ASK IRA: Is Orlando Robinson’s time with the Heat winding down?
Q: Orlando Robinson has been OK, but the pace and awareness, he struggles with. A lot of the times when players are dishing off an assist, he fumbles. – Heath.
A: The Heat’s way has been to convert productive two-way players to standard contracts as a means to also have a degree of control over their salary futures. But with Orlando Robinson only with four NBA days left on his two-way deal, it could come down to the progress made by Omer Yurtseven toward a season debut from his November ankle surgery. Because in the offseason, it might be either Omer or Orlando when the Heat try to make the money in the middle work.
Q: I’m higher on Jamal Cain than Orlando Robinson. But I’m hoping neither of them take an actual roster spot. – Stef.
A: Agree. The Heat’s standard roster is so flawed and limited (with Udonis Haslem taking one of the spots) that it only seems fair to Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to give them the best possible running mates for the stretch run of the playoff race. The Heat still can keep two developmental players on two-way contracts while filling the final two spots on the standard roster with proven, veteran talent. If the Heat need one of their current two-way players for playoff success, then the Heat are not who they thought they were.
Q: Heat fans judged Duncan Robinson very harshly. This is a guy that broke some NBA 3-pointer records and was beloved until he signed a big contract. The reality is we need a healthy Duncan. He is the best 3-point shooter we have. Max Strus is very inconsistent. I’m rooting for him. – Wine.
A: The issue with Duncan Robinson is more about the salary than the shooting, or perhaps even the shortcomings. At Duncan’s price point, with his five-year, $90 million contract, it complicates the Heat’s salary cap. It just does. A lower Duncan figure and it could have afforded far greater roster flexibility under the luxury tax. If Duncan was at his previous salary scale, he would continue to be viewed as a true underdog story. As with many things in life, money makes it complicated.
