NBA Free Agency 2013: Top 10 Biggest Surprises So Far

May 2, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson (2) goes to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the United Center. The Nets beat the Bulls 95-92. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

8. Nate Robinson

From: Chicago Bulls

To: Denver Nuggets

Contract: 2 years/$4.1 million

Rationale: Nate Robinson is a 5’9″ 29-year-old fan favorite goofball of a back-up point guard who routinely breaks plays to call his own number. He’s also a fearless freak athlete with a knack for making spectacular plays. Robinson was second only to Stephen Curry in terms of first-round playoff heroics, but he was unable to cash in despite filling a need for just about every playoff team or wannabe. Granted, had Derrick Rose and/or Kirk Hinrich been healthy, coach Tom Thibodeau would have kept Robinson on a much tighter leash. In the analytics era, shot creation is no longer as valuable as it used to be (see: Ellis, Monta), though no amount of intangibles and defense–even elite defense–can overcome a consistent inability to put the ball in the basket. Ty Lawson and Andre Miller will probably eat up most of the minutes at point guard, though new coach Brian Shaw may not be as wed to the latter as George Karl was. That leaves Evan Fournier, Randy Foye and Jordan Hamilton for Robinson as Robinson’s competition at shooting guard, though his size (rather, the lack thereof) makes pairing him with the similarly vertically-challenged Ty Lawson a dicey proposition.