Thomas Robinson:

[bajaden]

I've been thinking about this for some time, and I think the best thing for Robinson right now would be to be sent down to the D-League. I'm by no means calling him a bust, but in most cases, his contributions are more negative than positive. I don't see whatever minutes he's getting as helping him in his development. At least in the D-League he could get serious minutes on a regular basis. Last night was not the first time Robinson and Sullinger went head to head. In the NCAA tourney when Kansas played Ohio St., Robinson pretty much won that battle against Sullinger. Last night, I'd have to give the victory to Sullinger.

In other words, Sullinger looks like he's making progress, and Robinson doesn't. Of course our problem is that were so thin in our front line, that sending down Robinson would only weaken it more. My suggestion would be to bring up Darnell Jackson from the D-League on a 10 day, and see how it goes. If not Jackson, then Henry Sims, the center from Georgetown, who has been playing very well. We have an open roster spot, so what would we have to lose. Hell, we should bring someone up just for insurance whether we send Robinson down or not.

The Kings have an investment in Robinson, so anything they can do to help him along is a win/win for everyone.

[upinsmoke]

Maybe the best scenario for him at this point, Give him time to find his rythem and next season he should be ready to contribute more. I'm not giving up on him either but he needs to work on that jumper and improve his handle.

[Bricklayer]

There may be a practicality reason not to do this however -- aside from us not having enough big guys, sending a #5 pick down to the D-League sends out alarm shockwaves across the league, and it would be an embarrassment for him, insult his agent would want to talk to you about etc. I do actually think it could help on the court, but off of it...

[Nighthawk1]

There may be a practicality reaso not to do this however -- aside from us not having enough big guys, sending a #5 pick down to the D-League sends out alarm shockwaves across the league, and it would be an embarrassment for him, insult his agent would want to talk to you about etc. I do actually think it could help on the court, but off of it...

Agree with this. At this point there is too much of a negative stigma that is associated with the D-League. We have enough personality problems I don't see a reason to add another if it may be seen as an insult to someone that might find his place here or be trade bait.

[PurpleHaze]

Hasheem Thabeet #2 overall pick in '09 draft was sent down to D-League by Memphis his rookie season. Then after trade to Houston sent down again to their D-League affiliate in his second season. I don't recall any static about two-time demotion but maybe some good came of it since he still has a job in NBA, now with Charlotte.

[Bricklayer]

Agree with this. At this point there is too much of a negative stigma that is associated with the D-League. We have enough personality problems I don't see a reason to add another if it may be seen as an insult to someone that might find his place here or be trade bait.

Too bad in a way. If we'd drafted him #20, which is kind of how he's been playing, it would be a tool we could use here to try to let him get his game straightened out.

[Kingster]

I've been thinking about this for some time, and I think the best thing for Robinson right now would be to be sent down to the D-League. I'm by no means calling him a bust, but in most cases, his contributions are more negative than positive. I don't see whatever minutes he's getting as helping him in his development. At least in the D-League he could get serious minutes on a regular basis. Last night was not the first time Robinson and Sullinger went head to head. In the NCAA tourney when Kansas played Ohio St., Robinson pretty much won that battle against Sullinger. Last night, I'd have to give the victory to Sullinger.

In other words, Sullinger looks like he's making progress, and Robinson doesn't. Of course our problem is that were so thin in our front line, that sending down Robinson would only weaken it more. My suggestion would be to bring up Darnell Jackson from the D-League on a 10 day, and see how it goes. If not Jackson, then Henry Sims, the center from Georgetown, who has been playing very well. We have an open roster spot, so what would we have to lose. Hell, we should bring someone up just for insurance whether we send Robinson down or not.

The Kings have an investment in Robinson, so anything they can do to help him along is a win/win for everyone.

I don't think the D league would help him. His issue is one of "recognition" to know what to do and when, and I don't think playing against lesser competition is going to help him in recognition against NBA competition.

For better or worse (probably worse) Smart takes a long time to define the role of his players. Virtually everybody seems to know their role now except for Robinson, and I sensed in the Boston game after not playing a minute in the prior game that he might just be starting to get it - he's got to be Mr. Hustle in order to make himself valuable and get minutes. He has to think back on his freshman year in college when he was all over the floor hustling for loose balls, rebounding, and playing defense. Essentially, he's trying to do too much right now. Iso plays with him doing spin moves is the last thing he should be doing. But if he's in the D league he actually might get away with that kind of stuff because of the caliber of play. He's got to build his game from the ground up and be a minimalist player right now. When he gets the ball he should be thinking first of passing, then cutting and screening.* Then he should hustle like hell, play defense, rebound, and run the floor like a deer.

Because he can cover ground so quickly, I still like the idea of him being involved in traps on defense. He could really swarm over smaller players. If we ever see Tyreke again I can see both of them doing traps at various times in the game and causing some confusion and havoc. I'm not getting my hopes up on that though.

*PS I think Robinson is a fairly good outside shooter from about 18 feet. His form looks good to me and he's connected on some of those. He just needs to recognize quickly that he is open and then shoot that outside shot rather than get creative on the dribble drive.

[Bricklayer]

Hasheem Thabeet #2 overall pick in '09 draft was sent down to D-League by Memphis his rookie season. Then after trade to Houston sent down again to their D-League affiliate in his second season. I don't recall any static about two-time demotion but maybe some good came of it since he still has a job in NBA, now with Charlotte.

OKC actually.

But note that did only accelrate the perception of him as a bust. Likely would with TRob as well.

[Bricklayer]

He's got to build his game from the ground up and be a minimalist player right now. When he gets the ball he should be thinking first of passing, then cutting and screening. Then he should hustle like hell, play defense, rebound, and run the floor like a deer.

This too I agree with, and had the same thoguht that in D-League he might learn the wrong lessons. Especially since I still think he's fighting the hustle role. I think he's heard the message, will consciously make some plays, but gets in trouble trying to prove more. On the other hand, in the D-League he might actually have enough success to get some confidence back...

Tough issue. Still would be nice to have the option to get him some confidence back, but his draft position is an active impediment to all kinds of rational approaches to the problem. Makes him want to overprove himself. Limits our options in managing him.

[andremiller07]

As long as he puts in effort in like he did that last game he can stay as long as he wants in the NBA. My issue with him lately is he has not being using the one thing he has over every thing and thats his insane quick leaping and effort.

[LWP777]

There may be a practicality reason not to do this however -- aside from us not having enough big guys, sending a #5 pick down to the D-League sends out alarm shockwaves across the league, and it would be an embarrassment for him, insult his agent would want to talk to you about etc. I do actually think it could help on the court, but off of it...

Wow. We actually agree! The team would never do it because it would admit that you made a bad pick at #5. I think if it was later in the year and he was still struggling they might consider it but it's still pretty early.

[mac]

To me the biggest issue is that we drafted him #5 and then asked him to become a garbageman. This to a guy with a huge ego, who thought that he should have been drafted #1 and who wants to win ROY. The expectations on both sides simply don't meet, and the result is a player who is not at all keen on his role. At the same time he hasn't shown anything in his play that would want me to give him more offensive freedom/ draw up more plays for him.

[upinsmoke]

To me the biggest issue is that we drafted him #5 and then asked him to become a garbageman. This to a guy with a huge ego, who thought that he should have been drafted #1 and who wants to win ROY. The expectations on both sides simply don't meet, and the result is a player who is not at all keen on his role. At the same time he hasn't shown anything in his play that would want me to give him more offensive freedom/ draw up more plays for him.

The team is shooting .455 as a whole tell him to feel free to put back any shot up he gets from a offensive rebound.

[mac]

The team is shooting .455 as a whole tell him to feel free to put back any shot up he gets from a offensive rebound.

Yeah that kinda falls under "garbageman"

[upinsmoke]

Yeah that kinda falls under "garbageman"

I would love it if he was ready to produce but he's simply not. He will get there it just likely wont be this season.

[Gary]

I would have rather drafted Harrison Barnes, but we would probably still be in the same situation talking about sending him to the D League.

[Kings4life23]

I would have rather drafted Harrison Barnes, but we would probably still be in the same situation talking about sending him to the D League.

Andre Drummond should have been are pick, but I'm hoping Thomas Robinson works out.

[Gary]

Andre Drummond should have been are pick, but I'm hoping Thomas Robinson works out.

I was not a fan of Drummond. I actually am not a fan of UCONN bigs. I got all excited about Ater Majok a few years back and the guy totally bombed. He was the only big I was a fan of at UCONN. Guys like Boone, Armstrong, Thabeet ect ect didn't really do it for me.

Had the 5th pick been mine I probably would have went with Barnes, but I did have Robinson high on my list. I also liked Kendall Marshall [sarcasm]but I have been hearing he has been tearing up the D League too [/sarcasm], so I didn't have a good draft this year at all. I think this is the first draft in a long time that I have totally bombed (up to this point).

[Glenn]

I suspect one reason we didn't pick Drummond is because of his yet to be specified mental issues. That's the last thing we need and especially with the guy playing next to Cuz.

[spudfan]

I suspect one reason we didn't pick Drummond is because of his yet to be specified mental issues. That's the last thing we need and especially with the guy playing next to Cuz.

The only mental issues I have heard of is people questioning his fire for the game and that he may lack the drive to continue to get better and go hard every game. Besides that he was seen as a long term project before he was any good, looks like he was misjudged there.