Detroit Pistons X-Factor For The 2025-26 Season - Duncan Robinson

After ending their playoff drought last season, the Detroit Pistons made some offseason moves to improve their roster even more. One of those moves was adding Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade deal with the Miami Heat. While many other offseason moves were much flashier, the addition of Robinson could prove to be the X-factor in Detroit’s climb up the Eastern Conference ladder. 

A career 39.7% three-point shooter, Robinson’s elite long-range shooting ability is exactly what the Pistons need to help maximize their young core’s potential. A legitimate floor spacer who will provide room for Cade Cunningham’s playmaking abilities and Jalen Duren to operate in the paint, Robinson’s ability to spot up beyond the arc will open up lanes for Detroit’s All-Star point guard and their young big man.

The addition of Robinson couldn’t have come at a better time. With free-agent guard Malik Beasley facing gambling investigations and Tim Hardaway Jr. heading off to Denver, Robinson provides the Pistons with a proven long-range shooter who has seen his fair share of big moments while playing with the Heat. During his seven seasons in South Beach, Robinson made multiple trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, a place that Detroit hasn’t been to since the 2007-08 season, providing the relatively inexperienced Pistons roster with invaluable leadership.

Last season, the Pistons brought in J.B. Bickerstaff to replace Monty Williams behind the bench. As a coach who runs his offense around creating driving lanes for guards by surrounding them with shooters, as he did while coaching in Cleveland, Robinson provides exactly this skill set for Bickerstaff in Detroit. With an emphasis on ball movement and creating high-quality looks, Robinson’s ability to relocate and find open shooting pockets will be key to playing with guys like Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

Robinson’s ability to move without the ball, setting and coming off screens, impacts the game in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. Constantly in motion, defenses are forced to play honestly, taking away help-side defensive opportunities, which often leads to open shot opportunities for teammates when opponents overcommit.

Whether Robinson joins the starting unit or comes into the game early off the bench, if he can maintain his shooting touch while quickly meshing with his new teammates, he could be the difference between just qualifying for the playoffs and making a deep postseason run.