ASK IRA: Is a Duncan Robinson sign-and-trade easier in theory than reality?
Q: Is it possible to sign-and-trade Duncan Robinson for the draft ? With rumors that a couple of teams might be willing to offer $80 million over four years I think that’s not smart for us to match. However, we can’t lose him for nothing. So would it be possible to make a deal where we can get a pick in the draft or is that not how restricted free agency works ? — Ben.
A: That is not how it works. The Heat cannot even negotiate a possible sign-and-trade deal with Duncan Robinson until Monday, four days after the draft, and cannot execute such a deal until Aug. 6. Now, that doesn’t mean that the Heat can’t acquire a player selected in Thursday’s first round a week later. But it is not as if the Heat can have a player drafted for them. And beyond the fact that Duncan would have to agree to the destination in a sign-and-trade deal, his outgoing salary for trade purposes would only be half of his newly negotiated 2021-22 salary, making the cap gymnastics even more complicated. As for the bottom line, yes, it is looking more and more possible that Duncan could approach a $20 million average salary in new deal. So tell your kids to grow up to be 3-point shooters.
Q: So is it safe to say unless a star player demands a trade only to Miami that we’re basically outbid on every level to acquire them? No draft picks, limited payroll, and even better options for a veteran like Kyle Lowry are all present. Is this the hard truth for the Heat? — Joseph, Hollywood.
A: I’ve learned to stop accepting hard truths for the Heat after they got Jimmy Butler in free agency in the void of cap space. If a player wants to make his way to Miami, Pat Riley, Andy Elisburg and the Heat front office have shown a remarkable ability to make it happen. Doubt them at your own risk.
Q: Ira, to follow up your piece, it’s clear the Heat should be looking to both compete now, and get younger. Three years for Lowry at $20 million-plus would be criminal. Lowry is a complementary player and the Heat need more upside than he can provide. So unless there’s a chance at an injured Kawhi Leonard, the Heat should set their sights on younger talent such as Lonzo Ball, Bradley Beal, Collin Sexton and Brandon Ingram and offer Lowry a mid-level contract that he and his agent will surely balk at. — Gabriel, Miami.
A: Kyle Lowry will get his money on this market, signing at his price. He just will. That’s where the demand starts, with numerous teams willing to take him on for three years. So that essentially is non-negotiable. He may be better positioned than any player this offseason. And, as I wrote, there is a concern here about the Heat aging out by signing Kyle for three seasons and extending Jimmy Butler for four seasons, starting in 2022-23. But this also is a team in win-now mode with Jimmy, a team a season removed from the NBA Finals. So with the Heat, you have to accept that they live in the moment.
