Uncle Cliffy heading to the Warriors
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Updated: August 21
1:43 PM ET
The Pistons and Warriors consumated a trade that will send forward Cliff Robinson to Golden State for veteran combo guard Bob Sura, the Warriors announced this afternoon. Pepe Sanchez was also sent from Detroit to Golden State to make the numbers work under per the collective bargaining agreement.
Insider broke the story earlier today.
"We feel this is a tremendous addition to our team," GM Garry St. Jean said in a statement. "Cliff Robinson was a starter for a team in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and has been a winner his entire career. Additionally, he is an excellent defensive player and will provide some quality depth to our team."
Clifford Robinson
Forward-Center
Detroit Pistons
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 12.2 3.9 3.3 .398 .676
The trade gives the Warriors a veteran to pair with second-year forward Mike Dunleavy at the small forward position. The Warriors traded away their other two small forwards, Antawn Jamison and Chris Mills, on Monday in a deal with the Mavericks.
Robinson has two years, $10 million remaining on his contract. Trading for Robinson means the Warriors really have no shot at clearing cap space for next year. However, in 2005, when Nick Van Exel comes off the cap, they will have significant cap room if the team chooses not to re-sign Robinson, Adonal Foyle, Jason Richardson or Troy Murphy.
Bob Sura
Shooting Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
55 7.3 3.0 3.2 .412 .696
The trade does a couple of things for the Pistons. Sura will replace departing shooting guard Jon Barry in the backcourt. Sura's ability to play both the one and the two gives the Pistons greater flexibility on the perimeter. The move also gets the Pistons further along in their goal of clearing cap space for the summer of 2004. Sura is in the last year of his contract.
Getting Robinson off the books will be key to the Pistons plans next summer. The team is concerned that second-year forward Mehmet Okur could be in the same position next year that Gilbert Arenas was this year. Okur's contract ends after this season, making him an "Early-Bird" free agent. If the Pistons are over the cap, they can only extend an offer to Okur up to their mid-level exception. Given Okur's size and solid rookie season, they fear that a breakout year this year could put him out of their reach, a Pistons source told Insider.
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Updated: August 21
1:43 PM ET
The Pistons and Warriors consumated a trade that will send forward Cliff Robinson to Golden State for veteran combo guard Bob Sura, the Warriors announced this afternoon. Pepe Sanchez was also sent from Detroit to Golden State to make the numbers work under per the collective bargaining agreement.
Insider broke the story earlier today.
"We feel this is a tremendous addition to our team," GM Garry St. Jean said in a statement. "Cliff Robinson was a starter for a team in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and has been a winner his entire career. Additionally, he is an excellent defensive player and will provide some quality depth to our team."
Clifford Robinson
Forward-Center
Detroit Pistons
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 12.2 3.9 3.3 .398 .676
The trade gives the Warriors a veteran to pair with second-year forward Mike Dunleavy at the small forward position. The Warriors traded away their other two small forwards, Antawn Jamison and Chris Mills, on Monday in a deal with the Mavericks.
Robinson has two years, $10 million remaining on his contract. Trading for Robinson means the Warriors really have no shot at clearing cap space for next year. However, in 2005, when Nick Van Exel comes off the cap, they will have significant cap room if the team chooses not to re-sign Robinson, Adonal Foyle, Jason Richardson or Troy Murphy.
Bob Sura
Shooting Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
55 7.3 3.0 3.2 .412 .696
The trade does a couple of things for the Pistons. Sura will replace departing shooting guard Jon Barry in the backcourt. Sura's ability to play both the one and the two gives the Pistons greater flexibility on the perimeter. The move also gets the Pistons further along in their goal of clearing cap space for the summer of 2004. Sura is in the last year of his contract.
Getting Robinson off the books will be key to the Pistons plans next summer. The team is concerned that second-year forward Mehmet Okur could be in the same position next year that Gilbert Arenas was this year. Okur's contract ends after this season, making him an "Early-Bird" free agent. If the Pistons are over the cap, they can only extend an offer to Okur up to their mid-level exception. Given Okur's size and solid rookie season, they fear that a breakout year this year could put him out of their reach, a Pistons source told Insider.
