What's likely to actually happen if the Kings pick Thomas Robinson?

"With the 5th pick of the 2012 NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings select Thomas Robinson, Forward, Kansas." As Robinson strides across the stage, Stuart Scott makes a failed attempt at humor, calling Sacramento Mr. Robinson's neighborhood.

Robinson does indeed measure 6-10 (in shoes!). He is not the freakish length that the Kings were hoping to ultimately pair with DeMarcus Cousins, but Robinson shows the Kings brass enough in workouts that the Kings decide not to match Minnesota's four year, $36m deal for Jason Thompson. Chuck Hayes comes to camp in shape, and Whiteside has improved enough to be a solid bench contributor, especially on the defensive end.

While Robinson is a slightly lesser version of Thompson in the short term on the defensive end, he begins to pay immediate dividends on the offensive end, even showing a nice little 15-18 foot jumper, allowing him and Cousins to trade in the high-low game. Between Robinson's offensive game, the improvement of Hayes and Whiteside, and the monster breakout season of DeMarcus Cousins, the front line is much improved. The Kings win total crawls into the mid-30's, and they are not officially out of playoff contention until late March/early April.

Robinson is easily one of the best five rookies in the league. He finishes 7th in the rookie of the year voting, and is named to the NBA all-rookie 2nd team. The Kings "Rob Roy!" campaign apparently did more harm than good, but his teammates attempt to make up for it by mounting Isaiah Thomas on a pedestal and presenting him to Robinson.

And we do eventually grow older, and we'll eventually die, but hopefully not until the Kings give us a few more extended playoff runs, and (dare we dream?!?) a championship of our very own.