Thomas Robinson: Bold Predictions for Sacramento Kings' NBA Draft Pick

Thomas Robinson fell to the Sacramento Kings at No. 5 in the 2012 NBA draft. The organization got an extremely massive break and was able to pick arguably the second or third best player in the class in a spot where they had no right to steal him.

Now that he’s the newest member of the struggling franchise, which has not been to the postseason since 2006, he will be counted on to make a major difference.

Here are some possible ways the former Kansas standout will impact the team.

Motivates DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins is a mercurial big man with a ton of talent, but a lot of character issues. He needs to get more focused on the court and in the gym, which is exactly what TRob can push him to do.

Both of these men are absolute beasts in the paint and will become a formidable duo in due time. They will bring out the best in one another, and Robinson’s competitiveness and work ethic should rub off on Boogie.

Changes Culture in SacTown

With Robinson, Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette and Marcus Thornton—just a few of the young, exciting players on the Kings roster—the team is bound to have a breakthrough soon enough.

Most of their struggles stemmed from having too many players that needed the ball to make an impact on the court at once.

Robinson isn’t one of those guys and will be able to influence wins without dominating the rock.

Cornerstone of Contender

If the Kings can start playing better with TRob in the lineup (and they should), it’s no secret that they will be playoff bound, even if it is at the bottom of the Western Conference.

The team will be able to grow together and form a nice foundation that will have a chance to actually compete for titles down the road, as long as they continue to make smart roster decisions.

One of those will have to be retaining Robinson and installing him as a full-time starter that the organization can trust to bring them to the postseason.