Earlier on Wednesday it was reported that the Chicago Bulls were looking to move the 20th overall pick in the NBA Draft to acquire former fifth overall pick Thomas Robinson from the Houston Rockets. But before you start rushing out to buy your T-Rob jerseys, Marc Stein from ESPN and K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Tribune are urging you to pump the breaks.
According to national reporter Stein and local beat expert Johnson, if the Bulls trade for Robinson he will be immediately flipped in either a subsequent deal or as part of a three team deal.
Follow-up trade rumble: Bulls intend to flip Thomas Robinson in subsequent (or connected) deal if they take him from Rockets for No. 20 pick
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 26, 2013
At end of day, guessing Bulls use No. 20. If pick is for anything other than reserve big man or wing shooter, I'll be surprised.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 26, 2013
As Johnson points out, trading for Robinson makes little sense in terms of money and value. The Bulls are not interested in parting ways with any of their young prospects like Nikola Mirotic nor will they be giving up a draft pick of first-round value beyond the one they have this year. So if the Bulls begin to pursue Robinson it will be because they have a team ready to swap him for assets the Bulls really want.
Stefan Bondy, the New York Daily News beat writer for the Nets, says that such a team could be the Brooklyn Nets who have eyes on Robinson and may be able to work something out with the Bulls that makes all parties involved happy.
Here's where Nets could be involved “@ESPNSteinLine: Bulls intend to flip Thomas Robinson in subsequent (or connected) deal if they get him”
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 26, 2013
And so, as they say, the plot indeed thickens.