Spurs Assign Malik Hairston To Austin Toros

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have assigned guard Malik Hairston to the Austin Toros, the NBA Development League team owned and operated by the Spurs.

about 2 years ago Wayne Vore (ATS) 22 comments 0 recs |

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That sucks.

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by LatinD on Dec 4, 2009 3:57 PM CST reply actions

Actually, it makes perfect sense. He’s not going to crack the rotation this year in SA, so it gives him a chance to improve his skills with game experience. Also, the Toros should DOMINATE the D-league this season.

The Spurs - now playing defense again!

by Tim C. on Dec 4, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions

It sucks that he wasn’t given the opportunity to crack the rotation.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
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by LatinD on Dec 4, 2009 5:20 PM CST up reply actions

I agree. He’s long and athletic, something we still kinda’ need on the perimeter.

Just call me The Profit

by Manuwar on Dec 5, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

how about we assign RJ to the D-League instead, and start Hairston?

When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.

by the little o on Dec 5, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions

Making room for Raja?

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by bellasa on Dec 4, 2009 4:06 PM CST reply actions

No, they assigned him. They didn’t cut him. He still counts as one of the Spurs roster spots.

Nice try though. Are you still sick?

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Dec 4, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

That was my initial reaction, as well. Was a trade looming?

by Ed (dfjmed) on Dec 4, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

I’m sick of the big cat… the other sickness still lingers. It’s weird… I can’t completely shake it.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney

by bellasa on Dec 4, 2009 5:19 PM CST up reply actions

The big cat?

I have flying monkeys at my disposal, and I'm not afraid to use them.

by Lauri on Dec 4, 2009 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

Awww, people DO read my fanshots.

The Spurs - now playing defense again!

by Tim C. on Dec 4, 2009 5:12 PM CST up reply actions

I read all your brilliance, Riki.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney

by bellasa on Dec 4, 2009 5:18 PM CST up reply actions

He needs to play, not ride the bench. It will be good for the Toros, too.

by janieannie on Dec 4, 2009 4:07 PM CST reply actions

Although this news was initially disappointing to me, I think this ^ is the right take. Malik’s not getting actual minutes. I imagine his development isn’t a priority of the coaches right this moment. There are advantages to this move, and all the Spurs and Malik are giving away are a few minutes of garbagetime.

by greyberger on Dec 5, 2009 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

We’ll take good care of him here in Austin and return him to San Antonio in better shape than ever.

I have flying monkeys at my disposal, and I'm not afraid to use them.

by Lauri on Dec 4, 2009 4:08 PM CST reply actions

I clicked-thru but if the announcement was there I wasn’t smart enough to find it. So forgive me if this is already addressed elsewhere.

Sending him there doesn’t mean it is permanent. I am familiar with other teams who sent players down just to give them some additional playing time and more time to learn their system. That might develop him faster especially if they do not expect him to see actual game time with the varsity. I believe they can send and recall him up to 3 times or something.

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Dec 4, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions

Didn’t Farmar once play in both a D-League game and a Lakers game on the same day?

Anyway, I agree it’s not a demotion. This just keeps Malik in game shape and gives him a chance to work on skills at game speed. I’m sure they told him when they signed him at the start of the year that he’d split time between Austin and SA.

by doggydogworld on Dec 5, 2009 8:15 AM CST up reply actions

Let’s just say that at Spurs media day he took pictures with both a Spurs jersey and a Toros jersey.

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Dec 5, 2009 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

bummer, but i assume he still makes the same money and gets to play a lot more often. right?

by bones on Dec 5, 2009 10:00 AM CST reply actions

Yep. And Wayne’s comment above leads me to believe he knew about this a lot earlier than we did.

The Spurs - now playing defense again!

by Tim C. on Dec 5, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

Here’s my two cents.

I think Malik is ecstatic to still be getting a paycheck. I don’t think he gives a shit where he’s playing. He’s on an unguaranteed contract and the Spurs are over the luxury cap. That means he is costing them double his contract for them to even keep him and they don’t have to do it. The Spurs are paying $1.5M for him to play in the D-Leauge. OR. They could cut him and save a ton of money, and he could get paid $50K (if he signed a D-League contract. I’m making up that number but it isn’t much) instead of $750K and still play for the Toros. The Spurs have to REALLY like him to do this. To me, the fact that they are doing this shows how much they value him in their future.

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Dec 6, 2009 2:40 AM CST reply actions