Transaction Summary

  1. Duncan Robinson signs 3-year, $47,978,871 Contract with MIA as part of Sign-and-Trade to DET;
  2. Robinson’s contract is $2 million guaranteed in 2026-27 and non-guaranteed in 2027-28;
  3. MIA acquires Simone Fontecchio in exchange for Robinson;

Cap Discussion

Sign-and-Trade Rules

  1. When a Contract is conditioned as a Sign-and-Trade, it must be for a minimum of three seasons. However, there is no requirement the compensation is guaranteed. In this case, Robinson’s contract is only guaranteed for $2 million in the second season, and $0 in the third season.
  2. Acquiring Robinson via Sign-and-Trade hard caps DET at the First Apron.

Trade Math – Detroit Pistons

  1. DET can acquire Incoming Trade salary of $16,834,692 when using the Expanded TPE with Fontecchio’s Outgoing Trade Salary (Fontecchio’s $8,307,692 + $8,527,000–a cushion that increases in line with the Salary Cap each season).
  2. Incoincidentally, this is the exact amount of Robinson’s starting Salary, allowing him to fit within the Expanded TPE.
  3.  DET is hard capped at the First Apron for using the Expanded TPE.

Trade Math – Miami Heat

  1. MIA is sending out a single player and acquiring less salary in return. Therefore, we know they will generate a new TPE to use in the future. The next question is how to best optimize the largest ongoing TPE for the future.
  2. MIA had a $16,070,814 TPE previously created from the Jimmy Butler trade, which is set to expire on February 6, 2026.
  3. MIA used a portion of the Butler TPE to absorb Fontecchio’s salary, reducing the Butler TPE to $7,763,122. Since the Butler TPE was generated during the prior Regular Season, MIA is hard capped at the First Apron.
  4. As a result, MIA creates a new TPE for the entire amount of Robinson’s outgoing salary, which will now expire on July 7, 2026 (deadline may shorten if MIA exceeds the First Apron).
  5. One note – MIA had the option to use a portion of their NTMLE to absorb Fontecchio’s salary. If they did so, they would still have the full Butler TPE through the trade deadline and Duncan’s new TPE, with just under $5.8 remaining in their NTMLE remaining. However, this would limit their ability to sign players through the rest of the Regular Season up to 4-year contracts, while TPE’s are limited to acquisitions via trade. MIA elects to retain the full NTMLE amount ($14.1 million) for slightly less to have more versatile salary in the future.