is Tolliver's time up?

[45 bank shot]

He didn't get much playtime in da last few games n personally i think that Pop favour bonner over him rite now.
Is he gonna be waived?

[T Park]

Doutbfull.

[exstatic]

If KT's jumper can come around, so can Tolliver's.

[T Park]

I think Tolliver lately has just been caught up in a numbers game where Bonner has just been playing fantastic basketball, and the minutes for him just aren't there. I think had Kurt THomas not had the game he did last night, he would've gotten alot of minutes last night as well.

[dbestpro]

Tolliver is right where he needs to be. A developing player at the end of the bench. If you waived him what would you place there instead? Another developing player? Hairston and Williams are where they need to be in the NBDL to grow their games.
When the players in front of him start to slack Pop will bring him in for the energy. The only thing we are missing now is an energetic inside big. Before any choices are made they will attempt to fill this role with Ian.

[Russ]

Tolliver>>>>>Hairston

[Darkwaters]

Tolliver is young and has shown some good things. If Ian comes back and cracks the rotation (or at least the active list) then it likely means that Tolliver is IRed. At that point you can either ship him to Austin for minutes or let him hang around SA and continue to practice with the team.

Hes shown he can contribute during games. But when his shot isn't falling (and Bonner's is) he just doesn't have much of a role. I think you keep him around regardless though and make the keep/waive call next season.

[pad300]

Question: Can Tolliver go to the D-league? This might be the key to if he stays or goes... Consider, we can only dress 12 (of 15 roster spots) every night. Currently the 3 non-dressers are Tony (injury), Mahinmi (D-league), and (as of the Chicago game last night) Ahearn. When Mahinmi is healthy, it seems exceedingly likely he will get a shot in the big leagues (ie. he will dress), and to avoid unbalancing the roster too much, he will take one of the big slots in the current 12 active players (Current bigs: TD, Oberto, KT, Bonner, Tolliver, or stretching the definition a heck of a lot, Udoka - our small ball PF). If Tolliver can play in the D-league for development, I think he is likely to stay and be assigned to Austin, together with Ahearn, unless of course there are further injuries. However, if Tolliver has played to much in the D-league already to be so assigned, I can't see us keeping him around to wear a suit. We already have Jaques Vaughn for that...I think the FO would rather go with a player that they can send to Austin to stay in condition and learn the system...

[Darkwaters]

I'm almost positive Tolliver can be assigned to Austin. Last year was his first year out of Creighton. Meaning even if he had played a full season with some NBA team he'd still be elligible all this year. But I'm not sure if he did play any NBA regular season games. If thats the case then he has this year and next to be all he can be in Toro land.

[T Park]

Tolliver>>>>>Hairston

?

Yeah because Hairston has gotten such a great chance in regular season minutes to prove that.

Tolliver, from what I've watched, has stunk out loud.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Yea, I think so.

[mabrignani]

tolliver is garbage, you see him get blocked at the end of the quarter and have his ass bailed out by kt

[ChumpDumper]

Tolliver can be sent to Austin this season and the next.

In fact, that may well be the plan once Ian comes back.

[itzsoweezee]

bonner is playing better. that's all there is to it. i'd like to see him get some time in a blowout though.

[024]

i'm pretty sure tolliver will be sent to the d-league as he doesn't seem to be quite ready. he has to rediscover his shot and learn how to play big in the nba.

[AFBlue]

With how inconsistent every frontcourt player has looked, I don't think the Spurs can afford to waive Tolliver. He's on a partially guaranteed two-year deal that is basically worth nothing at this point.

Spurs can afford to use that depth to their advantage and keep multiple options available in case someone struggles or is injured.

[AFBlue]

Now if Gist comes over next year, they'll definitely be looking to push someone out the door...but for now I'd say his job is safe.

[exstatic]

Tolliver can be sent to Austin this season and the next.

In fact, that may well be the plan once Ian comes back.

Hasn't he played one NBA/d-league season already? I thought the limit on seasons when they can be assigned was two seasons...

[ChumpDumper]

Hasn't he played one NBA/d-league season already? I thought the limit on seasons when they can be assigned was two seasons...I don't recall his ever being signed to an NBA team past training camp. I believe he joined the D-League as a free agent.

[exstatic]

I don't recall his ever being signed to an NBA team past training camp. I believe he joined the D-League as a free agent.

You're probably right. I was thinking he was sent down, but he was probably just cut at the end of camp.

[timvp]

:lol Not every player on the roster can play. There have to be end of the bench players, which Tolliver is right now. And Pop still uses him when he needs a mobile big out on the court. I don't see any reason to waive Tolliver.

The revolving door is the 15th spot with Ahearn.

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, once Parker is back and the D-League season gets into gear, I'm all for auditioning swingmen like last season. There are a couple of taller ones that might be able to do something here.

[SpurSupremacist]

Stick a fork in him. Duncan, Oberto, Bonner, Thomas is the rotation.

[mrspurs]

:lol Not every player on the roster can play. There have to be end of the bench players, which Tolliver is right now. And Pop still uses him when he needs a mobile big out on the court. I don't see any reason to waive Tolliver.

The revolving door is the 15th spot with Ahearn.

100% agreed. We need all the bigs we have. We can easily replace Ahearn. To be honest I dont have a clue why he's on our roster. We have enough smalls on this roster. Wonder if someone could explain to me why we dont have someone else besides this kid. Hes not NBA material and we could use someone big. You know like Ian. But even if it isnt Ian why not anyone but Ahearn? He related to someone in the FO?

[ChumpDumper]

100% agreed. We need all the bigs we have. We can easily replace Ahearn. To be honest I dont have a clue why he's on our roster. We have enough smalls on this roster. Wonder if someone could explain to me why we dont have someone else besides this kid. Hes not NBA material and we could use someone big. You know like Ian. But even if it isnt Ian why not anyone but Ahearn? He related to someone in the FO?The 15th spot is for auditions, and right now the Spurs are short one point guard. Ahearn is as good as any D-League point guard prospect.

[barbacoataco]

Agreed. Ahearn could be gone once Parker is back. He is there in case Vaughn or Hill gets hurt.

[Bruno]

IMO, Spurs will closely look at D-Legaue. If a big plays well there, Spurs will cut Tolliver to sign him.

Even if no bigs shine in the D-League, Tolliver will have a hard time making the team past January 10th when contracts becomes guaranteed. I think he needs to show more things.

[The Truth #6]

I'm very curious about the details of Tolliver's contract: what are its provisions and when does it become guaranteed? And to take it the next step - if it becomes guaranteed, then how does that affect our ability to bring in other players? I like Tolliver okay but not enough to sign him to a guaranteed two year deal if that means we can't add Gist next season. I"m not sure if that's the case at all but I can't recall all the expiring contracts at the moment.

Right now I'd rather have Gist then Tolliver. Obviously that's not going to happen but I don't want to keep an undersized power forward who can't rebound and may not actually be a good shooter. We need rebounding more than anything from our bigs, which is why, in my opinion, Tolliver is glued to the bench.

(Off topic, but I actually like the idea of Ahearn as our 3rd string PG behind Tony and Hill. Unfortunately, there's that whole JV situation. We seem to do be doing well with Mason and Hill running the point. We'll do even better when Parker returns. I don't see where JV fits into the rotation. Ahearn looks to be a great shooter which is a quantifiable skill we could use. He also looks to be a decent passer, which is also a good thing.)

Edit: Oops, didn't see the January 10 deadline from the previous post.

[Bruno]

Only $200K of Tolliver contract is guaranteed now. The is to say his salary until mid December.
Spurs have no financial incentives waiving him before that.
If they don't waive him before January 10th, the first year of his contract is fully guaranteed.

The second year of his contract is fully unguaranteed until July 1st, $25K guaranteed until August 7th, $200K guaranteed after that. As every contract, it will becomes fully guaranteed if he isn't waived before January 10th 2010.

[ChumpDumper]

If Ian works out and Oberto and Thomas round into form, there won't be much need to find another big man. In that case, sending Tolliver down to develop him while rotating prospects through spot 15 seems like a decent enough idea. All bets are off if the Spurs' big men continue to underperform.

[angelbelow]

tolliver has potential. hes shown that hes a smart player so far and one who loves to hustle but he needs to work that shot whether its the 3 or inside. the only thing that bonner does better right now is shooting AND hitting. tolliver appears to be better in everything else so pop is probably waiting for that to come around. sending him to the dleague wouldnt be so bad either.

[timvp]

If Ian works out and Oberto and Thomas round into form, there won't be much need to find another big man. In that case, sending Tolliver down to develop him while rotating prospects through spot 15 seems like a decent enough idea. All bets are off if the Spurs' big men continue to underperform.Agreed.

BTW, there isn't anything from the Spurs sending Ahearn to Austin, right? I know he was with Dakota but unless the D-League closed another loophole, he should be eligible for the Toros.

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, Ahearn can be sent down this season. That would be great for the Toros since the point guard position outside of of Squeaky Johnson looks to be in disarray.

[timvp]

With Vaughn being a FA after this season, using the 15th spot to groom an eventual third point guard isn't a horrible idea. If Ahearn has been impressive in practice, I could see him sticking around while the Spurs keep an eye out for a better prospect.

[wijayas]

Tolliver is alright.
Pop is showcasing Matt Bonner to develop the League's interests a la Malik Rose.

[ChumpDumper]

With Vaughn being a FA after this season, using the 15th spot to groom an eventual third point guard isn't a horrible idea. If Ahearn has been impressive in practice, I could see him sticking around while the Spurs keep an eye out for a better prospect.True enough, though with the relative success this team has had with Manu and Mason playing the point, it could be ok to expand the search to decent handling bigger guards like Coby Karl, Dontell Jefferson or Cedric Bozeman. Like you said, there is plenty of time to see how Ahearn and the others are playing. Six games tomorrow!

[timvp]

Six games tomorrow!You going to the game?

[ChumpDumper]

Oh yes. Breaking out the old school teal shooting shirt for the season opener. Take that, T Park!

[Spurs Brazil]

IMO, Spurs will closely look at D-Legaue. If a big plays well there, Spurs will cut Tolliver to sign him.

Even if no bigs shine in the D-League, Tolliver will have a hard time making the team past January 10th when contracts becomes guaranteed. I think he needs to show more things.

Agree, so far he doesn't show NBA level.

[mrspurs]

With how inconsistent every frontcourt player has looked, I don't think the Spurs can afford to waive Tolliver. He's on a partially guaranteed two-year deal that is basically worth nothing at this point.

Spurs can afford to use that depth to their advantage and keep multiple options available in case someone struggles or is injured.

this makes more sense then any of the others I read.

[manufor3]

Hairston>>>>>Tolliver

fixed

[gospursgojas]

Tolliver is a D-league Lifer