| Big Dog Signed by San Antonio Authored by Patrick J. Austin - April 5, 2005 - 3:07 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | The First Three Weeks of 2008-09 Now that we’ve had a little time to watch free agency unfold, along with the usual accompaniment of trades, let’s look at some of the key moves and how they impact the teams involved.
Grading The Deal: W's Sign Maggette And TuriafThe Boom Dizzle era is over, and the Warriors quickly recovered by signing two nice pieces to complement their young core.
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The team could certainly use some additional firepower while Tim Duncan is out recuperating from his latest ankle injury. And if there’s one thing Big Dog can do, it’s score. He boasts career averages of twenty points per game and six rebounds per game. His midrange jump shot, when it’s on, is one of the best in the league.
Of course, he hasn’t been able to shoot the midrange jumper that much this season since, for one odd reason after another, he’s been stashed on the injured reserve all year.
I never understood why Robinson was placed IR to begin with. Watching him during the preseason, it looked like he was do for a career year with Philly. He was in shape, was playing better defense, and was routinely scoring twenty-plus points in a game. Then, all of a sudden, the Sixers sent him to the IR. They claimed he had a serious ankle injury, but Robinson went back and forth confirming and then denying this assertion.
At the trade deadline, Philly dealt him to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Jamal Mashburn and Rodney Rogers. New Orleans quickly waived him, which had to be extremely embarrassing for Big Dog. I mean, getting waived by one of the worst teams in the league doesn’t exactly help your rep.
So here he is now in San Antonio. Personally, I feel this was a brilliant move by Spurs management. They could potentially be getting an angry, determined Big Dog that’s ready to prove all the naysayers wrong. Of course, they could also wind up with an injured, sullen Puppy Dog. It’s certainly a gamble, but one worth taking. Either way, it’s only costing them a minimum contract.
I hope Robinson takes full advantage of this situation. This is do or die for his NBA career. If he can remain healthy and give this team that extra offensive boost during the rest of the regular season and playoffs, then he might earn himself another contract. If he continues to be plagued by injuries and doesn’t produce, then we might be watching the last days of Glenn Robinson in the NBA. The choice is his.
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