Robinson dishes on Dakich family

MIAMI — A month later, a month after playing what became an unlikely bonus round during NBA Summer League, Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson can only laugh.

“That’s the last time I tell Andrew Dakich anything,” Robinson said with a smile, “because he tells his dad everything apparently.”

To refresh: The Heat’s final summer-league game in Las Vegas came two days before the July 15 deadline for the Heat to either guarantee Robinson $1 million for the coming season or release the 3-point specialist. That game also happened to be broadcast by ESPN analyst Dan Dakich, the former Indiana standout whose son played alongside Robinson at Michigan.

So as the seesaw game went back and forth, Dakich continually referenced the bonus as Robinson rolled to a 26-point performance in what turned into a Heat overtime loss to a similar group of young players, draft picks, rookies and free agents from the New Orleans Pelicans.

Now — a month removed from his own version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” — with that bonus and, essentially, a Heat roster spot in hand, Robinson, 25, finds himself in a comfortable place.

“I know Dan really well,” he said over the weekend during the appearance of the Big3 halfcourt tour at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I’m really close with his son, so I got to know him well over my years at Michigan.

“Do I wish that he wasn’t as vocally supportive of me on the air? Maybe a little bit. But at the same time I know it comes from a good place.”

Which also is where Robinson stands. While most, but not all, of his $1.4 million 2019-20 salary has been guaranteed, the Heat, operating under a hard cap due to the signing of Jimmy Butler, have no recourse to replace Robinson if he were to be released.

By contrast, Yante Maten, the Heat’s other two-way player along with Robinson last season, was waived before his Aug. 1 guarantee deadline following an uneven summer.

“I’m hurting for him, obviously,” Robinson said, with the Maten release creating the opening for a return by Udonis Haslem.

“It’s selfish of me to say it hurts for me. But just to see him go through that, I know how much he’s put into this and how much this means to him. But I know he’s a really good player and an even better person, so he’ll end up in a good opportunity. I know he will because he certainly deserves to.”

If there were any doubts about Robinson’s future, they were answered by a second solid summer.

“It’s just another step — it’s a step in this journey,” he said of first being shifted to a standard contract at the end of last season and then receiving his first seven-figure payoff as a pro.

“It’s headed in the right direction, for sure. I’m just excited for the opportunity. I got to make the most of it.

“The guarantee doesn’t mean anything if I don’t come in every day and handle my business and do things the right way, show that I belong. I’m excited to have the opportunity and I look forward to making the most of it.”

As was the case last summer, during more desperate times, Robinson has been a regular at the Heat’s offseason workouts, among those taking repetitions alongside draft picks Tyler Herro and KZ Okpala.

“Just the way they work, I think they’re wise beyond their years in terms of how they handle their business,” said Robinson, who was signed by the Heat a year ago after going undrafted out of Michigan.

“Every single day they show up ready to go. It was like that in summer league, and it’s been like that since we’ve all gotten down here.”

Among those Robinson could find himself competing with for playing time is Okpala, who already has been guaranteed for three seasons by the Heat.

“First thing that probably jumps out is his length and skill set,” Robinson said. “So he has an interesting combination of skill and athleticism.

“I think his ceiling is way up there.”