Pistons discovering harsh truth Heat fans have known for years

Duncan Robinson joined the Detroit Pistons this summer via a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat, signing a three-year, $48 million contract. In the first four games of the season, his performance has been inconsistent, with one standout game where he scored 17 points on 4-of-8 three-point shooting in a win against the Rockets, contrasting with a season opener where he managed only two points on 0-of-5 shooting from deep in 32 minutes.

Across the four games, Robinson has shot a combined 32% from three-point range, but a deeper look reveals a stark contrast: he is 71% effective on wide-open three-pointers (5-of-7) but only 17% on non-wide-open attempts (3-of-18). The Pistons signed him primarily for his three-point shooting, which has been his key strength in the NBA, but his inconsistency and defensive weaknesses are concerns, as he often becomes a liability when his shots aren't falling.

Robinson's inconsistency is not new, as Miami Heat fans were familiar with it, and despite it being early in the season and his first time on a non-Heat team since 2018-19, the pattern persists. The Pistons, who surprised with a 44-38 record last season and have higher aspirations this year, have looked shaky in their 2-2 start, with issues like scoring droughts and turnovers. Their offseason moves, including signing Robinson and Caris LeVert, didn't fully reflect contender ambitions, especially amid the Malik Beasley gambling investigation.

The structure of Robinson's contract, with partial guarantees in 2026-27 and non-guaranteed salary in 2027-28, indicates the Pistons' awareness of his limitations. The team hopes that the $16.8 million committed to him this season will not go to waste, given his potential contributions and the risks involved.