SECOND CHANCE
HOUSE-CLEANING NETS RE-SIGN ROBINSON
By FRED KERBER
August 12, 2006 -- It was an eventful day for the Nets. They officially announced they were bringing back Cliff Robinson, who didn't know if he'd get a second chance with them. They said goodbye to one guard, Zoran Planinic, and hello to another, free agent Eddie House. They began tidying up matters for the arrival of Mile Ilic, the player they wanted to import then feared they'd need to wait two years to get.
And then after lunch . . .
The day that began with an agreement in principle with Robinson who received a five-game ban during the playoffs for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, ended last night with House opting for the Nets' one-year, $1.4 million deal.
"It's a great fit," said House's agent, Mark Bartelstein. "They're a team that struggled last year with scoring off the bench and Eddie can help there. They're a team that likes to run and playing alongside Jason Kidd is a great opportunity."
The addition of House, a six-year veteran who averaged 9.8 points with Phoenix last season, completes the bench overhaul for the Nets, who needed to re-sign Robinson (two years, $1.6 million in the first, with the second partially guaranteed at $500,000) to keep the experience factor.
Robinson is determined to make the most of his second chance.
"I didn't know if they were going to want me back. I really put my teammates in a bad position, the organization in a bad position," said Robinson, who admitted it was difficult watching the Nets lose three straight to Miami in the playoffs after he was suspended with the series tied, 1-1. "It was a big letdown, the spot I put the team in. Having one of your key players off the bench not be available, wasn't a good feeling."
Robinson, who will turn 40 in December, acknowledged he should have sought counseling - something he has begun putting in place.
"I could have made better choices," said Robinson, also suspended five games in 2005 while with Golden State. "I could have sought out someone to sit and talk with and I didn't. That's something I have since taken steps to do to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Robinson, whose signed contract was en route from the West Coast, has given the Nets assurances they need not worry about another slip. He must sit the first two games of the season.
"Cliff played very well for us," said team president Rod Thorn, explaining the decision to re-sign Robinson. "He is very popular among his teammates. He is a leader in the clubhouse. . . . I think he felt sort of an obligation to us also because it ended on a sour note last year."
As the day continued, the Nets formally waived Planinic, who'll head to Spain after accepting a $150,000 buyout. That move allows the team to import Ilic after he finishes playing in the World Championships. The Nets must engineer a buyout of Ilic's European contract; they can pay $500,000 with the player footing the rest. The Nets are anxious to begin bulking Ilic, an athletic, 7-2 center.
"He needs strength and weight work and needs to be in an environment where he is challenged every day," said Thorn.