RU: Why Would A D-League Player Turn Down An NBA Contract?

Great story about what may be happening with Marcus Williams.

"This wouldn't be the first time the Spurs outmaneuvered a rival team and it certainly wouldn't be the last."

about 2 years ago BlaseE 29 comments 1 recs |

Comments

Good stuff. I like Marcus, and I hope he finally sticks with the Spurs next year (provided that he earns it, obviously).

Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek

by Tim C. on Apr 12, 2010 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

Similar to Nando, I think we should look past his turnovers as he is handling the ball far more than we would ask of him.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I’d like to see how Nando is fairing, but I don’t mind holding out on him for another year or so if we bring Temple & Williams in.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Williams is SF depth. Nando is PG/SG depth.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess I’ve had the wrong impression of him as a point forward. It doesn’t help that I really haven’t gotten a good look at how he plays. I’d still be more than happy with just Temple, though. What is Nando’s contract situation?

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Nando has another year left on his contract with PEV, but(like Splitter) he has a much lower than usual buyout option this summer, which gies him flexibility.

Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek

by Tim C. on Apr 12, 2010 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I see. Thanks for the info!

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Think of Williams in terms of a point forward similar to how we used to let Barry bring the ball up and run/initiate a play. You can still have 2 guards on the court. It is a good way to give Duncan even more isolation on the left side to possibly delay the double team. I wouldn’t expect to ever see Williams running the point for any stretch of time, but rather giving us a more diverse offensive set.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions

And Nando would be like Temple or Manu or Hill. A player who can shoot/score off the ball and run the offense if needed from the point guard position.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Unless Temple does something odd, he probably has a spot next year. It’s hard to see him digressing.

Parker/Manu/Hill/Temple.

You still have Jerrells and Gee also as other options. I still don’t see Nando coming over yet.

by grego21 on Apr 13, 2010 3:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought he earned a spot last summer…

"We suck on 'D. Both individually and team-wise, we suck. We're pretty consistent that way. I don't know if I have an answer to that. If I did, we wouldn't suck quite so bad." - Popovich

by Aaron "Hirschof" Preine on Apr 12, 2010 1:32 PM CDT reply actions

So did I, but that is when Bogans was shooting like 8% in preseason and before Ratliff never earned a rotation spot. I think the FO made the right call at the time though.

Now, Finley is gone, and Mason and Bogans are expiring. Hairston isn’t performing in his limited minutes recently and RJ’s contract is likely back on the trading block. SF is a major issue for us.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m hoping he opts to terminate early. A sudden clearance of $15.2 million would take care of quite a few problems.

"We suck on 'D. Both individually and team-wise, we suck. We're pretty consistent that way. I don't know if I have an answer to that. If I did, we wouldn't suck quite so bad." - Popovich

by Aaron "Hirschof" Preine on Apr 12, 2010 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

That very well could happen

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/spurs-richard-jefferson-thinking-about-opting-out.php

by LORDinfamous on Apr 12, 2010 4:04 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

RJ as a Sun does make sense, but it seems like a bit of a snub against us by speaking publicly about that.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah very un-spur like.

by LORDinfamous on Apr 12, 2010 4:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, but I imagine this has been a rough season for RJ, emotionally. Weren’t we trying kinda hard to trade him this season, too? This could be his way of saving face.

Basically voted most normal person on PtR.

by Queness on Apr 12, 2010 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I think their interest in him his irregardless of Hairston’s performance or RJ. They still need forwards who are 6’9/6’9ish. Williams and Gist, would go a long way towards allowing them the ability to create matchups and fit in against teams like Portland and OKC.

Bogans is too small. Hairston is too small. Jefferson is really the only 3, but he’s not a long 3 which causing him issues against a 6’10 type of player.

Small forward has always been an issue. RJ has made it less apparent, but its always been there.

I hope RJ opts out and re-signs for cheaper. Hopefully cutting his contract for next season in half (which would reduce nearly 15 million in luxury taxes) that could be used for other players with the exemptions and vet mines they can offer.

by grego21 on Apr 13, 2010 4:00 AM CDT up reply actions

irregardless

FTW

Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek

by Tim C. on Apr 13, 2010 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

I know we’re still called “old” by the rest of the league. But it seems we have a potentially young athletic squad. And I love how they learn the Spurs system while playing with the Toros.

by LORDinfamous on Apr 12, 2010 1:38 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

If we land Tiago, I’d love to hear people call us old again. It would simply show how oblivious they are to our roster (you could argue that case right now, actually) and basically make any argue of theirs null.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

They are old, but old as “stars” and not really support. That’s the big difference. Without Duncan getting more help, Spurs will be “old” in some senses. Hill is a good start in terms of getting more guys on the team that do different things to make the Spurs more dynamic.

by grego21 on Apr 13, 2010 4:01 AM CDT up reply actions

So in the post-Duncan/Ginobili era can a Spurs team compete for a playoffs spot in the NBA fielding the D-League all-stars?

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Apr 12, 2010 2:17 PM CDT reply actions

Who can the Spurs get to lead the D-League all-stars when 36 million dollars of cap space is gone?

Hill and Blair will never cost us what a star player would cost us so even giving them role player money won’t effect this question. Even Splitter’s $6-8 won’t ever be Duncan’s $22 million.

So to fix your question for you, can D-League all-stars be a championship supporting cast? I don’t know, but I trust the Spurs FO and I like the current players enough to find out with them.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I was not trying to criticize the front office. What I was trying to get to is that a new type of rebuilding might be being invented in San Antonio as we speak. You develop a bunch of players and if we are lucky one of them will turn out to be good enough to deserve a big contract. The rest of them will be so familiar with the Spurs system (and performed admirably in the D-league and therefore the All-star comment) that they would become a solid supporting group. Of course you would have to add key players through free-agency, trade or throwing darts in the second round of the draft and hoping for Manu caliber talent.

Can a team built in such a way compete for the 8th seed? And if they can, can a team rebuild effectively without having top 5 picks in the draft?

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Apr 12, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

We’ll find a way if no one else does.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Apr 12, 2010 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Your question read more critical to me. I wouldn’t count on finding stars out of any of our d-leaguers. Maybe that will happen, but I don’t see any of them ever commanding a $10 million plus salary per year ever.

The Spurs will have to scout/draft, trade and bid for that level of talent.

by BlaseE on Apr 12, 2010 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

We’re not going to find any MVP like players in the D-league, but we could find players that fit into our supporting cast spots. We’ve never had athletic role players in our team. Pop has always preferred seasoned veterans in those spots because of the whole “corporate knowledge” thing. The d-league allows the Front office to see which player picks up nicely within the spurs system. Some players can’t be taught certain things that’s for sure. Most players will never be basketball smart enough to learn these systems, but then again those veterans from seasons pasts could not be taught athleticism. Why not try to find the players who can possess both? It certainly helps with the aging of our big three.

by LORDinfamous on Apr 12, 2010 5:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

A few key players can help support a team. It’s always about the right combination. I do think the Spurs are doing something unique and trying to innovate how the D-League is used. They’ve owned them for a while, but have never been this active and aggressive when it came to d-league guys.

To me, its a better choice than depending on guys out of college. The talent is better in the D-league and for guys who got called up like Temple, it’s even better. And then it’s a cherry on top if they were in the Toros system.

Not everyone will work, but if you never give it enough of a chance, you’ll never know. There are only 2 rounds in the NBA draft now. There used to be more than 2. This is like the 3rd round and later, but with some play time. :)

As for Post Duncan/Manu, Spurs will not be contenders. Maybe they’ll be in the playoff hunt. They’ll likely get a lottery pick here or there since they’ll have a year where they struggle after that era. It’s bound to happen.

by grego21 on Apr 13, 2010 4:05 AM CDT up reply actions