Thomas Robinson always wanted to be a Net and the Nets always wanted Thomas Robinson. The Nets had hoped even after trading their first round pick to Portland for Gerald Wallace. Then, at the lottery, that dream died. The Kings took Robinson at No. 5, just before the Trail Blazers, picking at No. 6, went with Damian Lillard, who became rookie of the year.
Then, last year, after T-Rob had been shuffled from Sacramento to Houston to Portland to Denver, his reputation for inconsistency and immaturity hurting him, it looked the Nets were going to get another chance.