Vitals
Age: 25
NBA Experience: 5 Years
Contract Status: Signed thru 2012-13
2011-12 Averages: 2.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 14.4 mpg, 47% FG, 63% FT, 42% 3PT
There’s a reason why Josh McRoberts has yet to firmly establish himself in the NBA. He’s got plenty of the intangibles coaches love. He’s got size, athleticism, plays with a non-stop motor and isn’t afraid of doing the dirty work. Problem is none of those qualities have taken form in any type of discernible game. That became painfully evident by following the course of McRoberts’ first season as a Laker.
No thanks to Andrew Bynum’s suspension to begin the season McRoberts found himself starting for the Lakers early on. He quickly became a fan favorite by way of high flying dunks and nasty blocks. When Drew returned McRoberts was still a key contributor off the bench.
Then he was slowed by injury and the wheels came off for McRoberts.
Suddenly McRoberts found himself buried at the end of Mike Brown’s bench playing only sparingly as his minutes became inconsistent if not non-existent. Once Jordan Hill was acquired via trade it was all but over for McRoberts. Though it wasn’t until the very end of the regular season that Hill finally saw the court as a Laker the end of McRoberts’ playing time had become academic.
Hill ate up all the minutes that went to the Laker bigs off the bench. Now the real question is what does the future hold for McRoberts? He’s under contract for another year and Hill could very well leave as a free agent. In that case there could be more minutes for McRoberts to put his name on.
Of course given how far McRoberts fell in Coach Brown’s rotation it stands to reason that no matter what happens with Hill the Lakers will be looking to add more depth and size which means McRoberts and his expiring deal could become trade bait in any future dealings.