This Miami Heat find could end up being Bam Adebayo’s backup

In advance of the start of training camp on Oct. 3, AllUCanHeat is analyzing the Miami Heat player-by-player. This installment focuses on Orlando Robinson, who could have a lot more responsibilities this season.

While the Miami Heat have been occupied with the NBA draft, free agency and Damian Lillard trade talks, Orlando Robinson has been working diligently to reshape his game.

Over the summer, Robinson adopted a detailed weight-room plan to improve his speed and conditioning and even made changes to his shooting form. The results of that work were on display in July’s Las Vegas Summer League.

In six games, Robinson averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range. Among his best performances were a 36-point eruption to open Summer League play and a 27-point, nine-rebound, six-assist, three-steal box-stuffer in the finale.

Even before the impressive showing, the Heat sensed a breakthrough was coming. Robinson impressed the organization in his limited time as an undrafted rookie. For 31 games, he filled in as Bam Adebayo’s backup after Dewayne Dedmon was jettisoned from the rotation and before the Heat acquired Cody Zeller. In his first game, he tallied 14 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes.

That and his hard work behind the scenes is why Miami promoted Robinson from a two-way contract and signed him to a two-year deal before Summer League play began.

Robinson, 23, has a chance to build on his summer and earn a spot in the Heat’s rotation. He’ll be competing with free-agent addition Thomas Bryant for minutes as Adebayo’s backup. Whereas Bryant is the more productive offensive player, Robinson might already be better defensively. If Robinson can marry his rim protection with the 3-point shooting he flashed in Vegas, he could push Bryant for the job.

Orlando Robinson

Position: Center
Ht./Wt.: 7-0/235
College: Fresno State
Years pro: 1
2022-23: 3.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 13.7 minutes per game
Contract status: First year of a two-year, $3.9 million deal ($1.8 million this season)

• Published on 09/18/2023 at 8:00 AM EDT
• Last updated on 09/18/2023 at 8:00 AM EDT