The draft will be here in no time and as diligent basketball fans that hope our beloved Charlotte Bobcats will climb out of the cellar next season we know the importance of the coming draft. When you get the chance to make what will hopefully be one of the first picks of the draft you should get an immediate impact player, but not everyone fits that bill.
On the chance that we don’t get the No 1 pick and Anthony Davis we have to do our homework on the other available studs—like Thomas Robinson of the Kansas Jayhawks.
What can I say, but that I like this guy. Unlike many of the other projected lottery picks he is not a young, one and done kind of player. He has taken the time in college to hone his craft and improve his game before trying to make the jump to the NBA. I would trust in a guy like him that has spent some time maturing in college being ready to contribute before I would a 19-year old kid.
Now he likely did not make the jump because no one would have taken him after his freshman year or sophomore year. He played a lot his first two years, but other players were the key to the team’s success those years. Once he got his chance to shine as a junior he did just that.
During the 2011-12 season he averaged an impressive double-double, 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds a game; both big improvements off his sophomore numbers. On the season he recorded 27 double-doubles beating Drew Gooden’s single season record of 25 set back in 2002.
This guy is simply impressive. He can score, he can rebound, and he looks like a man ready to compete among other men standing 6-feet 10-inches and 237 pounds (rather than the many teenagers that seem to be en vogue these days).
As good as he appears is he someone that the Bobcats could use? The answer to that is a resounding yes.
Neither Byron Mullens nor Tyrus Thomas was impressive this past season. Then again, no one was really overly impressive this last season. It’s hard to fairly judge either off of this past season since Paul Silas rarely appeared to coach the team. He was as much of an observer as the rest of us.
Of the two, Thomas has a fair amount of experience having been in the league since 2006. We may have already seen his best; if we have we can surely do without him. That would leave Robinson to start or at least compete with Mullens (let’s face it; he would start).
The draft projections I’ve seen have him going sixth or seventh. Personally, I think that is crazy. Should he fall to us the Bobcats should absolutely take him.
The question that I have about robinson is what is his real, true height. If he is truly 6’10″ then yes grab him from anywhere at #2 on down. But if he is 6’7″ then I’m not interested.
He looked about 6’7″ to 6’8″ standing next to 6’4″ Craig Sager and 7’0″ Jeff Withey in an interview. Maybe he was slouching? I’m anxious to see the pre-draft measurements. If he turns up with an 8’11″ standing reach and a 7’1″ wingspan, I’m interested. I won’t cry too much if we take him around pick 4, because 12 rebounds a game in college will very likely translate to 10 rebounds a game in the pros. It just seems like there are other more suitable guys for our needs. I do like the fact Robinson went 7-14 from 3 this year. Maybe he can build on that area.
Like I say: 8’11″ standing reach, 7’1″ wingspan, 240 lbs., and 6’8″ height WITHOUT SHOES could get me excited about the kid. According to swishscout.com, and what I’ve seen, he is a good fit for the pick and roll style of the NBA, because he can hit a face up shot AND he is a danger going towards the basket.
Blake Griffin measured in at 6’8.25 without shoes. So he needs to hit 6’8 otherwise he’s too undersized to be effective. Height matters, you don’t want an undersized PF they can’t play defense. This guy rebounds at an elite level though.