Detroit Pistons: Pros and Cons of trading for Duncan Robinson

Detroit Pistons: The cons of trading for Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson’s numbers have declined since his second year in the league, when he averaged 13.5 points per game on over 44 percent shooting from 3-point range.

The following season he was down to 13.1 points on 40 percent and this season 10.5 points on 37 percent from long range.

Robinson is playing similar minutes and getting a similar number of attempts but isn’t making as many. He’d still be the best shooter on the Pistons by far, and even his reputation as a sharpshooter would create some space, but is 10 points a game on 37 percent shooting really worth paying $16-19 million for?

The Heat found a guy in Strus who is putting up better numbers and making league minimum. Although he took a huge dip this season while battling injuries, Frank Jackson shot 40 percent last season while making a fraction of what Robinson makes.

My point is that the Pistons might be able to find a shooter for way less than what Robinson is making. Isaiah Livers is already under contract and may end up being that guy.

Robinson is also a sub-par defender (though he’s smart enough to play on a good defensive team), so you are paying second-tier money for a one-dimensional player, when you could find a similar guy on the cheap.

If the Pistons did trade for Robinson AND extend Grant, then they would be locked into a team that would certainly be better, but also less financially flexible.

They could find themselves in the same situation at the Heat, paying a role player big bucks when they could get his production from a guy on a rookie deal.

In the end, as tempting as it would be, I think the Pistons should pass on such a trade unless it is accompanied by other moves, as Duncan Robinson wouldn’t move the needle enough to justify his contract and might leave the Pistons regretting the decision down the road.