Roster Analysis

As you all know this has been an exciting week for Spurs fans as we finally managed to signed Tiago Splitter. I think must of us know what he brings to the table and no doubt he will be an upgrade and have an IMPACT. But our roster is far from being able to compete with everyone else especially if It's incomplete.

As you know we got Tiago and I think we all had a feeling he would make the jump but what was even more interesting was that he didn't use the full MLE which some GM's around the league said would be required to even make him think of leaving Spain. Of course he only got a little over half which I think only made it sweeter to us fans and showed once again we have the greatest FO in the league. But to some Spurs fans Splitters signing was overshadowded by the re-signing of Matt Bonner. The deal was reportedly for 4 years for 16 million. I know some people think he was already overpaid but honestly he knows the system, can spread the floor, great locker-room guy, and loves to eat sandwiches. Guys like him don't show up at your door-step and while I know we could of maybe found somebody better, which is highly unlikely but still his ability to spread the floor helps us create match up problems and it just gives us another tool. Enough about Matt but as of know our roster looks something like this.

PG: Tony Parker, George Hill, Garret Temple

SG: James Anderson, Manu Ginobili, Malik Hairston

SF: insert athletic, defensive, 3-point specialist SF here

PF: Tim Duncan, Dejuan Blair, Matt Bonner

C: Tiago Splitter, Antonio Mcdyees, Matt Bonner

At the PG position we have our solid rotation in Parker and Hill and while Temple has an unguaranteed contract I firmly believe he will be on the roster since he fits into our system and hes shown hes a reliable backup for realtively cheap. SG I have Anderson starting just because I also believe that Ginobili will return to the bench and unless we nab a SG in the free agency Anderson is the "One". Malik has an unguaranteed contract just like Temple and he will be on the roster next season just because the Spurs love his defense, and energy and once he shoots the 3 at a better clip hes pretty much guaranteed to be on the roster if not already guaranteed. SF has nobody and I mean nobody there. You could argue that Gee would be there but I think another year or two before the Spurs decide if they want him to be on the roster unless they want him to sit on the bench and learn first hand. PF I have Tim(who else), Blair, and Bonner so were good to go and at Center I have Splitter since I expect him to start and Mcdyees coming off the bench on limited minutes while Bonner will switch between the PF and C position depending on the situation. We have a very strong guard rotation and one of the best in the league while our frontline is set except for the fact that the SF position is EMPTY. Of course who do we fill that position with well let's see. Most of our favorites are already signed to a contract examples include Dorell Wright, Anthony Morrow, Ryan Gomes, Travis Outlaw basically the market of SFs is getting less and less everyday. I expect RJ to be back just because nobody wants him. It was said he wanted to play for either NY or NJ but NY has Chandler and Gallinari and NJ signed Outlaw so I don't seem him going to either. Plus it's been reported that he would return to the Spurs on a friendlier contract which wouldn't be bad in my opinion especially if we can get a good deal. So while RJ might be back then we find ourselves looking for a backup SF. We currently have about half of the MLE, the LLE, and Vet's minimum to find such players. SF's that are left that we should target are James Jones who I hear the Spurs are already looking at, Raja Bell who I hear said it will either be the Spurs or Lakers but preferably the Spurs, Rasual Butler and basically there are others but thats about it who I'd like to see in a Spurs uniform. I expect if we sign either Bell, Jones, or Butler we will have to use the rest of the MLE which wouldn't be all bad especially since they will fill some of our needs. I can also see us using the Vets minimum to sign another big or another SF aka Bogans. He would sign for cheap and he knows our system and if hes a third option for SF I don't think we can do better. Or say if we get Bell for the rest of the MLE and use the vet's minimum on James Jones then that would be solid option too. Then with these signings I see our roster looking like this:

PG: Tony Parker, George Hill, Garret Temple

SG: James Anderson, Manu Ginobli, Malik Hairston

SF: Richard Jefferson, Raja Bell, James Jones

PF: Tim Duncan, Dejuan Blair, Matt Bonner

C: Tiago Splitter, Antonio Mcdyees, Matt Bonner

With that we have a great starting lineup and one of the deepest benches in the league which will be helpful defeating teams without bench depth see Miami's Triumvirate and one of the sexiest rosters on paper to boot.