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2018 NBA free agency grades: Pistons to sign Glenn Robinson III

By Chris Murch

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Glenn Robinson III #40 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during a game against the Miami Heat on February 25, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Glenn Robinson III #40 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during a game against the Miami Heat on February 25, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons add to their wing depth by inking Glenn Robinson III to a two-year deal. How will he fit with the team from the Motor City?

Former University of Michigan standout Glenn Robinson III is back home after signing a two-year, $8.3 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. The 24-year-old guard is coming off an injury-plagued season with the Indiana Pacers in which he was limited to 23 games after suffering a left ankle injury in the offseason.

In those 23 games last season, Robinson III averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Those are low numbers, to be sure, but in only 14.7 minutes a game and playing very sporadically throughout the season, they need to be taken with a grain of salt.

This signing by the Pistons seems to be based on all potential. Robinson is crazy athletic, a career 44.5 percent shooter, a career 38.1 percent 3-point shooter and is known as a lockdown perimeter defender. The 2017 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion was a solid bench contributor for the Pacers in his three seasons there and I expect nothing different from him in Detroit if he stays healthy.

The Pistons’ modus operandi this offseason has been to bolster their wing depth. After losing Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley in a midseason trade that brought Blake Griffin to Motown, the Pistons were left with Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock on the wings.

Johnson has notoriously struggled these past few seasons after getting snatched with the eighth overall draft pick in 2015. Bullock is solid and improved last year, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to get Robinson on the depth chart for the near future.

They have tried to placate this by drafting two wings in the second round of this year’s draft. Picking up Khyri Thomas out of Creighton, Bruce Brown Jr. from Miami and now adding Robinson in free agency has been huge for their wing development moving forward.

Detroit adding bench depth was smart. While Robinson has never been considered as a go-to scorer in the league, the Pistons ranked 20th in bench scoring last year with 33.8 points per game.

Where GRIII can help is with 3-point shooting off the bench, where Detroit ranked 14th. Also known as a scrappy defender, Robinson III can certainly help with Detroit’s bench defensive efficiency, which also was ranked 20th.

Robinson III works well off the ball and I can definitely see him being a slashing wing with an affinity for acrobatic finishes and dunks. With smart passers on the roster in Luke Kennard and Reggie Jackson, he will be able to move freely around the court and show off that athleticism.

This move wasn’t intended to be a home run and with the limited cap space that Detroit had to work with this offseason, Robinson III was a solid pickup. He won’t create any fireworks, except for maybe a nice dunk every now and then, but he will be effective moving forward. Expect some highlights from Glenn Robinson III this season.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Grade: B

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