Candidate #4: Glenn Robinson III
Glenn Robinson III was the Pistons’ biggest free agent signing in the offseason. It didn’t come with a ton of fanfare, but he brings exactly what the Pistons need. He is an up-and-coming 3-and-D wing who is athletic and doesn’t need the ball in his hands. It is those traits that make him a candidate to start for the Pistons next season at the small forward position.
Robinson was a 2nd-round pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves who didn’t really do much until he signed with the Pacers after his first season in the league. He played in 45 games and averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 rebounds on 43 percent shooting from the field and 37.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. It wasn’t until his 2nd season with the Pacers that you really got to see his potential as a 3-and-D wing, though. He played in 69 games, starting 27, and averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc.
He was trending up heading into his 3rd season with the Pacers, but an ankle injury made him miss most of the season. However, in the 23 games that he did play, he continued his upward trajectory of shooting from beyond the arc as he finished the season shooting 41.2 percent.
It is that percentage from beyond the arc that makes him appealing in a starting lineup that will feature Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson. His ridiculous percentage of 62.5 percent on corner 3s further adds to the intrigue of Glenn Robinson III with a significant role for next season. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands and he has the size and athleticism to play pretty good defense. He isn’t going to lock anybody down, but he is reliable and won’t get beat a lot.
If Robinson can stay healthy and earn himself a spot in the starting lineup, he is another prime candidate for a breakout. He has a similar skillset to Reggie Bullock and a jump similar to Bullock’s is possible. Bullock’s jump came seemingly out of nowhere and Robinson has shown a bit more promise as a player than Bullock had before last season’s breakout. Even if Robinson ends up on the bench, the fact that he will go into next season healthy hopefully means he can pick up where he left off after year 2 in Indiana.
