The Painted Area: What If Thomas Robinson Just Isn't That Good?

That's pretty much Morey's game, constantly flipping known talent for low cost potential talent. He did it for Lowry, Dragic, and now TRob. Selling high for upside.

 

I'm also scared he has a bad attitude. Something about him rubs me the wrong way. I've read some articles that refer to him as feeling overly entitled and arrogant. Also those comments he made that he should've been the #1 pick. This all doesn't seem to match the story about raising his little sister though. Really hope Cousins didn't rub off on him.

 

The article refers to Kevin Pelton's preseason projection. Here's what Kevin said:

 

ASSET. as if yall don't know Morey by now.

 

this might be one of White's jokes... He can't even average more than 12 minutes in the Dleague right now.... and he will be starting PF before season's end?

FYI season end is near....only 24 games to go

 

when was he in the D-League? Geez not even one full season and people want to roast him.

 

Fixed....abysmal numbers

 

Like just about all big man prospects, Robinson is really raw. And his projection relies a lot on just that, "projecting" his future. If he's a failure, then he's a failure. Terrence Jones and DMo will likely provide as much if not more production than what we gave away in Patterson and Morris.

Morey's basically swinging for home runs with every move. Even if they're low percentage, he just has to make one correct move. Add one fringe all-star among the prospect we have, and another max player, and Harden/Lin/Asik/Parsons quartet, and that's a contender.

 

Meh I still like the odds. Patterson is a fringe starter and his potential is tapped. Robinson is the best PF prospect the Rockets have had in Morey's tenure even with a bad 5 month preview.

 

What if Thomas Robinson just isn't that good?

then we lost 2 future HoF big man in Patrick Patterson and Cole Aldrich, not to mention the boy everyone loves in Toney Douglas, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

That might have been part of the rationale behind the team moving him, I read a couple of articles (likely the same sources as you) suggesting that him and Keith Smart didn't get along because he felt entitled to more playing time.

It doesn't really matter here though because we've already got a budding core and a bunch of young PFs who will be played in front of him if he acts up. He isn't in a position of privilege here.

 

Can't believe it, but I really agree with your post here DD. I see this trade to be very similar to the Hasheem Thabeet/Battier trade years ago.

T. Robinson should be much, much better for the Rockets than Thabeet, but you catch my drift. This was more addition by subtraction longterm, with a gamble prospect coming back in the deal to marinate in the Rockets system for some time.

Also, dont lose sight of the fact that come this Summer, T Robinson could still be viewed as a nice asset in trade. He's very much a player a rebuilding team would want to take on in shipping out their star player (cough, cough Portland...).

I dont doubt that Morey likes Robinson's talent, but Im sure his expectations for him being a life long Rocket beyond this Summer are fairly slim IMO. They've got bigger plans beyond just sitting around waiting for him to develop into an all star player.

 

I value rebounding very highly. He has that tool already. He has defensive potential. Offensively, he is raw.

I think his rebounding will carry him in this league.

I am very happy with Rockets future at PF. I like Motiejunas, too.

 

Thomas Robinson is just not that good. Pat Pat is a better player. But Robinson has 3 years left on his rookie contract while Pat Pat has one. Rockets were ready to give D-Mo playing time. That is the rationale for the trade.

 

I dont know about that. Robinson's flaws in college are still haunting him now. From haoafu's post above:

I saw a statistic posted somewhere that he had a very large percentage of his shots blocked as well , something like 11% ?!? Dont recall where I read that , or how accurate it is. Tho its been stated that he has trouble with long defenders .... and there are a lot of those in the NBA.

For Robinson to get meaningful minutes , I think he has to significantly outperform DMo on the glass and defensively. Not sure we can really expect that as Motejunas is far and away more polished on the offensive end and probably not too far behind rebounding.

I'd have to rank them:

Motejunas - He has star potential , especially offensively.
Robinson - Maybe Otis Thorpe as a top end ?
T.Jones - I have no idea , so athletic but looks lost.
Royce White - Such a unique skillset. He's his own worst enemy.


If you have a big who can score you can get away with a less offensive oriented player opposite him who's a solid rebounder and defender (OT and Hakeem - Kareem and Rambis). The combination of Asik and Robinson just doesnt seem to be championship quality when you look at their skillsets.

Motejunas and Asik however seem to compliment one another a bit better.

If you are going with TRob , you have to upgrade Asik with a guy who can score consistently and Im sure Morey would love to get DH12 in that spot.
Im just not sure which DH12 we'd be getting , the All World guy who carried the Magic for a few years or the drama queen with a hurt backside.



Every time Ive seen Jones on the floor he's looked a little lost , much like Morris did last year. Like the game moves too quickly for him. Ironically thats the same thing that has been stated about Robinson.

Morris did make a big leap in his second year , maybe those two make a similar jump.

 

FWIW, when asked about Robinson's play, Morey talked about how he did a lot of iso in Sacramento, which he's simply not good at. But Morey envisions him more as a PnR player. Robinson also has a good shooting form, and will likely develop enough of a jumpshot to stretch the court. He also has ridiculous rebounding instinct, which really cannot be taught.

I don't really want to say Thorpe, because Thorpe had no range but also lengthier on defense. Thorpe today can easily be a center. I think Horace Grant would be a more apt comparison as TRob's ceiling.

 

I'm really hoping he is. I'm a KU fan whose followed T-Rob since his sophomore year. He runs the floor with an obnoxiously energetic motor, an attribute I believe that would fit greatly with our system and along our new youth movement. I'm excited to see him catching oops from Jeremy. Best case scenario is he's the PF that is needed to be considered a real contender and worst case scenario is he's a role player with freak athleticism

 

Already a good NBA level defender and rebounder, hustles on the offensive end in transition and really good in pick and roll. As Morey and McHale say having a great shot is the most coachable aspect in the development of a player (see Parsons and Lin)

Always a spot for that on the bench.

 

I saw Robinson get killed by no names in the summer lg and he has sucked so far. He can't get his shot off. He is a athlete trying to play basketball. Let's judge Robinson by his play not by how high he went in the draft. D mo and t Jones both have more potential then Robinson. Greg Smith has just as much potential as t rob.