NBA Free Agency 2013: Assessing Nate Robinson’s Options
Nate Robinson is still on the market, despite a big postseason for the Chicago Bulls. Photo Credit: Shinya, Flickr.com
April 26, 2013. It was an afternoon game and an important one at that. With Derrick Rose looking dapper in a suit on the Chicago Bulls bench, the Brooklyn Nets were in control, about to tie this first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
Then, Nate Robinson erupted.
Chicago’s miniature spark plug led the Bulls back from 14 down with 3:19 on the clock, scoring 34 points in a triple-overtime win. It was one of the most incredible individual performances in a postseason game in the history of the NBA and it was one of the major reasons the Bulls were able to hang on and advance to the second round despite the fact that coach Tom Thibideau’s roster strongly resembled a M.A.S.H. unit at that point.
And now, here we are, nearly three months since the 5’9″ point guard had the performance of a lifetime, and Nate Robinson remains unsigned. The Chicago Bulls have essentially shown him the door and with Rose’s return looming and two backup point guards already on the roster, clearly there just wasn’t any roster space available for Nate. Chicago went a different direction, bringing in swingman Mike Dunleavy Jr.
In terms of strictly finding a seam and putting the ball in the basket, few people on Earth are as gifted as Nate is. He has overcome the odds and proven that he belongs in this league despite his size. But he has not gotten the payday many felt he deserved considering how well he played throughout the 2013 playoffs. Many NBA teams are putting the finishing touches on their rosters and not looking for a player this late in the offseason who will have any significant role on a team. Still, there is a market for a player as talented as Robinson and a handful of suitors remain.
One team reportedly showing interest in Robinson is the Denver Nuggets. If you are looking for the biggest loser of the 2013 offseason, look no further than Mile High, where the NBA’s Executive of the Year left, the NBA’s Coach of the Year was fired and the team’s best player bolted for greener pastures. The Nuggets are locked into Ty Lawson as their point guard of the future and even at his advanced age, Andre Miller remains one of the league’s best backups. Still, on a team that loves to run the floor and needs a go-to scorer in crunch time, there is certainly a fit here. The Nuggets will inevitably take a huge step back next season, but the addition of Nate Robinson might help to at least soften that blow a bit.
Another team reportedly in pursuit of a quality reserve who can provide some punch off the bench is the Washington Wizards. The Wizards showed some promise last year when John Wall returned from an injury for the second half and they certainly appear to be primed for a playoff spot in 2013-14. Still, despite a strong starting five, Washington’s bench is awfully thin, particularly in the backcourt. The addition of a scorer like Nate Robinson with some big-game experience in the postseason could pay huge dividends as the Wizards inch closer to uncharted waters.
Could a return to Madison Square Garden be in order? Of course, the New York Knicks are way over the salary cap and have already committed most of their mid-level exception to the incomparable Metta World Peace. But general manager Glen Grunwald is in the market for a backup point guard and Nate Robinson has already proven he can shine under the bright lights in Gotham. A former fan favorite in New York, Nate would have to be willing to come for the minimum. As Robinson’s options continue to dry up, I wouldn’t rule it out.
There aren’t many scorers capable of taking over a game in a manner of minutes off the bench the way Nate Robinson can, as he showed time and time again throughout this past postseason. Despite that, we are nearing the end of the free-agency period and Robinson remains on the market. One thing is certain, the team that adds him to their roster will be immediately more dangerous next season.