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Nets finally get Thomas Robinson

By Net Income
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After pursuing him off and on for four years, the Nets have finally gotten their man.  Alex Kennedy reports that the Nets and Thomas Robinson, the 6'10" center/power forward with the 7'3" wingspan, have reached an agreement bringing Robinson to Brooklyn.

Unlike Shane Larkin's deal, reported earlier Thursday, Robinson's is a vets minimum deal. Robinson reacted to the report with tweets of his own, tweets that bear little resemblance to any ever posted by a player joining the Nets...

Robinson was referring to an article written this week by Jonathan Abrams in Grantland, in which he talked about how his next contract would not be about money, but about respect. So right now, I’m not playing for money no more. I’m not playing for love. I’m playing because I want my respect back. That’s pretty much my mind-set until I’m done."

Robinson has played for four teams and been the property of five since being drafted.

The Nets first pursued Robinson in 2011.  The then 19-year-old was a top prospect in the draft, but after dealing their pick as part of the Gerald Wallace trade, the Nets were left without an opportunity to take him.  The Kings, picking No. 5 that year, grabbed him, just before the Trail Blazers took Damian Lillard with the Nets pick.

Then last February, they thought they had him again. After the Nuggets asked waivers on Robinson, the Nets reached an agreement to sign him to a 10-day contract once he cleared waivers.  But that never happened.  The 76ers swooped in and claimed him off waivers, angering the Nets and Robinson who wanted to play in Brooklyn.

In Philly, Robinson, known as T-Rob, had a revival, averaging 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in 18.5 minutes the rest of the way.  He became an unrestricted free agent this week.  The Nets see him as more of a center than a power forward, but capable of backing up both.

The Nets now have 17 players under contract including free agents Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson as well as the two draft picks, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough, and the two recently acquired point guards, Larkin and Steve Blake.

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