The Kings have been searching for some reliable big man depth behind Domantas Sabonis for a few years now. While Alex Len has filled in admirably and should be the primary backup going forward, the Kings also went out and acquired 24 year old Orlando Robinson, a 6’10 undrafted Center who has spent his first two seasons in the NBA with the Miami Heat.
This is a bit of a different direction than the Kings have taken in recent years when they’ve opted for more experienced depth, such as last year’s signing of JaVale McGee. Robinson is far from experienced having just played 67 games over two seasons and limited minutes at that. He did have a brief stint as a starter with the Heat last season while Bam Adebayo was injured and averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 20.4 minutes. Most recently he spent some time with the Houston Rockets in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, a block and a steal in 23.5 minutes a game.
Coming out of Fresno State for the 2022 draft, Robinson drew some comparisons to guys like Kelly Olynyk for his skill as a scorer and ability to get others involved. In his junior year at Fresno State, Robinson averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists a game while shooting 35.2% from three. At the NBA level, he’s only shot 21 total three pointers, but has made 8 of them (all 8 coming last season). Robinson also shows some skill as a passer, averaging 4 assists per 36 minutes last season. Sacramento’s offense heavily relies upon big man passing thanks to Domantas Sabonis, so having another big who could at least is comfortable dishing the ball (few are going to be as good as Sabonis) is a plus.
Defensively, Robinson has more room to improve. He’s never been a real rim protector and is a bit small for a center at just 6’10. A common complaint from Heat fans regarding Robinson last season was a lack of awareness in the team scheme. Of course, this is where Robinson’s youth comes in and perhaps some more seasoning and some experience will help in this regard. Like Coach Spoelstra, Mike Brown is another coach who preaches defense first and foremost, and studying behind an excellent defender like Bam Adebayo for a couple years should hopefully have taught him a few tips and tricks.
It remains to be fully seen if Robinson actually makes the final team roster (his contract is only guaranteed for $500,000, a not insignificant amount but we’ve seen teams cut these players before if veterans come along) but he does seem to bring some of the qualities the Kings are looking for in a third big man. Playing time for any backup to Domantas Sabonis looks to be sparse. Last season, both Alex Len and JaVale McGee saw less than 10 minutes a game each, and barring injuries to Sabonis (who played all 82 games last year), that will probably be the case this year, with Len probably getting a slight bump due to his experience.
It makes sense for the Kings to take a flier on a young big that could potentially improve rather than another swing at a past their prime vet. Robinson could be a diamond in the rough, but even if he isn’t, it didn’t cost the Kings much to find out.
I know nothing about Robinson. We do know that Riley expects players to be basically capable defenders. The Kings do not have that expectation and he is cheap.
I hope Sabonis can play another season without missing any minutes so we never have to find out who Robinson is.
Isn’t there some kind of notion that once players leave Miami’s culture, they are never quite the same as they were there? Gabe Vincent and Hassan Whiteside come to mind.
No notion at all. I fully hope he is what he was in Miami. It did say in the write up that he is a deficit on defense. That generally does not work for Riley. He is no longer in Miami. Hopefully he can be a serviceable player here. Even more hopeful in my dreams Sabonis never misses a game.
I think it’s a fair thing to wonder about. Caleb Martin should be an interesting test case this season.
I love the idea of a big emerging as solid contributing player in training camp. This team needs that to take the next step. Training camp will begin to reveal what this team will look like and open some possible deals.
Lets be honest, any big behind Sabonis is going to get very limited minutes because the OX is durable and plays a ton. Also, the truth is, if Sabonis goes down for an extended period, the Kings might as well just throw the towel in because they’ll be dead in the water, so it’s not going to matter who plays behind him. I mean…does anyone know (without looking it up) who plays behind Jokic in Denver?
What about Lyles, McDaniels , Cojby Jones and say 2 seconds for Isaiah Stewart? Might help out the backup center position. Also plays power forward.
I’m just not sure what Stewart give the Kings that Lyles does not, especially since Stewart comes in a $15m per year, while Lyles is at $8M.
For reference HERE is there side by side comparison of the two over the past two years. Check out their Per36 and Advance Stats. Lyles is better. Stewart has averaged about 10 minutes more per game that Lyles, and given that his minutes would likely be reduced to Lyles’ current minutes, is it worth it?
The only edge Stewart may have is his age and length of contract, but of course this all assumes he’s even available.
I am a fan of TreyLyles also. Let,s keep him.
Not sure what Stewart does for this team?
I do not see anyone wanting Jones or Mcdaniels.
What value do you see in Jones and Mcdaniels in a trade from the perspective of another team?
I see it similar to trading my carrot sticks for an Oreo pack in the lunch room. Nobody wants those carrot sticks.
OK what about your oreo pack for my milk duds? I am trying to find a trade to bring aa good solid backup center for Sabonis and a power forward to compliment Sabonis, Huerter, Ellis and Mc Daniels a first and a second for Wendell Carter Jr, and Jalen Suggs.
Who are you trading for Carter Jr. and Suggs?
see above.
I read it and do not understand who you are trading for Carter Jr. and Suggs.
It looks like you are throwing Sabonis in the deal?
Now I understand. There should be a period after Sabonis. Trading just Huerter, Ellis and McDaniels. Sorry about that.
And a first and second.
Which makes it frustrating that the Kings didn’t go after Kyle Filipowski on draft night as he fell into the second round. We could have easily packaged some of our second rounders for a high first round pick. He has a very similar skill set to Sabonis and would have been perfect to develop in a backup or 3rd string role. Sure, a lot of GMs were weirded out by his situation, at the same time, he also had value and skill that would have been perfect for this lineup.
Unrelated and probably deserves its own 30Q article but what can we expect from Mason Jones?
The guard position is loaded. Even without Devin Carter, I see McLaughlin, Monk, Huerter and Ellis taking up pretty much every non-Fox minute at the guard spot.
Nonetheless, Mason Jones was EXTREMELY impressive to me during Summer League. Big strong frame with a plus wingspan. He’s moving extremely well having lost 40+ lbs (!!) this off-season. Showed an ability to defend 1-3, rebound, dribble, playmake, create his own shot and knock down open looks. He also has a physicality and confidence to his game that I think bodes well for his chances playing elite talent. Of course it’s summer league but on paper that’s the profile of an extremely productive wing player in the modern NBA.
Just wanted to flag this point since he’s gotten lost in the offseason shuffle. Idk where his minutes come from but he certainly looked like a guy that you might not be able to keep off the court. Who knows. Either way, I’ve been extremely impressed by the Kings ability to identify, cheaply acquire and develop young talent (Ellis, M. Jones, C. Jones, Edwards, maybe Crawford) since Monte took over. That’s the Heat’s model for building perennial contenders.
Keep him. We need more guards.
He’s on a two-way deal, isn’t he? Maybe he follows the same path as Keon?
That being said, I also liked what I saw in Summer League. I got a bit of a Lu Dort vibe from him.
Seems like Stockton is the only place he’ll get reliable minutes. Maybe he or Colby could even get some burn the first week or two as KH works his way back into the rotation? I like both of them and would like some tape on them to see how they fit into the vision of this team. It can never hurt having two-ways and second rounders become rotation players. Would really open up a lot of potential trade packages for whatever the Kings ultimately deem the missing piece.
I think it may have been Jerry on the TKH podcast who said there is a concern if he could not make it in Miami. If Jerry didn’t say something like that, I’ll say it. The Heat take a small few great players, many randoms from the G-League, and go to the Finals. If they were willing to just let Robinson go, that’s not optimal. Any other team lets an undrafted player go, okay. Par for the course. You figure the Heat would be able to make him a serviceable rotation player if it was possible.
Could be (if you cannot make it in Miami, you cannot make it anywhere), BUT another explanation could be that Miami just drafted Kel’el Ware … the “more upside version of Orlando Robinson”, and somebody Miami must pay. I had hoped the Kings would take Ware. Ware’s summer league and Carter’s unavailABILITY (and our surplus of guards) suggest my hope may have been well-founded, for now, until Carter blooms and Ware flames out. Anyway, I think Robinson might still prove useful.
Orlando Robinson, Isaac Jones, Isaiah Crawford – all in for a chance to become NBA level front court players.
Opportunity may pan out to a contract in the Bigs.
To me, that’s all you can say. It’s tough to get that strp to the next level – I am still disappointed that Kessler Edwards, who looked so promising in 2022-23 just couldn’t quite produce enough to keep his Kings jersey after 2023-24.
Keon Ellis is an unusual success story, maybe Orlando Robinson, also undrafted, makes it all click for Mime Brown’s club. As you all noted above – the olds are against it. Being cut by Miami makes the odds longer – but maybe, like Kessler Edwards, or Nemias Queta, there is enough to build on here, than there.
Makes that core 10: Sabonis, Fox, Dearozan, Keegan, Monk, Ellis, Lyles, Huerter, Devin Carter, Alex Len and maybe 11 with Jordan McLaughlin, a fairly deep Kings squad.
The fringe players: Jonestown (Colby, Mason, Isaac), and maybe Robinson, to fill out to 14/15 slots for spot minutes, development, scrimmages.
I like the look they are giving him. Don’t know anything about him really but it’s a great gamble for a low cost and he fills the need of what he was potentially acquired for.
the only way he really gets any minutes is if Sabonis goes down for an extended period of time and if that happens than the kings are most likely missing the playoffs. There’s no replacing sabonis as there is no replacing Jokic, embid, Bam, or the Ox’s first born child who is also a good center that plays for the yellow team in Los Angeles. You can’t replace star players for long stretches of games. It’s simply not possible.
Alex Len has proven over and over and over again that he is a very very good backup to Sabonis and in my opinion there should be no question on who is getting all the back up minutes to sabonis when he is off the court resting. It is 100% Alex Len in my opinion. No need to over think it. The team would have been better last year had there been no Javale minutes and more Len minutes. Javale commanded minutes for who he was as a player and where he was at in his career. He had a history with Mike brown that would never result in zero minutes over an entire season. Javale is now gone. Monte appears to have forced the fact I definitely see and I believe all of you see – Alex Len should be getting all back up Center minutes outside of going small and having Lyle’s play the 5 in certain matchups and scenarios. I believe the kings are in a good spot at the 5 position and Robinson adds that extra layer that comes into play in case of injury. If he beats out Len for minutes through training camp then so be it, the kings just got exponentially deeper at the 5. All signs seem to point to that not happening and I am 100% ok with that. I will say again, Alex Len is a very very good backup to the Ox.
let me add something completely off topic that I will bring up in future threads for deeper discussion, I might get annoying about it (sorry in advance). I believe the kings will be moving Huerter to the bench as a backup SMALL FORWARD. off the bench at that position I think he will handle his business and not be “out of position”. His height and size works there, his foot speed is better suited there on defense and his shooting from the corners I expect to translate exceptionally well there. He rebounds pretty well as a guard and as a backup small forward I expect those number to go up.
PG: Fox, McLaughlin
SG: Ellis, Monk
SF: DeRozan, Huerter
PF: Spock, Lyles
C: Ox, Len
that’s a very good 10 man rotation in my opinion. Very good.
What is the sourcing on the claim that the Kings made the explicit choice against getting an experienced big in favor of a player with less experience?
As of now, that’s how it has played out, but I’m incredibly skeptical that the front office went into the summer with the intent of betting on a longshot as opposed to a player with a more complete resume, should one be available.
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