Sacred Cows Silly Course
I wrote this last night but didn't want to publish it because I had already posted something else. I could have been a "profit" haha. Here it is anyway.
I read something over at 48MOH warning about having too many sacred cows. Many of us around PTR might need to soon realize trading fan favorites is part of the business or some feelings could be hurt this off season.
As Spurs fans we tend to place a lot of value into a players character. We dismiss rumors of trades or freeagent signings sometimes solely based on whether or not the player is a "Spurs guy". The front office shares this sentiment but only to a certain extent. Not very long ago Malik Rose and Avery Johnson embodied what the Spurs franchise is about. Hard working, humble, team first guys, but we let them go at appropriate times and no one is losing sleep over it now. Currently we are faced with an aged warrior who is just as responsible for our defensive success over the past 6 years as Timmy.
When Bruce came to San Antonio there wasn't much hoopla about him. I don't think that anyone could have predicted the amount of success he has achieved. He was brought in as a defensive specialist but no one knew he would develop as The premire perimitter defender for several years. On top of that, the once journeyman has become a wonderful role model and contributor in the San Antonio community. Suffice it to say Bruce is a Spur through and through...It pains me to say that we need to trade Bruce but his partially garunteed contract is too valuable and his legs are too old.
Tim is the only untouchable. This is not to suggest that I think we should trade Manu or Tony but if tomorrow the Cavs offered Lebron for Manu I'd be devestated and understanding at the same time. If the Cavs offered Lebron for Duncan and the Spurs accepted I would no longer be a Spurs fan. There isn't any praise I could throw on Duncan that hasn't been said before. He is, quite simply, the best thing that has ever happened to the Spurs. Duncan has done more for the Spurs than the Spurs have done for him. If anything playing in San Antonio has hurt Tims legacy. We've thrown around scenerios where Tim played in Boston or New York- could you imagine the hype? GOAT all over the place.
For everyone else in a Spurs uni we need to view their relationship with the franchise as employer and employee. Putting an untouchable tag on too many players limits a teams options to improve and in a small market another handicap is the last thing we need.
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i don't do that
anybody is fair game as far as i am concerned, just depends on what the spurs get in return. even duncan. i want him to play every minute as a spur, but if somehow the spurs were offered lebron, dwight howard, chris paul, and kobe bryant for tim duncan, it would be a go for me. there is a stupid trade that makes somebody tradable, probably won’t happen, but if it was offered…
a couple years ago, i wondered which team would be more hesitant if a kobe for manu & tony trade were discussed. i’m not talking the fans, just the brass on the teams. which would be more likely to say no?
anyway, i don’t have sacred cows. but i was disappointed we traded gervin, and glad that robinson retired a spur.
dave mcnulla
spurs fan
You keep comparing Malik Rose and Avery Johnson to Tony and Manu, speedo. Are they really the same?
Also, if the Spurs traded Manu for LeBron I wouldn’t complain. I would be disappointed, but I would understand. However, by that logic it’d be crazy not to trade Timmy for LeBron. Personally, I wouldn’t trade either of them – but that’s just me.
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Dunkin' Cheerleaders
I just meant in terms of their character. I said it before and I’ll say it again Avery was more of a Spur than Tony. Manu is always number one in my heart but my main point was we shouldn’t view players as untouchable no matter how much we like them or else we limit our options. In a perfect world all of our favorite players would just take less and less money so we could keep them all. Not saying any of our guys are selfish-they just deserve a lot by NBA standards and its hard to keep everyone happy so sometimes trades are necessary.
...formerly known as speedostuffer
Okay, I see your point. But again, if you’re going to follow that philosophy, then Timmy shouldn’t be untouchable. LeBron for Timmy? It’s a no-brainer at this point in their careers.
I just don’t agree. Maybe it’s ridiculous, but players that have given so much to the team and have behaved like the Big Three deserve respect. I’ve been reading about Silas and Gervin, and that was poorly handled. How great was it that the Admiral could finish his career in black and white?
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
I totally meant to cross that out.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
Yes...but
You’re point is good. I think the thing that most people are concerned with is that the Spurs FO and other teams throughout the league will under value our players. For example: Trading Manu for a draft pick and some lame big guys from the Wizz. That’s not any kind of good move. You’re trading top notch talent for role players and draft picks. That doesn’t make fans happy. I think everyone will get over a trade where we lose a guy we really like for a solid productive replacement, but not this draft pick and role player crap.

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