Duncan Robinson has unlocked a potential championship ceiling for the Detroit Pistons this season, and the Miami Heat have to be absolutely gutted about it. The Heat trading Robinson to Detroit during the offseason may be one of their most regrettable moves in recent memory.
Through a little more of the first quarter of the season, Robinson is averaging 12 points and three rebounds on 44 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. Considering volume, Robinson has emerged as the Pistons' best 3-point shooting threat and has fit almost perfectly in their starting 5.
While he does have his struggles at times on the defensive end of the floor, there's no question he's had a much more positive influence on the Pistons than a negative one.
Detroit also has the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 21-5.
The Duncan Robinson difference
Entering last night's game, which the Pistons won over the Boston Celtics, Detroit had a +8.8 rating with Robinson on the floor. Taking it a step further, the Pistons' starting 5, with Robinson, has a +10 net rating together.
Overall, because of how dangerous of a weapon he is on the perimeter, the Pistons are a much better team on the floor than they are with him off it. And if the first 26 games of their season are any indication, Robinson has very much unlocked another level to the Pistons' ceiling.
And the Heat have to be kicking themselves.
That's not even just because Simone Fontecchio, whom they got in that sign-and-trade deal with the Pistons, has sharply declined in both production and efficiency for them. But it's also the fact that not only does it appear that they moved off Robinson too early, but they also gift-wrapped him to their competition.
The Heat are far from a championship contender at this point in the season, especially after having lost five straight games and six of their last seven, but it's almost never a good thing when you trade a really good, difference-making player to an in-conference rival that you're admittedly trying to chase down.
In theory, not only did the Heat get "worse" by losing Robinson, but they also made the Pistons better in the process.
And, sure, there are so many intricacies to this move, but, in a vacuum, this is not one of those trades that the Heat will be able to look back at in a positive light. It gets even worse when you consider Miami could desperately need a shooter like Robinson.
Especially with the way the Heat's season is trending, trading Robinson is one of those moves that they have to already regret.