[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 This summer, no matter the result of the finals, Tristan Thompson is going to get big money (a mini max) BUT…. would it be smarter for teams who covet Tristan Thompson to pay small money to Thomas Robinson?

They are very similar players, both high lottery picks, both make their livings by hustling, running the floor and rebounding. They are both also 24 years old. Seperated by 4 days of birth. Tristan Thompson was born on March 13, 1991 & Thomas Robinson was born on March 17, 1991 (funny thing is I was born on March 14, 1991, why couldn’t I be a 6’9 rebounding NBA power forward? lol) Tristan Thompson is 6’9, 235 pounds with a 7’1 wingspan and a 35 inch vertical. Thomas Robinson is 6’9, 240 pounds with a 7’3 wingspan and a 35 inch vertical. Enough of the bios on to the stats.

Tristan Thompson’s career per 36 averages are 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 49% from the field and 63% from the line. This season he averaged 9 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assists, and 1 block while shooting 55% from the field and 64% from the line in 27 minutes per game. His season per was 15.68, above league average. In the playoffs he is averaging 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block and 1 assist, in 35 minutes per game while shooting 58% from the line and from the field. Now of coure his shooting percentage is being boosted this year by playing with Lebron James, before this season he shot 44%, 49%, and 48%. Which means mid 40’s would probably be his norm unless he has someone who can get him great shots. Career averages of 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, 1 assists whil shooting 49% and 63% from the line in 29 minutes per game. 

Thomas Robinson’s career per 36 averages are very similar to Tristan Thompson’s career per 36 averages. Thomas Robinson’s career per 36 averages are 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 46% from the field and 54% from the line. This season he averaged 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting 49% from the field and 53% from the line in 15 minutes per game. His season per was 15.29, above league average and once again very similar to Thompson’s. In his small of amount of time with the 76ers which I will say inflates stats a little with their pace, his per 36 averages were 17 points, 15 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, and 2 assists while shooting 47% from the field and 60% from the line. Thomas Robinson also started 4 games for Portland and averages 9 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, and 1 assists while shooting 54% from the line in 23 minutes per game. Career averages of 5 points, 5 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 assist while shooting 46% from the field and 54% from the line in 14 minutes per game. 

From the eye test we know Thomas Robinson hustles, runs the floor, and rebounds at a high level. Those are the same skills that teams will covet from Tristan Thompson this summer. Thomas Robinson really hasn’t had a stable situation yet, we really can’t look at any player from the Kings and see their true value over the last three years, then he was sacrificed by Morey so that Morey would be able to make his moves to get star players. Portland he came in and hustled and rebounded in his short spurts. 

Now the question is, should the teams who are going to value Tristan Thompson and throw big money his way take a chance on Thomas Robinson and throw some small money his way to get similar value?
 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 Time to move on from Thomas Robinson. There’s a reason he’s bounced around so much in just 3 years. Not sure I’d use a roster spot on him.

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 Time to move on from Thomas Robinson. There’s a reason he’s bounced around so much in just 3 years. Not sure I’d use a roster spot on him.

[llperez]

 its mind boggling to me some of the contracts that guys get now. I have read rumors that danny green will command between 10-12, demarre carroll 13-15, goran dragic a full max etc… I just always scratch my head. 

[llperez]

 its mind boggling to me some of the contracts that guys get now. I have read rumors that danny green will command between 10-12, demarre carroll 13-15, goran dragic a full max etc… I just always scratch my head. 

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 I think for the next couple of seasons the contract numbers will be crazy but they won’t be as bad if the tv revenue projections are correct. I read article thay said 10 million will be the mid level exception in 2 years and minimum contracts will be above a million.

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 I think for the next couple of seasons the contract numbers will be crazy but they won’t be as bad if the tv revenue projections are correct. I read article thay said 10 million will be the mid level exception in 2 years and minimum contracts will be above a million.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Its the LeBron rule. If you have LeBron, you don’t need great big men. The Cavs aren’t winning because of Tristan Thompson even if he has been playing well. 

He’s a nice player but on a team that doesn’t have the best player in the league, he’s ideally your 3rd big man I think. 

Contracts are impossible to fathom these days. Its unbelieveable how much money these guys are going to be getting paid compared to NFL and NHL athletes…and I know its because of the TV contracts but damn

 

 

[pappmb93Participant]

 NFL stars make just as much money, look at the new contracts of Newton or Suh, the problem is they have to pay 55players, even with the cap being 3 times as much, its a hard cap so under their current CBA there’s no way they can pay more to solid starters. There are some positions that even they’re essential to success, are underpaid because signing just that one guy wont give you Ws, and if you pay them too much you run out of money, sign your line for 8-9million each and your star qb for 15 and you already spent half the cap on 6 starters of 22, and the nhl has a hard cap less than the nba soft cap for more players to sign so again it comes down to the cba

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 NFL contracts are very rarely guaranteed however. NBA players have a much better situation contract wise as nearly all contracts are fully guaranteed, apart from second rounders and team/player options etc. NFL a dude might sign a 100mil contract 8 year contract, get 25 of that then get cut 3 years in. 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 NFL contracts are very rarely guaranteed however. NBA players have a much better situation contract wise as nearly all contracts are fully guaranteed, apart from second rounders and team/player options etc. NFL a dude might sign a 100mil contract 8 year contract, get 25 of that then get cut 3 years in. 

[pappmb93Participant]

 NFL stars make just as much money, look at the new contracts of Newton or Suh, the problem is they have to pay 55players, even with the cap being 3 times as much, its a hard cap so under their current CBA there’s no way they can pay more to solid starters. There are some positions that even they’re essential to success, are underpaid because signing just that one guy wont give you Ws, and if you pay them too much you run out of money, sign your line for 8-9million each and your star qb for 15 and you already spent half the cap on 6 starters of 22, and the nhl has a hard cap less than the nba soft cap for more players to sign so again it comes down to the cba

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Its the LeBron rule. If you have LeBron, you don’t need great big men. The Cavs aren’t winning because of Tristan Thompson even if he has been playing well. 

He’s a nice player but on a team that doesn’t have the best player in the league, he’s ideally your 3rd big man I think. 

Contracts are impossible to fathom these days. Its unbelieveable how much money these guys are going to be getting paid compared to NFL and NHL athletes…and I know its because of the TV contracts but damn

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Its an interesting argument. I think the major difference between the two is that Thompson understands his role and knows how to play to his strengths much better. He knows he is not going to get touches on is perfectly fine with that and channels his energy into what he does best. Robinson’s energy is kind of all over the place. He has tunnel vision when he gets the ball, and still takes a lot of ill-advised shots. On defense, he doesnt really understand rotations and positioning that well. Despite his physical gifts, he is probably one of the lowest IQ basketball players I have seen. I agree that in theory he could be a similar type player to Thompson, but he hasn’t shown that he has the focus to channel his energy in that way yet.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Its an interesting argument. I think the major difference between the two is that Thompson understands his role and knows how to play to his strengths much better. He knows he is not going to get touches on is perfectly fine with that and channels his energy into what he does best. Robinson’s energy is kind of all over the place. He has tunnel vision when he gets the ball, and still takes a lot of ill-advised shots. On defense, he doesnt really understand rotations and positioning that well. Despite his physical gifts, he is probably one of the lowest IQ basketball players I have seen. I agree that in theory he could be a similar type player to Thompson, but he hasn’t shown that he has the focus to channel his energy in that way yet.

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I don’t think Cleveland will be paying Thompson big money. Love will be back in all likelihood, and Varejao should be healthy. Montrezl Harrell could be available in the draft for small money.  

[TimberTrollParticipant]

I don’t think Cleveland will be paying Thompson big money. Love will be back in all likelihood, and Varejao should be healthy. Montrezl Harrell could be available in the draft for small money.  

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 No NFL stars don’t get NBA money.  QBs and a select few other players get close to NBA money. JJ Watt is making the same amount of money as Gordon Hayward. 

As someone mentioned its never guarenteed dough. 

I get that there are 53 some odd guys to pay plus there are only 16 games of revenue so its all moot but damn, average role players making over 10 mil blows my mind. 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 No NFL stars don’t get NBA money.  QBs and a select few other players get close to NBA money. JJ Watt is making the same amount of money as Gordon Hayward. 

As someone mentioned its never guarenteed dough. 

I get that there are 53 some odd guys to pay plus there are only 16 games of revenue so its all moot but damn, average role players making over 10 mil blows my mind. 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Yeah the physical measurements are great, I’m sure there have been dozens of guys with the same ones…. 

Thomas Robinson has given me no reason to think he will ever be as effective as TT.  I watched him a lot with the Blazers.  I just don’t see it.

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Yeah the physical measurements are great, I’m sure there have been dozens of guys with the same ones…. 

Thomas Robinson has given me no reason to think he will ever be as effective as TT.  I watched him a lot with the Blazers.  I just don’t see it.

 

[CavFanPRParticipant]

To be fair, TT has 3 inches in standing reach over Robinson. I haven’t seen anything about Thomas Robinson that tells me he’s a hustle player, He’s got the size and the physical tools but his mentality is that of a star, when he probably doesn’t have the skillset (at least yet) to be one. TT knows his limitations and plays to his strengths which allows him to thrive with this team.

There are plenty of players who have more basketball talent and skill than TT (including Robinson). That don’t mean teams are gonna prefer him over Thompson imo.

  

[CavFanPRParticipant]

To be fair, TT has 3 inches in standing reach over Robinson. I haven’t seen anything about Thomas Robinson that tells me he’s a hustle player, He’s got the size and the physical tools but his mentality is that of a star, when he probably doesn’t have the skillset (at least yet) to be one. TT knows his limitations and plays to his strengths which allows him to thrive with this team.

There are plenty of players who have more basketball talent and skill than TT (including Robinson). That don’t mean teams are gonna prefer him over Thompson imo.

  

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