T-Rob is supposed to be our backup PF. And certainly there's a gap for that. But now we hear that Leonard is being groomed for that spot (and was played alongside a center in the showcase) and further, there is speculation that Leonard's option will be picked up but Robinson's won't. In fact, we have kind of a logjam at backup PF, with Freeland and Claver (and occasionally Wright) being used there. So, what's Robinson's future? It's certainly true that T-Rob is much more exciting and a much better rebounder than any of those. However, it's also true that he seems to have a shockingly low basketball IQ and he is undersized for a PF. He still is a ball-stopper on offense and in general out-of-control. Does he really have a role? Over the Summer, I was moaning about how he still looked clueless in the Summer League games, when he busted out a whole sequence of great plays. He was blocking and stealing and dunking in a most pleasing fashion in that one game. Then he hurt his thumb. The person he reminded me most of in that sequence was Good Gerald Wallace, another athletic SF/PF hybrid. Is that the role for him? Could we conceivably slot him in at backup SF? Would a bench frontcourt of Robinson-Leonard-Kaman be at all practical? Thoughts?
I would imagine cap planning goes into all of these considerations, and the TV deal changes things too, BUT: We don't win the Houston series w/o Robinson. He changed the game, irritated dwight, got some big dunks. We need a little bit of nasty on the team and I think playing with a pass-first guard in Blake (even though I can't stand him) instead of Mo should help a player like T-Rob. Also, he can play a little bit of a garbage man role when next to Aldridge or Kaman, who are both good passers and mid-range shooters, on offense, while his perimeter D is really amazing, which is one area that Meyers will flat out suck at. They really are inverse players, with Robinson being best down low (or sneaking in for rebounds put-backs) on offense and perimeter/help defense with Meyers being better at perimeter offense and boxing out/sitting low on D.
Is he really undersized? He rebounds well and runs like a deer, so i would argue the players he goes against are too big and slow. For a back up PF I just don't think it is a factor. I don't see any back up PF's backing him down either. But yes as discussed in the other thread, the Blazers have a lot of different options at PF. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
He still has to beat out both Kaman and Robinson for backup PF minutes. Best way to improve is to have competition breathing down your neck. With the new TV deal being announced it kind of kills any talk of not picking up options on people who can be assets. You don't turn down an option on a rookie contract on a player that isn't a bust and could be a trade asset, there is no reason not to pick up robinsons option unless he has a career ending injury or his actual name is Hasheem Thabeet.
If TRob doesn't show to be in any consideration for NBA's most improved player award or at least be able to hold the main backup PF position on the team, Then maybe it's time to move on. That's the way I see it. Don't fall in love with players!
I am a big fan of T. Rob, but reality sets in with Aldridge. I suppose they maybe keeping T. Rob until Aldridge is 100% signed? Personally I would rather have the bruising PF back-up than a soft Leonard. We already have a outside shooting Aldridge. Maybe Leonard is being groomed to have "trade value"? It could also be the case.
With the caveat of, if both continue to improve and we dont get anyone better, then I could definatly see Leonard + TRob + journey man C/SF. This year will answer a lot of that question but at this point I see TRob as more of a lock that Leonard. TRob already has found a niche of the hustle/energy guy and holds a lot of value with us because of it. He's our second units Wesley but more of a wild card and has the potential to change any game, cold off the bench, without scoring. Meyers still has a lot to prove to even break the rotation.
That's right. Get rid of every player who doesn't win the Most Improved Player award. Rinse and repeat.
T-Rob is certainly athletic enough for SF. He would have to develop a better jumper to do anything on offense at that position. GW wasn't a lights out shooter but he did have a decent stroke. If T-Rob became even close to the defensive player that GW was I'd be very happy!
I love that we have a junk yard dog player in TRob. I doubt Meyers is ready yet to usurp TRob as the backup PF. We have a solid rotation of LaMarcus, Lopez, Kaman and TRob. This year. Maybe the Blazers make the financial decision to trade TRob or let him test the open market, next year, but for now, we are better off with TRob at PF than Meyers.
We have heard a couple from Neil that we are a year ahead in his four year plan. Does he think he can land a big time FA next offseason? If we needed the cap space, would we have to give up additional assets for someone to take T Rob's 4.6M one year deal? I do not see us landing anyone, so I would pick up the option.
What exactly are you basing your claim of a shockingly low basketball IQ? He isn't European? He talks kinda slow? I don't think he has a low bbiq at all. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Did you see that video last week of Lopez getting mad at him? Since the coaches can't change him, it will take peer pressure.
I don't buy it either. I think fans automatically equate stupid turnovers with low BB IQ. Sometimes that is true, sometimes it is not. In this case I don't believe it to be true. I would say he has at worst.....an average BB IQ
The video where Lopez accused him of being in the key too long? I think it was proved that Lopez was wrong on that one.
The worst BBIQ I've ever seen was Travis Outlaw. He could do one thing: shoot. That's it. He could shoot. He had no concept of an offensive set or a defensive set. He never passed and he never defended. Thomas Robinson is nothing like Travis Outlaw. I've seen him make some amazing passes that would most definitely NOT indicate a low basketball IQ.
As I recall, what Travis could do best was jump. He had to learn to shoot, which he did, eventually. But he was freakishly athletic.
He took 3 years to show anything. Bill Self consistently turns out morons who underwhelm in their initial NBA years, second only to Syracuse for the last 30-50 years.
