isn’t knocking down 3-pointers, Robinson doesn’t bring much to the table. As a result, he has seen his playing time cut down, as he has played less than 20 minutes in three consecutive games. During that stretch, he has gone 2-for-15 on his 3-point attempts and scored only 10 points combined.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Miami Heat To Consider At Deadline
While Robinson’s role has been scaled back, Max Strus has seen his increase. He has played at least 25 minutes during that same three-game stretch, knocking down 8-of-22 of his 3-point attempts. He scored in double-figures against the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, providing much more of a spark than Robinson has.
If this is something that continues in the coming weeks, Duncan Robinson could very well be on the move. Given the size of his contract, the Miami Heat could recoup a few pieces to fill out their roster and improve their depth for the stretch run of the season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Miami Heat To Consider At Deadline
While he has struggled shooting the ball this season, multiple teams would see his body of work and be willing to acquire him with the hope that he would get back on track.
