Spurs Roster Needs and Speculation Thread
by Tim C. on Jun 3, 2011 2:00 AM CDT
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In the weeks since our beloved silver and black were unforgivingly bounced from the playoffs, there's been some talk about what should come next for our heroes of the hardwood. I will admit to being entranced by the playoff matches played since the Spurs were bounced, especially as it has become clear that we are witnessing an upheaval of the established NBA order. This, at least in part, is what has kept me from seriously thinking about what lies ahead for the Spurs. The other part of that is, well... I really just didn't want to think about it.
But one thing that is clear is that Tony Parker was right: the championship window is closed... for the moment.
Does that mean it can't be pried open again with some good personnel changes? Absolutely not. But the team as it stands right now has no shot at winning a championship. And really, it's hard to envision realistic moves that would pry that window back open. With all that said, the Spurs front office would be foolish not to attempt one last run with the big three. And I do mean ONE last run, because as good as the Spurs front office is, they've had [A] too many years without a lottery pick in the draft to develop young stars into a force to be reckoned with; and [B] not enough profitability for the owners to authorize going deep into luxury tax territory for several years in a row as some of the other championship contenders have done. [Side note: For the purposes of this post, I'm going to assume that the new CBA will be similar to the current one. A lot could change, but this is my operating assumption.]
So, what are the team's biggest needs, and what can they do to fill them? Let's figure out the needs and prospects at each position, and perhaps we'll get some idea of what the team's front office is thinking.
The most obvious problem for the Spurs, that has been talked about endlessly for at least the last two seasons, is the lack of size and defense in the frontcourt. Assuming the retirement of Antonio McDyess(we'll miss ya, big guy), the only two big men on the team with defensive chops are Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter, and Duncan may be following McDyess into retirement next summer. Both Tim and Tiago are best suited to play the 5, but can play the 4 if necessary. If both of them start, which is probably best at this point, you're left with no defense on your front line when you turn to your bench. Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair - yikes.
Center
via nbcprobasketballtalk.files.wordpress.com
A lot of people have said that we need a true 7-footer to clog up the paint at the C position. Timmy has been locking down this position for the last 6 years, and I don't see that changing. Tiago is an excellent backup, but as mentioned above, he may just be good enough to move Timmy back to his old position at PF. If this happens, the Spurs will need another guy that can play the position. Of course, Pop might also give Timmy the occasional night off, especially if there is a compressed season due to the lockout, so it might be advisable to go out and get a third center anyway. Add in the possibility of Duncan's retirement after next season, and it definitely seems like a good idea to shore up the position.
I'm going to be using ShamSports' 2011 free agent list throughout this post. Sham really knows his stuff, and that site is an excellent resource for roster and salary information. Here's a list of centers:
Name, Status
Marc Gasol, Restricted
Nene, Early termination option
Yao Ming, Unrestricted
Samuel Dalembert, Unrestricted
Greg Oden, Restricted
Tyson Chandler, Unrestricted
Joel Przybilla, Unrestricted
Jeff Foster, Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed, Unrestricted
Shaquille O'Neal, Player option
Ronny Turiaf, Player option
Nenad Krstic, Unrestricted
Spencer Hawes, Restricted
Kwame Brown, Unrestricted
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Player option
Ryan Hollins, Player option
DeAndre Jordan, Restricted
David Andersen, Partially guaranteed
Hamed Haddadi, Restricted
Erick Dampier, Unrestricted
Dan Gadzuric, Unrestricted
Shelden Williams, Unrestricted
Aaron Gray, Player option
Jamaal Magloire, Unrestricted
Kurt Thomas, Unrestricted
Joey Dorsey, Restricted
Jason Smith, Restricted
Alexis Ajinca, Unrestricted
DJ Mbenga, Unrestricted
Dexter Pittman, Unguaranteed
Theo Ratliff, Unrestricted
Kyrylo Fesenko, Unrestricted
Etan Thomas, Unrestricted
Garret Siler, Unguaranteed
Francisco Elson, Unrestricted
Tony Battie, Unrestricted
Melvin Ely, Unrestricted
Samardo Samuels, Unguaranteed
Hamady Ndiaye, Restricted
Jason Collins, Unrestricted
Marcus Cousin, Unguaranteed
Hilton Armstrong, Unrestricted
Earl Barron, Unguaranteed
I like Haddadi, Przybilla, Nazr, Collins and Fesenko(my top choice - his advanced defensive stats are unbelievable), out of the realistic options. Maybe Turiaf, but I think his defensive rep is pretty overrated. The Spurs could also try rolling the dice on Yao or Oden, but their current teams would probably throw more money at them than the Spurs can match. The Grizz might match any offer the Spurs can throw at Haddadi, for that matter, just to keep him away from SA.
Team need? Well, it couldn't hurt.
______________________________
Power Forward
As much as we've heard about the Spurs needing to upgrade the size of their frontcourt, I'd like to propose that the most effective updgrade would be a speed upgrade. Tim and Tiago have the size to deal with most starting frontcourts, but Tim is not quick on his feet anymore. At all. Having Tiago switch places with him on defense might help, but I'd prefer the Spurs start somebody who is a natural fit at the position. A quicker, athletic PF would enable the Spurs to not have to play either of the two "anchor" guys out of position, and also help matchup with the increasing frequency of smallball lineups in the NBA. As an example, the Heat and Thunder will occasionally put Kevin Durant and Lebron James(respectively) at the 4. I can immediately think of Tyrus Thomas and Taj Gibson as guys that can defend smallball 4's without giving up much in the way of size. Guys like these are hard to come by, but they would be the perfect fit for a Spurs team in desperate need of their skill set.
But, where can the Spurs find someone who fits the mold? That's the hard part. Free agency is the first, most obvious choice that comes to mind. Here's Sham's list of free agent power forwards:
Name - Status
Tim Duncan - Early termination option
David West - Early termination option
Troy Murphy - Unrestricted
Carl Landry - Unrestricted
Boris Diaw - Player option
Kenyon Martin - Unrestricted
DeJuan Blair - Unguaranteed (interesting)
Thaddeus Young - Restricted
Jonas Jerebko - Restricted
Brandan Wright - Restricted
Josh McRoberts - Unrestricted
Antonio McDyess - Unguaranteed
Darius Songaila - Unrestricted
Louis Amundson - Player option
Yi Jianlian - Restricted
Glen Davis - Unrestricted
Chuck Hayes - Unrestricted
Kris Humphries - Unrestricted
Jared Jeffries - Unrestricted
Craig Smith - Unrestricted
Ike Diogu - Unrestricted
Earl Clark - Unrestricted
Chris Wilcox - Unrestricted
Dante Cunningham - Restricted
Josh Powell - Unrestricted
Magnum Rolle - Unguaranteed
Juwan Howard - Unrestricted
Reggie Evans - Unrestricted
Gani Lawal - Unguaranteed
Solomon Jones - Unrestricted
Jeff Adrien - Partially guaranteed
Derrick Caracter - Unguaranteed
Leon Powe - Unrestricted
Darnell Jackson - Restricted
Joe Smith - Unrestricted
Jeremy Evans - Unguaranteed
Malik Allen - Unrestricted
Brian Cook - Player option
Chris Johnson - Unguaranteed
Ian Mahinmi - Unguaranteed
Brian Cardinal - Unrestricted
Brian Scalabrine - Unrestricted
Now we all know Duncan isn't going anywhere, and any restricted fee agents will be difficult to pry away(possible exception: Jason Smith, since the NOOCH will have to pay dearly to retain David West), especially for a financially limited team like the Spurs. So, I'm going to concentrate on the unrestricted FA's. There isn't much to speak of here, but the Spurs' organization has found diamonds in the rough before. I recently asked Tim Varner from 48MoH who he thought the Spurs should go after this offseason - he said Earl Clark(6'9" combo forward). Varner totally called Dorrell Wright as a hidden talent last offseason, so I'll trust his judgement on this one. Or, maybe the Spurs take a chance on Dorsey, Powe, Jeffries or someone similar.
The Spurs may already have a long-term solution for the position in mind. But this post isn't about 3-4 years from now, it's about the 2011-12 Spurs roster. The draft this year is also pretty weak, and with the impending lockout, it's most likely that a lot of first-round picks will be playing overseas next year anyway, as the top Euroleague clubs would probably be glad to have most of them.
Or, maybe they swing for the fences and orchestrate a trade in an attempt to bring in some talent at the PF position. The aforementioned Thomas and Gibson come to mind, but they play on teams that place a high value on defense, so they probably aren't going anywhere. Maybe Varejao would help the team, but he doesn't really fit that mold of the quick, rangy forward that solidifies the defense in front of our center. Andray Blatche has the tools, but is kind of a headcase. Josh Smith would be excellent, but the Spurs would probably have to take Joe Johnson's monster contract back as well, and that ain't happening. Perhaps the most willing trade partner would be the Utah Jazz, for Al Jefferson, since they have great draft position, in addition to already having Millsap and Favors. I'm not crazy about the idea, since he's not exactly known for his defense, and because a trade for him would open up holes elsewhere on the roster(SF). But it could work, and would give us another player that can operate in the post, which would be useful.
Team need? Yes, yes, yes. A million times yes.
______________________________
Small Forward
And now we get to the position of perhaps the most-maligned Spur of the last decade: Richard Jefferson. He improved his shooting this past season, which made him a much better fit for the team on offense. His defense was also improved, but he still had a tendency to get caught out of position or miss rotations, even when the playoffs came. He also has a bad habit of disappearing completely when the team doesn't involve him much in the offense. That trend was much less noticeable during his second season with the team, but manifested itself at the worst possible time - the playoffs. Even though I directed a lot of my anger over the first-round exit at him, I have come back to the belief that Jefferson is still a net positive overall for this team. Another year in the system might help him erase even more of the mental issues that have hindered him as a Spur, but I don't expect any statistical improvement. So, we have a pretty good starting small forward.
However, there was truly nobody else on the team that had the right size, speed and skill makeup to play the position. There is the possibility that Da'Sean Butler plays well enough to be the answer, and James Anderson showed flashes of the talents the Spurs drafted him for, but is still a tad small for the position. Danny Green has been pretty good in the very few minutes he's played, but he's even smaller than Anderson. So who else is available if a suitable backup cannot be found between those three, or if we need to find a starter after trading RJ to shore up another position?
Name, Status
Andrei Kirilenko - Unrestricted
Wilson Chandler - Restricted
Caron Butler - Unrestricted
Tayshaun Prince - Unrestricted
Grant Hill - Unrestricted
Shane Battier - Unrestricted
Peja Stojakovic - Unrestricted
Ersan Ilyasova - Partially guaranteed
Luc Richard Mbah A Moute - Restricted
Jeff Green - Restricted
Mike Dunleavy - Unrestricted
Matt Barnes - Player option
Michael Pietrus - Player option
Vladimir Radmanovic - Unrestricted
Sonny Weems - Restricted
Jason Kapono - Unrestricted
Sam Young - Team option
Al Thornton - Unrestricted
Damien Wilkins - Unrestricted
Chase Budinger - Unguaranteed
Josh Howard - Unrestricted
James Jones - Player option
Carlos Delfino - Unguaranteed
Tracy McGrady - Unrestricted
Rasual Butler - Unrestricted
Jamario Moon - Unrestricted
Steve Novak - Unrestricted
Othyus Jeffers - Restricted
Larry Owens - Restricted
Julian Wright - Restricted
Joey Graham - Unguaranteed
Stephen Graham - Unguaranteed
Sasha Pavlovic - Unrestricted
Dominic McGuire - Unrestricted
Derrick Brown - Restricted
Gary Forbes - Restricted
Marqus Blakely - Unguaranteed
Alonzo Gee - Unguaranteed
Devin Ebanks - Unguaranteed
Patrick Ewing Jr - Unguaranteed
Shawne Williams - Unrestricted
Dajuan Summers - Restricted
Danny Green - Unguaranteed
Da'Sean Butler - Unguaranteed
There's not a lot of obtainable talent out there. Maybe Delfino could help as a good two-way player, but he's not very consistent. PtR crushes Battier and Tayshaun would be useful, but have both lost their athleticism, as well as some speed, and will probably want more money than the Spurs can afford to give them. Mbah A Moute has excellent size, athleticism, and b-ball IQ, which makes him an incredible defensive player, but he can't shoot to save his life. Anyone we get in free agency is going to have flaws, so I think the #2 offensive team in the league can afford to sacrifice a bit of their officiency in the pursuit of shoring up a porous defense.
This draft isn't very promising, but I would fully expect the Spurs to take Kyle Singler if he's available at 29. Not for his speed or athleticism, but for his smarts. Plus, I respect the hell out of his decision to stay in school last year. Much better would be if we could get Chris Singleton, as he is similar to Mbah A Moute, but has more potential as an offensive option than does Moute.
Team Need? At least a suitable backup. (if not a better fit in the starting lineup)
______________________________
Shooting Guard
via sportsnickel.com
Let's be honest. The Spurs are absolutely loaded at the 2. The best player on the team starts here, and the fearsome bench tandem of Gary Neal and George Hill both see time here. With Anderson and Green also on the team, there's somewhat of a logjam at the position. In fact, if the Spurs are involved in any trades this offseason, I would expect them to offload somebody that plays SG in favor of some help at another position. There's really no need to discuss this position any further.
Team Need? No, not even close.
______________________________
Point Guard
Over the last two seasons, the one-two punch of Tony Parker(starter) and George Hill(bench) has overwhelmed most Spurs oppenents, and the backcourt in general is a team strength. However, Hill is not, and probably never will be, a point guard. He does best when either Parker or Manu are on the floor as the primary ball-handler, while he works as a spot-up shooter/slasher. He can't run the pick-and-roll, and by that I mean he treats it as if the pick is the end of what the other player does, and can't seem to ever find the roll man. And while he is an excellent one-on-one defender, the pick-and-roll seems to take him out of the play more often than not at that end of the floor as well. Even though the current situation is workable, getting a backup point guard that can run(and defend) a pick-and-roll properly would be a good pickup.
Name, Status
Aaron Brooks - Restricted
Maurice Williams - Early termination option
Goran Dragic - Team option
Andre Miller - Unguaranteed
Mike Bibby - Unrestricted
Rodney Stuckey - Restricted
Jose Barea - Unrestricted
Delonte West - Unrestricted
T.J. Ford - Unrestricted
Carlos Arroyo - Unrestricted
Mario Chalmers - Restricted
Marcus Banks - Unrestricted
Anthony Carter - Unrestricted
Earl Watson - Unrestricted
Jannero Pargo - Unguaranteed
Sebastian Telfair - Unrestricted
Patty Mills - Restricted
Earl Boykins - Unrestricted
Ronnie Price - Unrestricted
Antonio Daniels - Unrestricted
A.J. Price - Unguaranteed
Chris Quinn - Unrestricted
Jeremy Lin - Unguaranteed
Mustafa Shakur - Restricted
Pooh Jeter - Team option
Royal Ivey - Unguaranteed
John Lucas III - Unguaranteed
Sundiata Gaines - Unguaranteed
Acie Law - Unrestricted
Zabian Dowdell - Unguaranteed
Ish Smith - Unguaranteed
Ben Uzoh - Restricted
Meh. I like Ford and Watson, out of the realistic options.
Team Need? Maybe a backup.
______________________________
Share Your Thoughts
This post is meant as an overview of what I think the team needs. But, I'd like to hear what the rest of you think. What should take top priority? Who should the Spurs target, whether via free agency, the draft, or in a trade? Comment away, folks. It's going to be a long offseason.
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Comments
Parker
I’m sorry but I think he has to go. We need someone that can stretch the floor more and Parker is not a threat at the 3 as a point guard. He can drive like crazy on the pick and roll but his only other shot is the mid-range jump shot.
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jun 3, 2011 8:09 AM CDT reply actions
That’s his only offensive weakness. It’s irritating, but more than complemented by all the other perimeter shooters on this team. It’s the paint where we’re weak, IMO. We need someone mean and nasty in there (but still with angelic Spur-friendly qualities) to block shots, rebound, and generally terrorize the area near the hoop.
"I know everthang they is to know about the shrimpin bidness."
With any Parker trade, you need a PG back. That’s not going to likely happen due to that.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
TP
is here to stay unless we can get something back good so just appreciate the man for what he can do. Not to mention his medium range Jumper is solid and he shot decent from 3 this year and he knows his strengths and doesn’t force a lot of bad shots
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 3, 2011 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
TP is one of the best PG in the NBA. The only way TP gets traded is if the FO can’t pass on the deal that a team is offering.
T
"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili
by spursfan87 on Jun 3, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
i have never been a big tony fan but i think he also sometimes gets over or under rated here. his game isn’t going to age well but at the same time he has been a player we have leaned on in thew past and we do have him at a reasonable price.
all things considered he is worth more to use then another team and i’m not sure we get back enough to justify it even though i’m not a big fan
Neal can be a PG, a TP trade is unnecessary.
If the coaches can only make Neal play the PG position, with Manu or Hill at the SG position.. I think, this would be healthy to the rotation.
Popovich is the greatest conspirator!
Neal at times did look like a better PG than Hill, just as Roger Mason had. The Spurs might not want to rely upon that, particularly if Tony gets injured and the backup becomes the starter. And if the Spurs decide that Hill is only a SG, the overstock at the position with Manu, Anderson, Green and Neal make it more likely they could deal off Hill.
What advanced defensive statistics of Fersenko’s are unbelievable? His DRB% is 19.8% vs, 31,6% for Haddadi, BLK% of 2.9 vs, Haddadi’s 6.3, and DRtg (based on points allowed) is 110 vs, 100. Fersenko had more minutes played, but it would seem on a team that was in more in need of a center with Okur out most of the year.
exactly
I just think a lot of people on here like certain folks and overrate them. I mean Fasenko, really?!? there is a reason he doesn’t get a lot of minutes and it is because he is average at best
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 3, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
While I suppose the same thing might be said if Haddadi, I think that Memphis was trying to make Thabeet work out for them after their investment in him. By the time Thabeet was gone, Haddadi had so little time that he just didn’t figure into the rotation that already included Gasol, Randolph and Arthur.
you're right
about Haddadi though. Memphis was trying to get Thabeet playing time but once he was traded Haddadi slowly got PT. Not to mention he played decent in the playoffs. I think for the right price he could help the team but I would like the team to draft a young athletic dude maybe like Benson from Oakland
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 3, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I haven’t heard of Benson. What’s his full name?
"He's the ultimate zone buster." – Bill Land on Gary Neal
"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on DeJuan Blair
by Manu ex Machina on Jun 3, 2011 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Keith Benson. Very intriguing.
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
very intriguing… think he’ll drop to our 1st round pick, though?
can't forget Matty, if you did you'd feel gyped
like your sandwich ain't a sandwich without Miracle Whip
He’s projected as a second rounder.
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
I’m glad y’all’re on top of the picks and their projected orders. PtR is the only place I come since nba.com sucks, express news sucks, spurs.com sucks… guess I need to (finally) check-out 48MoH…
can't forget Matty, if you did you'd feel gyped
like your sandwich ain't a sandwich without Miracle Whip
This one’s a no-brainer. With “Big Mac” retiring…and Timmeh needing to….we need a quality center….someone who can dominate in the paint (besides Tiago…he’ll need to rest sometime). But with Pop & Buford being somewhat conservative….if you’re hoping that they will “rebuild” this team….forget about it!!!
Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010
If you had to be perfect to do what we do, then nobody would be doing it. On the other hand, if everyone could do what we do.....then everyone would be doing it.
Really??
To say that Tim Duncan needs to retire is very ignorant, if that happened we would be screwed right now. He is still a damn good player, he just needed someone else to step up during the playoffs, i mean he is getting older , but c’mon, he does not need to retire
I said it was possible that he will. I never said he needed to retire. That’s his decision, and he’ll know better than anyone else when it’s time. His contract is up after next year, though.
Time to build a new dynasty from the ashes of the old one.
I think his comment was supposed to be a response to the one directly above it.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 3, 2011 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Don’t get me wrong David….I LOVE T.D.!!! But….there come a time in every pro athlete’s career when they need to realize that they’re not helping their team if they get older and slower with every passing year (something that Bret Farve never could get through his head). To tell you the truth…I can’t even imagine the Spurs without Timmeh…..but then again…..I could have NEVER imagined them getting SPANKED by a friggin #8 seed in the 1st round of the playoffs, either!!
Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010
If you had to be perfect to do what we do, then nobody would be doing it. On the other hand, if everyone could do what we do.....then everyone would be doing it.
by titansfan4ever on Jun 4, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Comparing TD to Bret Favre is such an insult to his intelligence. I think Timmy will know when the right time is, but it’s not now IMO. He was still the Spurs’ best defensive player for the 2010-11 season, and he did well as a 3rd option on offense as well.
Time to build a new dynasty from the ashes of the old one.
Hey Tim, the last thing I would want to do is to insult Timmy’s intelligence….specially since he’s probably the most intelligent player in the NBA….I wasn’t comparing him to Bret…I was just saying some things that, for one, are very hard to say, but IMO….need to be said. I really hope I’m wrong, believe me.
Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010
If you had to be perfect to do what we do, then nobody would be doing it. On the other hand, if everyone could do what we do.....then everyone would be doing it.
by titansfan4ever on Jun 5, 2011 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions
I think most of us would believe you are wrong this time :)
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 5, 2011 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Duncan as a 3rd/4th option is fine. He’s not the top option, but he’s still better than a lot of players out there.
Grizz really were not an 8th seed.
That said, Duncan needs help up front. Two Duncans even at the same quality they are and Dice last year would have given them the shot they needed.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
Tim needs help. Look at Rose in chicago. If he had one other guy on the team that can get 20 to 30 pionts a game, Bulls take the Heat to a game seven maybe even win the series. Tiago doesn’t get hurt and starts for most of season, plus another seven footer off the bench that could rebound and defend, along with Dice. The Spurs are in the finals right now instead of out in first round. Tim was the only seven footer on the team the other (Tiago) wasn’t getting much time at all. In the West, you have to have at least three seven footers too servive.
My thoughts as uninformed as I am.
Center
Turiaf (we need a weak side shotblocker…)
Hawes (He is like a better Mat Bonner that’s not as good at shooting)
Haddadi (potential)
Fesenko (potential)
Power Forward
Powe (Always liked Powe)
Craig Smith (could use a bruiser)
Small Forward
Kirilenko (if we get him for cheap)
Mbah a Moute (a dream)
Budinger (another dream)
Keep Butler (I think this kid will be the best available SF on the market)
Point Guard
Delonte West (decent point guard, ok at defense)
Royal Ivey (a defensive PG backup)
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Jun 3, 2011 11:11 AM CDT reply actions
No particular order
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Jun 3, 2011 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Kirilenko (if we get him for cheap)
I second this one. He’s the type of utility player that would help out a lot of needs. He’s not really great at anything, but he’s solid at just about everything the Spurs need. They could play him at SF or as a stretch 4. Having played his whole career under Sloan, he’s also used to a demanding coach. Unfortunately, I don’t know what his market value will be after being so wildly overpaid.
Did you know he’s the 4th or 5th highest paid player in the NBA? I don’t think anybody is going to get him for cheap…at least not cheap enough.
I’m sure Utah would love to unload his contract.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
yeah he’s definitely too overpaid at the moment. I’m hoping that everyone avoids him like the plague since he hasn’t performed well since getting his massive pay raise and we can scoop him up for cheap.
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Jun 3, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, he’s an unrestricted free agent, isn’t he? Just because his old contract was ridiculous doesn’t mean his next one has to be. Even if some idiot GM decides to overpay him, it won’t be anywhere close to his last one.
lets hope you are right for the sake of free agent deals after he signs his
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 4, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
to Neuwaldegg
Kirilenko is only good at being injured, and ginobili already is good at that. I’m shocked Utah has held onto that bum as long as they have. I think Pop made some really dumb decisions this playoff series. You gotta have big men, bottom line. And every time we had Splitter in the game we would catch up or go ahead of Memphis, but he kept playing Blair or Bonner. I liked Blair in the beginning of the season but by the end I couldn’t stand him. He was overweight, had NO defense, and made some of the dumbest shots. I swear he thought he was a point guard sometimes with the crazy shots he took. More often than not overshooting the ball.
This argument hasn’t been done before….
"Everybody thought he was going to be gone forever, including me, and the foie gras and truffle treatment worked really well." Pop on Tony's Injury 3/4/11
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
I’m pretty sure it’s a new one… I mean I haven’t heard about overshooting before…
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Jun 8, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
I doubt Spurs could afford Hawes as he’d likely garner a lot of interest.
Turiaf with Parker might have some strength. Spurs can definitely use an energy guy like him. I’ve met him before and he seems like a great guy, too.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
A few of my choices are day dreaming, but with some possibilities. I do wonder whether Philly is even interested in hawes.
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Jun 3, 2011 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Craig Smith. It would be nice to have a guy that actually has a mean streak. I also Like Budinger. I think he could flourish in our offense. He’s a solid shooter.
That is the Spurs’ reason for getting up in the morning.
Metaphorically speaking, they can sleep when they are dead, and they aren’t dead yet.
I do not want to see Delonte West on this team AT ALL.
"Rip it and grip it!" -Kevin Costner
by The Augustus on Jun 4, 2011 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Bonner and Scalabrine on the court together at all times to sow confusion and fear in our adversaries.
"I know everthang they is to know about the shrimpin bidness."
by SleepCrack on Jun 3, 2011 12:36 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
OMG...now that is funny!
I think I would buy season tickets just to see Bonner and Scalabrine on the court at the same time. Powerful combo.
Nice job Tim.
At center, I would be ok with a Collins. Jason won’t be available (the Hawks will retain him) but Jarron (not listed on Shamsport cause he wasn’t on a team at the end of the season). His playing time will probably go from 7-10 min a game to DNP-CD but he defend the post like no other. Usable to disrupt the rythm of opposite offensive bigs.
At Power forward, when I heard that the Warriors wouldn’t pick up Brandan Wright last year, I was hoping that the spurs took a look at him. Former top 10 pick (2007), very similar to Tyrus Thomas athletically, a tad injury prone and young big under Don Nelson (ouch!). Now that he is with the Nets, no idea. How about another Nets former first round pick, Sean Williams. He played pretty well in the D-League. Earl Clark is another possibility. What about Gist? Best year of his career with Partizan (and one of their leader).
At SF, Butler is worth a look and for the SG and PG, honestly, I have no clue.
At this point, Kirilenko is more of a PF than a SF, so I’d definitely take him if we got the opportunity.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
Nice work Tim. This can be cumbersome to put together. I really like both Haddadi and Fesenko. There are a ton of SF options! I still think brining in Battier would be a nice move. I think Prince is done and I’m ok with Mbah a Moute, but shooting is always nice. I like the idea of Ivey as a defensive PG backing up Parker, but there are quite a few cheap options at the PG as well.
It should be interesting to see how the FO goes about things. There are lots of moves that can be made to improve the team without making a big splash. I look forward to them.
I honestly think he’d get a good offer even though he’s a risk.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
Besides the free agents, I would expect that Chris Kaman could be acquired in a trade with the Clippers involving RJ. I would expect that there is a bigger need for a speedy PF over a center, but if it is felt that Tiago is mobile enough to cover the majority of PF Kaman might be a good center to add. Not only are his advanced defensive stats better than Fesenko’s, but he’s a much better offensive player. Biggest concern is that he is injury prone and has played in 75 games or more in only 4 out of 8 seasons. It does seem the potential help he might add would outweigh what the Spurs might have to give up for him.
How old is Kaman? Wouldn’t that amount to (again) going all in if we trade for a veteran big like that?
by silverandblack_davis on Jun 3, 2011 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions
young talent
The last thing our guys need is more long in the tooth vets. We need young talent so we can reload while contending. I really think the Richards kid can help the team because he is a decent athlete for a big and he has a nice jumper. He also seems to be a hard worker so I wouldn’t b surprised if he got P.T. with the club next year. Anderson will hopefully get better and maybe Butler will play like he did at WVU.
I do think we need a bigger wing player or a bigger athletic guy to help in the front court
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
Agreed
If we are going to trade RJ, Blair, and Hill, we should trade up as high as possible to get a young big. When Tim retires, make sure Tiago has a young big helping him out. Don’t want the same thing happening to Tiago, like Tim this year no bigs to help him out all year. Fix the problem now and for the future. Draft all the bigs you can and move up if you have to, to get the bigs you want.
Also, Earl Clark impressed me a little bit this season and IMO was the Magic’s 3rd most productive/efficient player behind Howard and JJ Redick. Granted, he had a pretty limited role, but he’s young, athletic, and from what I’ve seen not a complete bonehead. Not brimming with as much potential as Tyrus Thomas, but a similar style of player. He wouldn’t be a bad pick up.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
How is his defense?
"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili
According to the Magic blog, average/above average. From what I watched, I’d agree with their assessment. He needs minutes/experience, but the athleticism to cover stretch 4’s and some slower 3’s is there. If I remember right, he’s about 6’10, so good size for a PF.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 3, 2011 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Earl Clark
He is a tweener and that is one of the reasons the guy didn’t get a lot of playing time with the Suns and the only reason he started getting minutes with the Magic was due to injuries. I’m not saying he can’t get any better but he didn’t really dominate at Louisville when he was the man out there so I just don’t see the guy getting any better than he is now.
Our 2nd round pick Richards is a power forward/center and seems to have serious range on his jumper. I do think he might not be as versatile a defender as Clark might be but I don’t think the team should take a flyer on Clark if they intend on signing Richards. The last thing the team needs is a bunch of players who are stuck in between positions.
The team should draft or pick up via free agency a legit center or small forward. Somebody who actually can guard there position and does what the normal type of player can do for there position. Like a center who actually rebounds and protects the rim, or a small forward who can check small forwards and shooting guards while being able to knock down an open jumper consistently.
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 4, 2011 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions
I’d add that the qualifications for a SF wouldn’t include that they be small. Quick as most SG’s, while tall as most PF’s would be nice.
good luck finding a small forward 6’9" and above doing all we ask for a good price. lol
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 4, 2011 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions
needs back up point and some kinda big man. there were times this year were tony/manu/quinn were not on the floor…and they almost always looked really bad offensively. we acttulaly were fairly healthy this year but if anything had happened to tony or manu we were way too thin at ball handler.
timmy still has something left but the 2nd big always had issues splitter (new/lost) bonner (def/only on perimiter), blair (def/short) dice (old, either way out-retirement). splitter should have a better year and bonner and blair are good role players but another big really is needed. i would prefer def and banger personally. if we got young or development here i hope we throw them in and if we loss a few at least see what we have quickly.
wantsdef minded 3-4 if Kirilenko comes cheap enough and has anything left this works. or anyone else we can find close to this
Josh McRoberts looks like he could be an economical pickup, I’d think he could take over the Bonner role, while being a stronger defender and rebounder than Matt. I’m not against keeping Bonner, but McRoberts would seem both cheaper and younger. His 3 point % is similar to Bonner’s early years, and I expect would also improve with repetition. At least statistically he is a better defender and rebounder than Earl Clark and far superior on the offensive end. He also was paid $1M less than Clark this past season.
Tough luck getting a quality player in these free agents. I still want to go Neal-hunting again overseas and bring in some of the better big men in Europe like a Boroussis or winners like Romain Sato and Nick Calathes.
by silverandblack_davis on Jun 3, 2011 8:55 PM CDT reply actions
Might depend upon how quickly the new CBA is agreed upon. A number of NBA players have suggested (though it seems unlikely) that they might go play in Europe if there is a lockout. If it’s a short season with no Summer League or training camp, it might not be a good year to bring players over. It might be a good year to select an international player in the draft and have them stay in Europe for a year. Otherwise I’d agree to try to sign any of those you’ve mentioned along with bringing on former picks Nando and Richards; while maybe giving Gist another shot.
I like your thinking
It could be more realistic to get a European big man then free agents or maybe even the draft. This is the San Antonio Spurs after all this is how the FO does work.
Sato used to be on the Spurs. As I remember, he kind of sucked. Alot.
A man gets the eye of a Tiger, but a Tiger gets the eye of a Manu.
He was drafted back in 2004, I don’t think he ever got into a game before being released. Seeing as how the Spurs won a championship the year he was released, they likely did not have much of a need for a rookie. How good he may be is a different story, but as he is now 30 or more I don’t see much point in bringing him aboard at this point.
While I don’t think that RJ is that bad of a SF, I would think that what he brings to the team could come from someone younger and less expensive. Wilson Chandler seems a possibility, being a restricted free agent they may not figure that much into Denver’s longterm plans with all the other young players and draft choices they’ve acquired. That would seem likely to be a sign and trade deal, though it is hard to tell what they might want in return prior to them making other moves. I think others that may be slightly unwanted by their current teams and available through a trade could be Batum or Casspi. Getting either likely depending upon either team might be interested in George Hill.
i vote for ownership to somehow acquire a low interest loan so they can actually afford to put some more pieces beside the big 3 …but meh
by i luv this site on Jun 4, 2011 12:36 AM CDT reply actions
Honestly I don’t think the FO is busting their brains trying to put team together. I mean, this group did win 61 games after all. And if not for that 6 game skid when Timmy wen t down, it would have been more. I think the only thing we NEED is to get bigger and/or tougher inside. So as much as I would like the team to draft Chris Singleton, it would mean trading up in the draft which would leave us short another player.Whatever big is left at pick 29 I expect the team to pick up. And, for the record, I don’t see RJ going anywhere,
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
I’m not a big fan of Powe or Craig Smith. One is a little tougher and one is a little better shooter, but they are both the same size as DeJuan. And if they are bringing in a player who is about the same, might as well just give the minutes to the guy who knows the system and hope that he keeps improving.
Any idea if Julian Wright is going to stick in Toronto? Wouldn’t mind him being a backup small forward if possible. He has good size and athleticism, even if he hasn’t been nearly as good as everyone thought coming out of Kansas a few years ago.
Also, I might be one of the few to think this, but with it being such a weak draft, if the Spurs found somebody they really liked in the 15-25 range, they might not have to give up that much in order to move up to get him. I see Singleton’s name around a lot, don’t know if this year’s 1st and next year’s would be enough to move up to get him. But I think it might not be quite as tough to move around in this draft.
With no contracts in mind, I’d love to have:
1) Ish Smith or T.J. Ford
2) no one, I’m told.
3) Budinger or Mbah a Moute
4) THADDEUS YOUNG or Jerebko
5) COUSIN.
can't forget Matty, if you did you'd feel gyped
like your sandwich ain't a sandwich without Miracle Whip
Cousin is with Houston now and is a free agent only in the sense that his contract is not currently guaranteed. From what I can recall they assigned him to Rio Grande during the D-League playoffs, but at this point is actually on Houston’s roster.
Well, I was hoping some of Kahn rubbed off on McHale and that Morey’s money-ball doesn’t consider Cousin? Hell if I know. Cousin’s ok in Red & White but he’d be the belle of the ball in Silver & Black.
can't forget Matty, if you did you'd feel gyped
like your sandwich ain't a sandwich without Miracle Whip
Jerebko. Good luck prying him away from Detroit. I agree, he’d be excellent, but the Pistons are 100% in love with him- at least if one can judge the organization by the guys at DBB.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 4, 2011 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Can I, at least, dream of Young in S&B? He’d be effing amazing next to Splitter. Sorry Tim & Manu, but y’all’re coming off the bench; a GREAT idea. Save them for the playoffs and I don’t think either of them would mind. I’d love to see Furious George start next to TP, for, at least, 15-20 games. He’ll learn the P&R… he’s not a dummy, dummy. Maybe JAnderson can develop sooner than anticipated… I dunno. I’m stressed and tired.
can't forget Matty, if you did you'd feel gyped
like your sandwich ain't a sandwich without Miracle Whip
Did you watch the post-season? Duncan should be playing identical (or only a slight up tick) minutes during regular season and playoffs. He will tire after a 38 minute outing of playoff basketball. He needs to be continually conserved at this point, and play effective minutes throughout every game.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
luis scola is the man that should have been ! maybe a championship or two more with luis scola pounding the rock inside !!!!
IMO our needs are 1) PF/C, 2) SF, and 3) PG. There was a report a few weeks ago on Hoopsworld that the Kings were looking for another ball handler and 3 pt shooter, so maybe the Spurs can work out a Bonner/Hill for Thompson/Casspi trade. With Casspi basically out of their rotation at the end of the year and Cousins cemented as their PF of the future, the Kings may be open to moving both Casspi and Thompson. Thompson would give the Spurs a young, athletic big while Casspi would give the team the young backup SF they were interested in drafting in 2009. Who knows what the Spurs plans are for Richards and De Colo, but they can use the draft to find a backup PF/C by selecting JaJuan Johnson, Jeremy Tyler or Keith Benson, or a backup PG in Darius Morris, Iman Shupert or Reggie Jackson. They can also address their PF/C and PG needs via FA by signing PF’s Wilcox, Diogu or Clark, and PG’s Ford or Watson.
The Spurs need to think big. Like trading Parker/Jefferson/Blair for Chris Paul/Emeka Okafor. Then use Okafor as a trade chip to get Dwight Howard in a sign and trade when Howard becomes a free agent.
If the Trailblazers don’t offer Greg Oden a qualifying offer, take a chance on him.
Also they need to get ready to scoop up a player in the amnesty after the new CBA. I’d try to get a player like Rashard Lewis or Brandon Roy if they become free due to the amnesty.
A man gets the eye of a Tiger, but a Tiger gets the eye of a Manu.
by alamobro on Jun 4, 2011 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
If there is an amnesty, doesn’t the player basically become a free agent free to sign with any team? I’m not sure whether there is any reduction to what the old team will owe based on what the new team will have to pay, but if Lewis or Roy were to become such amnesty players won’t the Spurs still be limited in what they can offer to the mid-level exception or so? If they could make the trade with New Orleans (seems unlikely) they would also be an additional $4M or so over the cap, which seems destined to become a harder cap.
Amnesty players will look for the best place to win a championship/playing time and be willing to sign for the minimum, seeing how they’ll still be getting paid their previous contract. Rashard Lewis is due to make $22 million next year, do you really think he’ll squabble over the difference between $1 or $4 million extra when it comes to playing for a good team?
Spurs can sign any player to the NBA minimum if they have an open roster spot, I believe that is the rule.
(courtesy of Hipuks)
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 4, 2011 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I’ve seen 20 year old Nikola Mirotic of Real Madrid in some mock drafts as an early second round this year, and in others in the middle of the first round this year. Can he only be drafted this year if he has declared himself available? I’m not sure why he is listed in two different years unless he hasn’t made a decision to make himself available or if it has to do with his contract obligations. He looks like a good prospect that likely would go in the first round if there weren’t other contract issues.
@Euroleague
2010-11 Euroleague Rising Star, Nikola Mirotic extends his contract with Real Madrid until 2015-16 season http://bit.ly/eUjFVp
He, uhh, won’t really be available for a while.
Time to build a new dynasty from the ashes of the old one.
That’d be a long wait for a 1st round pick, but could the Spurs use their 2nd round pick (nearly the last pick in the draft) to secure his rights?
that would be a great idea because we can pay him more due to him being a second round pick which can help with the buyout. Plus a low second round pick is a very low risk high reward situation. I think somebody else is gonna take him though
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 6, 2011 3:08 AM CDT up reply actions
I kinda expect a busy summer to keep this Drive for Five Alive.
We have got to get rid of Richard Jefferson.
Hey Tim C., might be a good time to post here those retweets about Ryan Richards’ great performance in the Great Britain U20 game.
by silverandblack_davis on Jun 5, 2011 7:31 PM CDT reply actions
There’s a video posted on Hoopsfix.com . The Scottish opponent looked like it could play in a 6’5" and under league to me. It made it a bit tough to tell how well he does under the basket, but he certainly looked mobile, could handle the ball and had some range. Hard to tell from the short highlights, but looks like he might help at the PF position.
He was the tallest person on the court by a lot. He has been working on post moves and hopefully we will get to see if he has confidence in them when he plays some of the taller and better players. He handles the ball decent but it isn’t anything he could do in the NBA as well as he does there. He looks down a lot while dribbling and his favorite move is so close to palming/carrying it isn’t even funny. I do like what i’ve seen from the guy though
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 6, 2011 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
matt_clear
Enjoyed watching GB U20s today. Ryan Richards was completely dominant…he looked even better than advertised. Rest of the team a work in…
Hoopsfix
Ryan Richards’ (@Re_Rich) line from today-approx 15 mins, 17 points (missed 3 field goals), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Eh, not sure it’s a big deal. U20 game against Scotland? If he does great things at Eurobasket, that’ll be worth talking about.
Time to build a new dynasty from the ashes of the old one.
Tru
but it’s still good to hear he is dominating teams and players he should dominate.
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jun 6, 2011 3:12 AM CDT up reply actions
I wanna see him dominate Fisher.
Yo, I’m 6-11, but I just want to dribble through my legs and shoot jumpshots like a guard. - Marc Blucas on Tim Duncan
by TDzilla! on Jun 6, 2011 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
trade
i was thinking what about a trade with the pacers..granger and foster/ford —parker, rj ..if indiana agrees..
....oh c'mon now, don't tell me this is it....
by oragonakomanoyinmanila on Jun 5, 2011 10:07 PM CDT reply actions
Our offense would cease to exist.
Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.
by SpursfanSteve on Jun 5, 2011 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
C/PF
Spurs need a big that can score in the post and draw double-teams. That would give the perimeter shooters better looks, get more high % baskets, and draw fouls on opposing teams defenders. They have some good perimeter players but not elite. From those C/PF lists Mark Gasol, Nene, Yao, and David West are the best options.
Let’s be honest: the Spurs don’t have the $$ to sign a major free agent.
So unless someone takes a huge pay cut to go to S.A., we have to rely either on player development or a trade to improve the PF and C position. I don’t see a trade happening, b/c the FO knows better than to mortgage the future for 1 player who isn’t even an All-Star PF. Plus even if they could, their are issues with how much salary we can take on.
For next season, I am expecting Tiago to start next to Duncan. Tiago has the athletic ability; he just needs the footwork and NBA experience vs. opposing PFs. By the end of his 2nd year he could very well be good enough to give us a defensive edge in the playoffs. I like those chances better than taking a chance on an inexperienced, unproven player, something the Spurs usually don’t do. I think Tiago has earned some trust by not being afraid to go out and play hard. If Blair was able to start in his 2nd year, why not Tiago?
A backup PF or C., someone like Nazr would be good off the bench to pair with Blair/Bonner.
So when you look at it that way, an improved Tiago and a Nazr, would be improvement at the 2 positions of greatest need. More rest available for Duncan, and length to complement Blair.
I don’t think the Spurs are as far back as most people think. Look at what Dallas did in one year. And the Spurs have a better back court than Dallas.
IMO I don’t think trading Blair, Hill, RJ, Bonner and maybe even TP is mortgageing the future. Blair is not a starter, at best a 10 to 15 min. off the bench big. Hill is a good SG and we are stacked at SG so we can afford to trade him. I like RJ but his contract being big, makes him a trade canidate. I also like Bonner but his contract could also be more desirable to move. Now TP I think will not be moved unless the FO feels we are getting more in return for him in a trade that helps the team now and in the future. I think the FO has to make a trade to secure a good big to be able to compete in the West to go to the finals. IMO trading Tiago and JA would be mortgageing the future.
I just hope Timmy takes the ETO and signs a longer contract for less money. If that happens I think we have a good chance to sign a decent free agent.
That is the Spurs’ reason for getting up in the morning.
Metaphorically speaking, they can sleep when they are dead, and they aren’t dead yet.
I’ve said a few times that this wouldn’t seem to work, and haven’t seen anyone say otherwise. It seems to me that even if Tim were to take only half the money that he is due that it wouldn’t get the Spurs below the cap, it would only save them luxury tax. That wouldn’t help one bit in the ability to sign or trade for anyone other than by the use of exceptions to the cap.
It’s also my understanding that Tim’s last contract he helped the team by giving up some money during what were the upcoming years in exchange for recovering it in later years. Asking him to do that again at this point doesn’t make sense, it would seem to just renege on past promises. If he is asked to play for two more years at the same price that he would get for this year, he’s being told he should play next year for free. If he stretches out the money by stretching out the years he plays, no doubt they’ll be objections by fans that feel he isn’t worth what he is being paid in his final year. I’d say pay him what was already agree to for next season, and then if he wants to pay an additional year or two he could do so while accepting a lower contract.
Carlos Delfino could be GREAT for the spurs if we can get him cheap. His offense comes and goes, and for a guy with that talent level and atlheticism he could be a dangerous player…..but sadly he doesnt have the heart to attack the rim. Still…we dont need that from him. He is a superb defender, and can play the 2 or the 3, and he is a good passer. Just ask Scott Skiles, a guy who only gives 30+ minutes to guys who can really defend.
"Kevin Garnett once described defending Tim Duncan as "trying to guard a tree"
Ha! I must have been tired when I wrote about him. He’s not unrestricted, he’s unguaranteed. I think the Bucks would rather keep him than Moute, but I’d be happy for the Spurs to take either one off their hands.
Time to build a new dynasty from the ashes of the old one.
I would just like to see the following four changes:
1. A solid big to replace McDyess.
2. A back-up point, and move Hill to the 2 and call it a day.
3. A back-up 3.
4. Duncan adding the SKY HOOK to his arsenal. Nobody could defend Kareem’s, and I don’t think anyone could defend it now. Tim could play until he’s forty!
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
Hill at the 2 is more difficult than said. To be honest, Manu should come off the bench. Unless something changes in Hill, him coming off the bench as a scorer, is not going to work. He’s too small to play the 3, and Spurs have Anderson, and potentially two other guys in Green and Butler.
Maybe it’ll make him work harder or maybe it finally gives the Spurs a chance to make him touchable now that they have potential athleticism .
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
Good points. I just feel like we are forcing Hill into the 1 where he is not a natural fit. And none of those guys are really 3s, which is another concern.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
Butler played 3 in college. He’s 6’7 with decent athleticism and was known for his jump shot and defense. Potentially, he could be the other 3.
They tried to make him into a 1, but this past season, they eased up as Pop was trying to get him to be Indiana George. We saw that as must plays with him involved him taking the shot or driving. It was progress, but it wasn’t consistent. It might just be Hill’s personality. Even though Duncan has a similar one, when he was younger, he still knew what he needed to do.
The question for Hill is, how long do we have to wait? He’s in the final year of his current contract so the time is coming soon.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
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