What Thomas Robinson Brings to Brooklyn

Earlier today, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports broke the story confirming that the Nets would sign Thomas Robinson to a 10-day contract on Tuesday after he clears waivers. Robinson, who was recently released from the Nuggets after being dealt to Denver in the Arron Afflalo deal. Immediately after his release this weekend, teams quickly moved to sign the former Kansas Jayhawk and 5th pick in the 2012 draft. Brooklyn scooped him up over various playoff contenders, hoping to add a piece in a push for the postseason.

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Brooklyn will be the fourth team Robinson has officially played for in his short career (Kings, Rockets & Blazers) and is hoping to latch onto this roster when the duration of his contract expires. His numbers this season have been pedestrian but he’s shown his potential in recent spurts throughout his NBA career. Two months earlier, he came off the bench to start his first career game following the broken hand suffered by Robin Lopez. Robinson seized the opportunity, scoring 15 points while grabbing 16 rebounds against Milwaukee.

Although potential starts aren’t in his immediate future, it is comforting for the Nets to know they are bringing in a serviceable power forward. Recent departure of Kevin Garnett and the season-ending illness of Mirza Teletovic have left the Nets extremely shorthanded for the remainder of the year. Lionel Hollins can now replace Plumlee/Lopez off the bench with an above-average rebounder and rim protector. Additionally, Thaddeus Young will now be able to slide back to his original position at Small Forward without leaving a hole in the Nets’ rotation. Their rotation was so out of whack after the Garnett deal, Joe Johnson spent a majority of Friday night’s game at Power Forward.

Offensively, Robinson’s game hasn’t translated to the pros as many would have imagined after his incredible Junior season at Kansas. However, he is known for his constant hustle and intensity on both sides of the floor. Robinson is ranked 16th in Defensive Rebounding Rate this season at 26.8% and will certainly help the Nets win the battle on the boards. Fans will appreciate his constant effort, as well as Lionel Hollins, who has been known to give these type of players additional minutes in order to energize his lineup.

As the tweet from Robinson above showcases, he is ready to prove that he belongs on a roster with the ability to contribute right away. He is a passionate player who leaves its all out the court each night. His eye-popping dunks and sheer athleticism made him a fan-favorite in Sacramento and most recently, Portland. Years prior, Robinson even expressed interest in playing for Brooklyn when it came time for the NBA Draft in Spring of 2012. The Nets were in the process of moving to Brooklyn and the front office was enamored with the idea of potentially drafting Robinson until their pick was sent to Portland in the Gerald Wallace deal.

This is a small, but necessary move for the Nets to address a glaring roster deficiency. Hopefully, Robinson will finish out the year with Brooklyn and can maybe find a permanent home in a key reserve role, something he’s desperately wanted.

Go Nets & Good Luck T-Rob.