The Philadelphia 76ers needed to make a move for some shooting and scoring off their bench and they did so by trading for Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks from the Golden State Warriors. The hope is that both players can come in and provide a spark for the team moving forward.
Robinson III is averaging a career-high 12.9 points and he is shooting 40% from deep in 48 games with the Warriors, starting all 48 of them. He won’t put up those types of numbers in Philadelphia due to a reduced role, but if he can shoot 40% from deep off the bench, he’ll be a terrific pickup.
“I’ll start with Glenn Robinson III, of course, the shooting, but defensively he’s guarded the best players,” said general manager Elton Brand. “I know it’s a career year and the team he was on wasn’t having a great year, but he will play for us at an extremely high level and he can shoot the ball and he’s young. He fits our plans.”
Burks is also having a career season averaging 16.1 points and he’s shooting 37.5% from deep with Golden State. Again, he won’t put up those types of numbers on the Sixers, but he is capable of having big games as evidenced by scoring 30 points on the road on February 3 in his final game for Golden State.
“Alec Burks, just the other day I watched him score 30 on the road,” Brand continued. “So when I was able to get him, he’s an elite scorer, an elite talent, he can get to the foul-line, can finish, and he can play defense also so being able to add those two and sign Norvel (Pelle), I think it gave us the boost we’ll need to make a run before the All-Star break and make a run before the playoffs after that.”
Josh Richardson, who battled Robinson III in college in the Sweet 16 in 2014, is excited to add him to the roster. Not only can Robinson shoot the ball, but he’s also very athletic as he has a slam dunk title to his name as well.
“It’s exciting,” said Richardson. “I’ve known Glenn for years, I’ve played against him in college. I’ve seen him in the NBA, he’s an aggressive player, a good defender, very switchable, and Alec is the same way. He’s having a career year this year so we’re excited to get him and plug him into what we’re doing. I think he can big for us also. Those two guys going forward will be big pieces.”
Josh Richardson reacts to the team trading for Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks #Sixers pic.twitter.com/CHakrJQWL3
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 8, 2020
Tobias Harris, who entered the same draft as Burks, has a lot of respect for him. Burks averaged 20.5 points in his final season at Colorado.
“Just a great player. I came in the league with him,” said Harris. “He’s a great scorer, a great guy off the bounce that’s able to get a bucket so just his dynamic and his quickness on the floor, his ability to score is going to help us a whole lot. I’m excited to play with him and also, Glenn.”
Burks and Robinson III were not able to make their debuts in Friday’s home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, but the team hopes they can make their debuts on Sunday when the team hosts the Chicago Bulls.