(Thanks to PtR member spurfan81 for the heads up.)
The Charlotte Observer is reporting the Spurs and Bobcats are in the final stages of a trade.
Spurs receive: Melvin Ely
Spurs give up: Eric Williams, a 2009 second round draft pick and cash considerations
Let's first look at what the Spurs are "losing."
-Eric Williams: A 34 year old expiring contract that fit very well into the Spurs theme of "Old and Slow." Played about 5 meaningful minutes all year.
-2009 second round draft pick: Well crap. There's goes the chance to draft some 17 year old 6'-9" 175 pound Eastern European who averaged 3 and 2 in Herzegovenia's premier league.
-Cash considerations: Williams' remaining salary is about $1.7 million. Ely's is about $1.3 million. So the Spurs probably through a couple hundred thousand at Charlotte. Who cares? It's not our money.
So who have we acquired?
Melvin Ely: He turns 29 in May and is signed only through the end of this season. He's listed as 6'-10" and 260 pounds and had his playing time cut significantly this year (to the point of requesting a trade).
The Spurs have had trouble rebounding of late and Pop has played the "soft" card. Ely isn't much of a rebounder (and that's being kind), never reaching 10 REB/48 MIN. (To give you an idea, Oberto, not exactly a demon on the glass, is at 12.5 REB/48 MIN this year.) Is he "hard?"
Well, he has noticeable biceps and at least one tattoo; these are good signs. And apparently he can play with his eyes closed, which may come in handy if nuclear war forces the Spurs to play in underground caves.
It's hard to have concrete feelings about a trade when all you give up is an expiring contract and a future 2nd round pick. The Spurs biggest need is an athletic, defensive minded 2/3, but was there that type of player available? Who knows?
Pop now has another body to throw out there when Fabri is getting pushed around and Elson is playing defense like he's a 4 year old lost at the playground. And look at it this way, there's now one less guy standing between James White and an NBA court.