Tony Parker was the worst of the Big 3. Should he be traded?

[Cane]

All of the Big 3 declined.

But none as much as Tony Parker. He went from being a top 3 PG and in the top 10 PER to not even making it the top 50 PER this year for the regular season. Tim Duncan finished 5th overall and Ginobili finished 12th in the regular season. For the playoffs, Tim Duncan was 25th and Ginobili, 15th. Parker finished at no. 43. Parker was 2nd last year in playoffs PER and Duncan was 4th in that short series against the Mavs.

Yes, he's had injuries but its not like Duncan isn't dealing with a degenerative knee condition or that Manu's nose wasn't broken. But Parker also had the most difficulty of the big 3 trying to incorporate the new players and unlike Manu...he's likely going to play for France to make things worse for this injury plagued core. Manu has shown the capability of running the team with Parker out and the best wins of the regular season came when Parker was sidelined.

Reasons for trading Parker:

1. Most valuable trading asset the Spurs have outside of RJ and Tiago's rights

2. Parker's not a leader even though he's the PG. Spurs have won against the top teams without him and Manu has really taken the role of being a vocal leader and helping guys like Blair fit into the Spurs.

3. Parker will likely play for France this summer while Manu rests. Next year is going to be one of the best shots the Spurs have with a rested Manu and Tim. Parker is far from healthy and far from what he used to be athletically yet he's going to get even more wear and tear.

4. Declined mightily. Didn't even finish the regular season as a top 50 player in PER which he used to finish in the top 10. Manu still finished 11th in his injury shortened season last year. Doesn't have the intangibles that Manu and Duncan have either to make up for the lack of boxscore stats.

EDIT:

5. This will be the biggest offseason in recent NBA history. Teams are going to be losing their star players and needing to revamp their rosters so there will likely be opportunities to gamble on.

Of course there has to be a deal worth a damn.

[Bruno]

Half hater, half clueless.

[Spurologist]

[Kori Ellis]

Did Parker tell you he's playing for France this summer?

And I guess you don't really get how injured Parker was this year.

[Cane]

The number don't lie, he's fallen off dramatically and easily the worst of the Spurs big 3.

If he plays for France this summer that only makes trading a better option if the Spurs want to utilize the short window that Manu and Tim have left. Parker's said he'd like to play and he's going to show up for training camp in a month or two from that recent interview posted.

[Muser]

N
o
.

[Snik]

Worst of the big three? He was the finals MVP the last time we won it all. He's the only piece of the big three that has some really good years left in him. If he will quit playing all year round like he has been, he'll be very very good for quite a few years to come.

[Muser]

But let's explore this, who the hell do you think the Spurs could get for Tony that could put them back into title contention?

[Kori Ellis]

The number don't lie, he's fallen off dramatically and easily the worst of the Spurs big 3.

If he plays for France this summer that only makes trading a better option if the Spurs want to utilize the short window that Manu and Tim have left. Parker's said he'd like to play and he's going to show up for training camp in a month or two from that recent interview posted.

Oh he definitely fell off the most. But he was also injured for about 90% of the season.

Did you want to trade Manu last summer because he was injured too?

[AmatureNIGHT]

All of the Big 3 declined.

But none as much as Tony Parker. He went from being a top 3 PG and in the top 10 PER to not even making it the top 50 PER this year for the regular season. Tim Duncan finished 5th overall and Ginobili finished 12th in the regular season. For the playoffs, Tim Duncan was 25th and Ginobili, 15th. Parker finished at no. 43. Parker was 2nd last year in playoffs PER and Duncan was 4th in that short series against the Mavs.

Yes, he's had injuries but its not like Duncan isn't dealing with a degenerative knee condition or that Manu's nose wasn't broken. But Parker also had the most difficulty of the big 3 trying to incorporate the new players and unlike Manu...he's likely going to play for France to make things worse for this injury plagued core. Manu has shown the capability of running the team with Parker out and the best wins of the regular season came when Parker was sidelined.

Reasons for trading Parker:

1. Most valuable trading asset the Spurs have outside of RJ and Tiago's rights

2. Parker's not a leader even though he's the PG. Spurs have won against the top teams without him and Manu has really taken the role of being a vocal leader and helping guys like Blair fit into the Spurs.

3. Parker will likely play for France this summer while Manu rests. Next year is going to be one of the best shots the Spurs have with a rested Manu and Tim. Parker is far from healthy and far from what he used to be athletically yet he's going to get even more wear and tear.

4. Declined mightily. Didn't even finish the regular season as a top 50 player in PER which he used to finish in the top 10. Manu still finished 11th in his injury shortened season last year. Doesn't have the intangibles that Manu and Duncan have either to make up for the lack of boxscore stats.

Of course there has to be a deal worth a damn.

Tony was the only player who showed any heart for you guys in game 7. Trying to make plays and go to the rim relentlessly to will your team to victory. Meanwhile, Duncan was a shell of his former self (being held in check by Amudson and Channing effing Frye) and Emanuel once again proved ineffective to be the play maker he once was... and get to the rim.

You've got to be kidding me... he is the only one with anything left in his tank out of the long gone "BIG 3".

[Cane]

Oh he definitely fell off the most. But he was also injured for about 90% of the season.

Did you want to trade Manu last summer because he was injured too?

I don't remember; did Manu play for Argentina last summer? If Parker wants to be on good terms with the FO then he won't play for France this summer especially with the season and injuries he's unfortunately had.

In any case, Manu is basically a Spur until his contract ends given his extension. He was the Spur that really saved the 2nd half of the season and was the catalyst that the Spurs even made it to the playoffs.

[silverblk mystix]

I think you got it all backwards.

Parker has the MOST mileage of the big 3 left in the tank.

Keep the big 3 intact---minimize TD & Manu's minutes---develop a deep bench.

[Cane]

He's also the least likely Spur to finish his career here and has the best contract of the Big 3 to move.

[kace]

he was as good as the others 2 members of the big 3 when it counted the most: in the PO.

considering the season he had with all his injuries, the last one only allowing him to come back just before the PO, that tells a lot about his level.

[Cane]

he was as good as the others 2 members of the big 3 when it counted the most: in the PO.

considering the season he had with all his injuries, the last one only allowing him to come back just before the PO, that tells a lot about his level.

From a PER standpoint, Tony Parker was the worst of the Big 3 in the playoffs and regular season. He finished at no. 43 whereas Duncan finished at no.25 and Manu at the 15th spot in the playoffs. Manu and Tim finished in the top 12 in the regular season; Parker didn't even make the top 50.

[sa_butta]

I think you got it all backwards.

Parker has the MOST mileage of the big 3 left in the tank.

Keep the big 3 intact---minimize TD & Manu's minutes---develop a deep bench.

I agree and while I did see a decline on his points in the paint from last year he was slowed down due to injury... But at the same time I think he has really come along with his shot and he is still one of the quickest on the team. Duncan and Ginobili have lost alot more steam than Parker.

[Dex]

[beachwood]

I hope TP makes up his mind very soon about playing this summer. If he does, it's a pretty much forgone conclusion he won't perform any better than this year. His drop off this year was pretty astounding. He's definitely not a top 5 PG anymore. But he's still good.

I think people speculating on a TP trade, for the most part, aren't suggesting that TP sucks. But that the FO will look for options to use TP to return pieces that make the team better. What if the Spurs could get two or three good pieces in return for one Tony Parker? It's going to be an interesting summer.

And what if the only way to get rid of RJ is to package someone like TP along with him, does the FO pull the trigger on that if it would return significant players?

[RiverwalkParade]

But let's explore this, who the hell do you think the Spurs could get for Tony that could put them back into title contention?

This is the big question.

Who are the buyers on this market? If we are going to trade TP, I think he is packaged with RJ and goes to a team that just lost a big name free agent i.e. Cleveland, Miami, Toronto, Atlanta...

Why those teams? That way they can clear cap space for next years FA market and be heavy hitters while the other big boys spend their money this year.

[kace]

From a PER standpoint, Tony Parker was the worst of the Big 3 in the playoffs and regular season. He finished at no. 43 whereas Duncan finished at no.25 and Manu at the 15th spot in the playoffs. Manu and Tim finished in the top 12 in the regular season; Parker didn't even make the top 50.

i saw the games. PER has always been tim's and manu's game friendly. not really for TP's game, even in his best year.
I didn't expect Tony to be at this level. like many of us i guess. You can't tell there was a big difference in the big 3 production. None of them sucked, none of them dominated.

Tim isn't anymore the inside force he was. He's still one of the very best bigs but not as dominant.

Manu wasn't able to dominate like he did in the last part of the RS and like a lot of you in ST expected. Supermanu wasn't here.

I would say that they were almost equal, and from what was expected from them considering their season (health, injuries, rythm.....), tony was a rather good surprise in those PO whereas Tim and Manu kind of disapointed.

There's no way you can imagine that tony won't be as good if not the best of the big 3 next year, if all of them are healthy.

now, i would understand if the FO tried a different road and trade TP, even if i don't think that would be the smartest choice, even in rebuilding mode.

[Kermit]

I hope Tony plays this summer, if only to see the massive explosion of heads.

[smeagol]

Lets trade Parker and Manu and get it over with . . .

[Cane]

Yea its really up to Parker and playing for France this summer. I just can't see how getting even more miles in his condition will help the Spurs especially since Manu will be resting. Parker wasn't even a top 40 player in PER for the playoffs and didn't make it to the top 50 PER in the regular season which is just staggering for a guy like Parker; Parker's best asset was his offensive efficiency since thats what made the Spurs work since 2007.

However it might be hard to ignore Manu's impact while Parker was sidelined since that stretch was the Spurs most impressive and saved the season in terms of making the playoffs. And in this world of Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol trades; all teams are probably pretty active in talks.

[Kori Ellis]

So, you should wait a week or two until Parker announces he's not playing for France before you trade him for scraps.

[Truckules]

Lets trade Parker and Manu and get it over with . . .

Fuck it, let's just trade the whole team. The Spurs' entire roster for Phoenix' entire roster. I think that would make some of these posters happy.

[Mal]

Spurs need big to help Duncan (Splitter is OK)

Young athletic wing with 3 point range from draft. Robinson, George (dont know about their 3 point range)

Some veteran with 3 point range and decent D. Raja Bell anyone ?

Pop to trust youngs in regular. Blair, Hill, Temle, 2 draft picks, Splitter need to see plenty of minutes to improve their game, and rest Duncan, Gino as long as it possible.

[Cane]

So, you should wait a week or two until Parker announces he's not playing for France before you trade him for scraps.

It might be a non-issue but Parker's indecisiveness just isn't good for a Spurs fan. Why dangle this issue when he's had the sharpest dropoff of any of the Spurs big 3 especially when it comes to PER. Considering his health, decline in athleticism, and letting the team down with his performance...should be an easy enough decision if he wants to be on good terms with the Spurs and to chase another

[TheChillFactor]

He's also the least likely Spur to finish his career here and has the best contract of the Big 3 to move.

trade him because he's the most likely to leave....hmmmm.....does not compute....

[Kori Ellis]

It might be a non-issue but Parker's indecisiveness just isn't good for a Spurs fan. Why dangle this issue when he's had the sharpest dropoff of any of the Spurs big 3 especially when it comes to PER. Considering his health, decline in athleticism, and letting the team down with his performance...should be an easy enough decision if he wants to be on good terms with the Spurs and to chase another

I believe he said he's meeting with the team (Spurs) about it next week, talking about extension, etc. So, should we give him a call and tell him Cane doesn't think that's soon enough?

Parker was injured all year. You can't really keep comparing his PER numbers to Manu/Tim to try to prove something.

And just FYI, PER isn't the end all. If it is, then Nazr Mohammed is better than Rajon Rondo, among other things.

[ElNono]

I think looking what you could fetch for him is the sensible thing to do. I'm sure they did the same with Manu before the last trade deadline. That said, I don't think you'll get equal value in return. I really think the Spurs will only entertain offers if they figure they can't offer an extension to retain him past next season.