It’s sure to be a foregone conclusion at this point, but Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson have an upcoming contract guarantee date for the Miami Heat.
Considering the facts that Kendrick Nunn has been the best rookie in the Eastern Conference and Duncan Robinson is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, it’s easy to forget they’re both in a unique and unfavorable contractual spot with the Miami Heat.
Both players have non-guaranteed contracts with crucial dates still to come both this season and next season. As for this season, they have only one more hurdle to pass (and they will). The January 10th contract guarantee date is just days away, and once that date hits Nunn’s remaining $516,000 and Robinson’s remaining $416,000 (Robinson was guaranteed the first $1 million of his contract in the summer) will become fully guaranteed for the rest of the season.
Next season’s structure for both contains fewer guarantee dates than this season does. They have a guarantee that kicks in on opening night, with Robinson’s $1 million being more favorable than Nunn’s $300,000. Once again, January 10th, 2021 is the date their contracts become fully guaranteed for next season.
In the summer of 2021, both players become restricted free agents, giving the Miami Heat the right to match any offer made to them if they so choose in order to retain their services.
Most likely none of these dates will matter as we approach them. With the performances both have put forth so far and the value their low salaries present on such a cap-strapped team, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson have made themselves two of the most valuable players (and contracts) on the Miami Heat roster.
In fact, thanks to their great play so far in the first 36 games, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see their contracts get guaranteed in full before next season begins.
All contract information taken from Keith Smith’s NBA Salary & Roster Sheets