Detroit Pistons: 3 reasons Glenn Robinson III is a good addition
By Amaar Burton
1. The Pistons need size and athleticism on the wing
With the departure of LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers, there is an opening in the East for a new team to take over as the frontrunner, and potentially a new team to replace a now-rebuilding Cavs team in the playoff bracket.
The addition of Robinson puts Detroit in a better position to be that new playoff team.
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The Pistons had no shortage of mid-sized and undersized perimeter players last season. The team also had, especially before the Blake Griffin trade, a noticeable lack of athleticism compared to the better teams in the East.
Had the Pistons gone into free agency with more cap room, all of those “team needs” articles you read would’ve said Detroit needed to make a run at Paul George, Tyreke Evans, Trevor Ariza … basically any quality wing player who stands at least 6’6″ and can dunk on or blow by somebody.
Robinson physically meets that criteria. He’s listed at 6’6″ and 222 pounds, and his athleticism is his most appealing trait on the court. He can shoot the ball too, making 41.2 percent of his 3-pointers last season.
Stanley Johnson, the 22-year-old wing who was Detroit’s lottery pick in 2015 at No. 8 overall, will likely be penciled in to start at small forward. Johnson is in something of a prove-it year, and Casey has spoken highly of him.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
If Robinson is healthy, he should be able to carve out a spot in the Pistons’ rotation in a mutually beneficial bench role. He can set himself up to earn a bigger contract in a couple of years, while the Pistons get a player who can help them make their way back to the postseason.