Thomas Robinson, who was selected fifth overall in the 2012 draft, is not worth $4.6 million next year to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. The Blazers reportedly informed Robinson on Monday that they will not pick up his fourth-year option, so he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Even those who were low on Robinson out of college wouldn't have predicted his career would start like this. The former Kansas star holds career averages of 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game, and he's already played for three teams. The Sacramento Kings moved him to the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline in his rookie season, and after that year Houston flipped him to Portland for the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and a couple of second-round picks.
There were reasons that Robinson was originally picked that high. He has talent and athleticism, he can rebound with the best of them and he has the look of a potential star power forward. The reality, though, is that he has produced like a role player as a professional. A solid reserve in the second half of last season, it seems like he's found his niche as an energy guy. Teams need those players, but generally don't give them large contracts.
The Blazers' decision obviously puts pressure on Robinson to prove himself this coming year. He could lose some playing time, though, with newly acquired backup center Chris Kaman eating up some minutes in the frontcourt.
