Miami Heat: 5 free agent reclamation projects for Pat Riley to take on

4. Thomas Robinson, PF

After a superstar junior campaign at the University of Kansas, Thomas Robinson became the No. 5 overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, and the newest member of the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately, since then, he hasn’t come close to panning out. At all.

Although it would usually be fun to yell “KANGZZZZZ” and mock them for making a bad selection, Robinson really wasn’t that.

In his final year of college, the 6’10” big man was dropping 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals a night, and was the Big 12 Player of the Year. Taking him in the top five, though laughable in hindsight, was the right move back then.

Sadly, in five years as a professional, Robinson hasn’t been able to crack playing over 15.1 minutes per game, or average more than 5.7 points a contest.

His thin frame and lack of skill outside the paint make him a liability offensively. He has a bad tendency to float on the less glamorous side of the ball, usually failing to make much of an impact as a defender.

Even so, he’s still a freak athletically…

…and in Miami, his untapped potential could be reached under the mindful tutelage of big-men whisperers like Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard and Alonzo Mourning.

Plus, considering his poor play, he’d come at minimal cost, so he could make some sense as a guy to fill out the roster for a Heat team that still lacks frontcourt depth.

Robinson likely doesn’t have much time left to prove he’s a legitimate NBA player. Could a last-gasp effort in Miami “save” him from having to head overseas for work?