Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Robinson is coming to the Portland Trail Blazers, who are eventually going to have to decide how they going to arrange all the talent they’ve compiled in recent days.
The Houston Rockets have agreed to send forward Robinson to the Trail Blazers for a second-round NBA draft pick and the rights to Kostas Papanikolau and Marko Torovic, as individuals with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA Today Sports.
The Rockets were trying to save some salary space in their expected bid for Dwight Howard. The Trail Blazers give themselves another players to work with in case they make another major trade. Rumors persist that LaMarcus Aldridge could be on his way out of Portland very soon.
It’s a puzzling move for the Blazers because Robinson is a player coming off a struggling rookie year for the 2013-14 season.
In one respect, Robinson clearly blends in to what the Blazers are focusing on: a youth movement. He was the fifth overall pick a year ago by the Sacramento Kings and now has been traded to the Blazers, who have a chance to combine him with NBA Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard, plus their draft picks from last week, to have a very smart and talented young team.
Robinson played in a combined 70 games for the Kings and Rockets, and averaged 15.1 minutes 4.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 43 percent from the floor. He had a disappointing rookie season and it’s hard to see what he’ll bring to the Blazers. It just gives coach Terry Stotts more homework in sorting out all the personnel he will have on his roster.
