Why not sign Gary Payton?

[whottt]

I was reading where he said the Spurs are interested in him...

You know, he and Barry formed a pretty good backcourt for a couple of years there...they weren't a serious contender for a title because they had no decent bigs...They were just a limited guard oriented transition team...but they were about as good as a team like that could be. They played very well together including beating us in SA the year we won the title(Barry three pointer to win it)...They also kicked our butts any time Duncan was out of the lineup in the 02 playoffs.

This back court, I believe, also swept the Lakers in 2001(with a lot of help from Reuben Patterson)...

You put these two guys in the same back court coming off the bench and they will be capable of holding us in a game against any other teams bench.

I realize GP's best days are behind him, and we do have Beno...but the Glove doesn't get owned by every one likes he does Parker...I think he's still got something to offer a team...remember, he once got a team to the finals as the best player on his team.

So why not sign him?

What if this is why the Spurs haven't signed anyone yet?

Would Ghost die of exstasy?

[timvp]

Hell no. He's washed up. He can't guard a light pole. The only way he's effective is if he has the ball in his hands 75% of the time.

Let Beno grow or slide BBarry over if Beno can't handle it in the playoffs.

[ducks]

no thank you

tells tp they do not have faith in him in playoffs
beno is a great passer and is a good shooter

[CHAMPS AGAIN]

signed him very good addition

[ducks]

also I think gp wants playing time if he has to move
spurs would not have that
suns really do not need him either
there back up point is ok

spurs have to show interst in them for pr reasons but they do not want him

[ducks]

signed him very good addition


for what?
what does he bring that spurs need?

[Kori Ellis]

The Suns are actually very actively after him and have been in contact with his agent quite a bit. Nash's reoccuring hamstring problem has them worried. But I think Payton has already agreed to return to Boston.

[whottt]

tells tp they do not have faith in him in playoffs



Signing a guy that Parker owns is not saying they have no faith in him...trust me, Parker isn't insecure about Payton...infact Payton is one of his favorite players.

[ducks]

cuban is looking smarter letting nash walk
I thought nash would last 3 years not one

[whottt]

for what?
what does he bring that spurs need?


Experience...and a guy who wants to win.

I admit I am a little nervous about it...he is kind of a choker. But I still think he has something to offer...he also probably has a few tricks he could teach Parker and Beno.

[dcole50]

cuban is looking smarter letting nash walk
I thought nash would last 3 years not one
yeah, letting that mvp candidate go was brilliant. guy has missed a couple of games ... how does that negate how he has turned around that franchise?

[ducks]

did nash get hurt last year?
his age is catching up with him
he is the mvp this year
but get with the suns in 3-4 years when nash is hurtor like gp now and is making all that money

[whottt]

The Suns are actually very actively after him and have been in contact with his agent quite a bit. Nash's reoccuring hamstring problem has them worried. But I think Payton has already agreed to return to Boston.


That's what Boston thinks...but why hasn't he resigned? I don't think Payton was expecting this much interest in his services.

This guy wants a ring bad. I don't think it's a done deal that he is going back to Boston.

[SequSpur]

Beno sucks. Come on. Wake up. Lets put our Parker rest in the hands of a rookie Slovenian.

Yeah right.

[Kori Ellis]

That's what Boston thinks...but why hasn't he resigned? I don't think Payton was expecting this much interest in his services.

He was just waived this afternoon, no one has had a chance to sign him yet.

It might not be a done deal yet, but by the words of his agent yesterday, it seemed that's where he was heading.

[milkyway21]

let him go to Boston. i don't want him to sign w/ Phoenix.

[Rummpd]

Simple because Beno is a better player right now, no need for change please.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Screw that. I could play better D than Gary can, he's sloooooooooooow. If you're gonna sign him Pop, give me a call.

PS - I can work on the FT shooting with the team too ;)

[baseline bum]

http://www.nba.com/media/finals2004/billups_mvp_200.jpg

You do realize which team the Spurs will meet up with if they come out of the West, right? GP had Steve Smith-esque performance against Billups.

[CHAMPS AGAIN]

Screw that. I could play better D than Gary can, he's sloooooooooooow. If you're gonna sign him Pop, give me a call.

PS - I can work on the FT shooting with the team too ;)

Funny,that is why you are here making daily post instead of playing in the NBA.Oh yea you an NBA player :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant
play better D than Gary funny :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[Que Gee]

The guy is a cancer...no one can stand playing with him.

[Brodels]

I'm not big on what he brings to the table at this point in his career. I personally feel that the Spurs wouldn't be any better off with him.

The thought of him going to Phoenix or another good team makes me nervous though. I hope he re-signs with Boston.

[Que Gee]

I'd love it if he went to Phoenix...have him go in there and spoil someone elses Mojo...not ours.

[tekdragon]

I thought this was a good idea

...two years ago. Then he and Karl signed with the Lakers and that whole debacle proved two things to me:

1. Karl Malone is a true professional
2. Gary Payton is a little bitch.

He fit right in with the Lakers. He and Kobe were made for each other.

Pass...

[waly.mg]

Payton NO, please sign Malone but no Payton

[Spurminator]

I don't think there's any way he signs on for a backup role. Anywhere. Particularly backing up the 21-year old who made a fool out of him in last year's Playoffs.

He'll be back in green.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't think there's any way he signs on for a backup role. Anywhere. Particularly backing up the 21-year old who made a fool out of him in last year's Playoffs.

True. Besides, coming to a real contender would put pressure on Payton to perform. I've always thought that Gary Payton shrivels up and goes away anytime he's faced actual pressure to perform over the course of his career. I'd pass.

[bigbendbruisebrother]

2. Gary Payton is a little bitch.

Pass...

So true. And a worn out one at that.

[smeagol]

Beno sucks. Come on. Wake up. Lets put our Parker rest in the hands of a rookie Slovenian..
Beno does not suck.

The fact he is from Slovenia has nothing to do with the way he plays, shorty.

[Experiment2100]

I agree with the guy who said let him go to Pho. if they want him. I doubt he will help them there

[wildbill2u]

The guy is a cancer...no one can stand playing with him.

I suppose he'd be better than Wilks by a bunch and offer some vet experience that Beno doesn't--but would he be willing to come off the bench? Wasn't he a chronic bitcher at the end in Seattle over playing time and coaching as well as LA.

[whottt]

Not that I am on a crusade to sign Payton or anything...but as you guys throw the dirt on his grave...

Try to remember he was on the team that eliminated us last season, inspite of the mismatch

Try to remember what happened to Tony in the last 4 games of that series.

Yes Payton had help...and yes Parker was shut down once he got it.

That Laker team beat us because of their experience.

And inspite of a total mismatch...through grit and experience he and his team were able to do the improbable...Come back and win 4 straight against us.

He maybe not be able to defend a guy like Parker 1 on 1, but he can play D in a team setting.

The guy has experience that could help this team in the playoffs.

And he and Barry play very very well together.

[Slo spurs fan]

Beno does not suck.

The fact he is from Slovenia has nothing to do with the way he plays, shorty.

Don't feed troll!!!

[rascal]

The spurs are solid at pg but they could use a sf who can score.

Glenn Robinson has been waived from NO. He would add some needed scoring from the sf position. Of course if he is healthy. The spurs should look at him and if he is healthy pick him up.

[FromWayDowntown]

Not that I am on a crusade to sign Payton or anything...but as you guys throw the dirt on his grave...

Try to remember he was on the team that eliminated us last season, inspite of the mismatch

Try to remember what happened to Tony in the last 4 games of that series.

Yes Payton had help...and yes Parker was shut down once he got it.

And for me, that's basically the point. Even if it was realistic to think that Payton would consider SA (and for a number of reasons, I doubt he would) I was underwhelmed by his play and effort in the playoffs last season. Yes, LA succeeded in shutting down Parker, but they did so only after giving Payton extensive help by clogging the lane and deterring Tony's efforts to penetrate. That Payton couldn't accomplish that on his own speaks volumes about how much of his defensive prowess is just reputation anymore.

As importantly, Payton could do nothing offensively against Parker, who, by most accounts, was not in the great or even the really good categories among defenders.


That Laker team beat us because of their experience.

And inspite of a total mismatch...through grit and experience he and his team were able to do the improbable...Come back and win 4 straight against us.

He maybe not be able to defend a guy like Parker 1 on 1, but he can play D in a team setting.

I disagree. He can appear to play D when the rest of his team is dedicated to shutting down his man. Left to his own devices, though, Payton is a shell of what he once was and has virtually no chance of providing anything other than token pressure against high quality PG.



And he and Barry play very very well together.

I can see your point here -- that is, I can see your point if Popovich ever played Barry for any significant and consistent stretches of time. It doesn't make sense to me to bring a fading vet with marginal athleticism just to pair him with a part-time bench player for a few minutes here and there.

[whottt]

And for me, that's basically the point. Even if it was realistic to think that Payton would consider SA (and for a number of reasons, I doubt he would) I was underwhelmed by his play and effort in the playoffs last season. Yes, LA succeeded in shutting down Parker, but they did so only after giving Payton extensive help by clogging the lane and deterring Tony's efforts to penetrate. That Payton couldn't accomplish that on his own speaks volumes about how much of his defensive prowess is just reputation anymore.

As importantly, Payton could do nothing offensively against Parker, who, by most accounts, was not in the great or even the really good categories among defenders.

There's a short list of guys that can stop Parker, and I'll disagree about Parker's defensive ability last season as well....He was a solid defender last season.

Sure, Payton can't handle Parker...how many guys can? Parker is the fastest PG in the NBA.

Payton can still guard PG's whose game isn't based on quickness.

If you are gonna judge him by not being able to guard Parker...get ready to make out a long list.


And more importantly...on offense Payton can still post up any PG in the NBA.

Now that's not a big asset with Duncan on the court...but we are talking about using him as a reserve...I think Payton, even now, is more of a post up presence than any other player on our team.



I disagree. He can appear to play D when the rest of his team is dedicated to shutting down his man. Left to his own devices, though, Payton is a shell of what he once was and has virtually no chance of providing anything other than token pressure against high quality PG.

He can play D last season when the rest of the team is dedicated to shutting Tony Parker. Tony Parker...not just typical NBA PG.

The reason Payton cannot guard Parker is because of Parker's speed.




I can see your point here -- that is, I can see your point if Popovich ever played Barry for any significant and consistent stretches of time. It doesn't make sense to me to bring a fading vet with marginal athleticism just to pair him with a part-time bench player for a few minutes here and there.

I am talking about using that back court when Duncan is resting...you can have a back court capable of dominating another teams bench with their mastery of the transition game and Payton's still good ability to post up in the half court.

As someone said earlier...Payton has to dominate the ball...well that's not such a bad option with Duncan on the bench. Our bench has sucked lately.

It's not like we have to use it...but it'd be a nice option to have.

I don't see how anyone could argue that this would hurt our team.

On top of that...the one thing I have always loved about Payton...he is a competitor, that guy hates losing more thany any player in the NBA. It wouldn't be so bad having guy like on our team...

People say he might be a cancer...no more than Jack was, because they essentially have the same attitude.

If he is signed with the knowledge he will be a reserve...I don't think his usual problems with a lack of PT are going to be an issue.

[iminlakerland]

Spurs dont do it...TRUST ME

[T Park]

Glenn Robinson

That freakin stiff?!?!?! yeah a real team player there.


STFU Rascal, you wouldn't know a player that would fit in here if he walked up and slapped you in your face.