Raptors: 3 free agents fans should be relieved Masai Ujiri didn’t chase

1. Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat

Let me preface this by saying that Robinson is a good player. The league is becoming more reliant on specialist players, and Robinson is one of the very best at what he does, having made 42% of his 3-point attempts. However, the contract he earned in free agency might weigh on Miami’s space like an albatross.

Robinson was signed to a five-year deal worth $90 million, putting him just under what established players like Zach LaVine, Norman Powell, and Evan Fournier are making per season. Trent getting three years and $51 million may have surprised some, but that could be a bargain compared to Robinson’s deal.

Duncan Robinson would’ve been too risky for the Toronto Raptors.

Trent is much younger than the 27-year-old Robinson, is coming off a season in which he had a higher points per game average with Toronto than Robinson did with Miami, and has a slightly higher defensive ceiling than an average defender like Robinson. Toronto signed him for less annual value with two fewer years on his deal.

Robinson is a perfect role player, and Miami may have had to pay a little above market value to keep the restricted free agent, but he wouldn’t have been a good fit in Toronto at that price. Signing Trent, who may develop into a better all-around scorer, was the safer bet.