Monroe: Duncan Intrigued By Talk Of Big Four

[duncan228]

Duncan intrigued by talk of Big Four (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Duncan_intrigued_by_talk_of_Big_Four.html)
Mike Monroe

PHOENIX — Just as he usually does after games at US Airways Center, Spurs forward Tim Duncan walked toward the winning locker room Sunday afternoon, ice bags on knees that he admits ache after every game.

Another All-Star Game behind him, Duncan headed for the final 31 games of the regular season wondering how the Spurs’ roster will be shaped for the stretch run.

The trade deadline will come and go Thursday. Some of Duncan’s teammates might go with it if another star comes to join him in his quest for a fifth championship ring.

All weekend, Duncan had heard the talk about a four-for-one Spurs swap with New Jersey that would land Vince Carter. The Nets forward is still enough of a star that his presence on the Eastern Conference All-Star roster Sunday would have been no miscarriage of basketball justice, and Duncan knows it.

What Duncan had not heard, as of Sunday night, was Gregg Popovich’s voice.

Duncan has earned consultation rights when the Spurs consider major moves. Popovich jokes that his star pivot man is the de facto boss of all things Spurs. But he is serious about sharing important decisions with the team’s most important player.

“Pop comes to me with some stuff, but not everything,” Duncan said. “I don’t even know if that (proposed deal) is something of truth. I don’t know anything about it, honestly, so I don’t know what it means.”

Duncan says he would love to have Carter as a teammate, and why not? At age 32, Carter remains one of the NBA’s most productive small forwards, averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

Duncan hedges when the price for Carter reportedly includes Roger Mason Jr., Bruce Bowen, George Hill and Fabricio Oberto.

“I’d hate to see that many guys go,” Duncan said after an All-Star appearance he enjoyed, largely because of its brevity.

If general manager R.C. Buford can find a way to get Carter from the Nets without including so many rotation players — a Robert Horry sign-and-trade could be part of such a solution — it is easy to imagine Duncan giving such a deal the blessing Popovich likely would seek.

Know this: Duncan may hate the thought of four Spurs going to New Jersey to get Carter, but legitimate Western Conference title contenders are panicked at the thought of Carter teaming up with Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Duncan structured the contract extension he signed before the 2007-08 season to give the Spurs some salary cap flexibility in the talent-rich summer of 2010. He gave up about $3.3 million that season.

Carter will make $17.5 million in 2010-11, and that means the Spurs would have roughly $50 million tied up in three players: Duncan, Parker and Carter.

Manu Ginobili, an unrestricted free agent, would still have to be re-signed after making $10.7 million next season, meaning the Spurs would have limited resources to fill out their roster without becoming luxury tax payers.

In effect, Carter would be the free agent Duncan’s magnanimity enabled.

“The point of my deal was to try and get a high-caliber free agent in that year,” Duncan said. “I tried to clear some cap space so we could use it.”

Carter, even at age 32, still qualifies as a high-caliber use of such flexibility. Knowing teams that seek to leapfrog the Spurs on their way to the top of the West are losing sleep counting the ways Carter, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili could cause them nightmares is reason enough for Duncan to rest easy.

[timvp]

:smchode:

These are time I really wish Ludden were still here.

[tp2021]

The Carter discussions continue...I just have a feeling this deadline won't be quite like years past...



Just as he usually does after games at US Airways Center, Spurs forward Tim Duncan walked toward the winning locker room Sunday afternoon:lmao

[itzsoweezee]

i'm absolutely certain carter does not qualify as "a high-caliber use of such flexibility". the guy is way overpaid.

[phyzik]

No WAY we get carter, its a fucking smoke screen for Sheed! :lol

Forget that shit, there is just no way we can afford carter. It just doesnt make sence at all. Sheed is more achievable than Carter and makes more sense contract and "need" wise.

[Chief]

we don't need a shooter, we have manu

we need a big man who can provide an interior presence. kurt's weird ass eyes aren't enough.

giving up roger mason jr and hill, hell no

[sammy]

Spurs are up to something and are using Vince Carter as a smokescreen! I would love Rasheed Wallace but I don't know if that will happen! I don't mind giving up Bonner, Udoka, Fab, Vaughn and Finley for Rasheed!

[sammy]

[QUOTE=Chief;3116295]we don't need a shooter, we have manu

kurt's weird ass eyes aren't enough.

LMAO!:lol

[024]

PHOENIX — Just as he usually does after games at US Airways Center, Spurs forward Tim Duncan walked toward the winning locker room Sunday afternoon, ice bags on knees that he admits ache after every game.
i'm more concerned about this part.

[Manufan909]

Smokescreen for Chandler!!! Make it happen, RC.

[Thompson]

If we're not also including Splitter and maybe Golden State's 2nd rounder for Brook Lopez (and most here seem to think that's impossible) I'd rather not give up all that for Carter alone.

[Duncan2177]

I have a good feeling about this. :downspin:

[024]

yes, spurs need to get brook lopez. he would thrive under duncan and the spurs. i watched him play during the rookie-soph game and he was probably the best performing rookie next to beasley. if nurtured correctly, he can become like duncan. i would definitely give up bonner + second rounder/splitter for him.

[duncan228]

i'm more concerned about this part.

It's been going on a while, it came up again in a Buck Harvey article recently. It concerns me too, but it's not new, and from everything I've heard it's not any worse than it's been.

[deL!]

I'll laugh if we get him and we win with him as a key factor and everybody kisses his ass and praise him

[024]

It's been going on a while, it came up again in a Buck Harvey article recently. It concerns me too, but it's not new, and from everything I've heard it's not any worse than it's been.

all those regular season and playoff games have finally caught up to duncan. this actually makes acquiring a scoring big much more urgent so popovich can limit duncan's minutes. too bad the entire spurs offense dies when duncan isn't on the floor. they need someone else to pick up the slack. duncan has carried the spurs during parker and ginobili's injuries, he deserves some extra rest before the playoffs.

[Duncan2177]

yes, spurs need to get brook lopez. he would thrive under duncan and the spurs. i watched him play during the rookie-soph game and he was probably the best performing rookie next to beasley. if nurtured correctly, he can become like duncan. i would definitely give up bonner + second rounder/splitter for him.

And he would have a great teacher in Duncan.

[MrChug]

Sheed please. Thank you.

[TDMVPDPOY]

my star readings tell me a big trade is going down anytime soon, involve the spurs.....

within 72hrs stay tuned

[Austin_Toros]

my star readings tell me a big trade is going down anytime soon, involve the spurs.....

within 72hrs stay tuned

Hopefully, they are not the stars of self-destruction.

[crc21209]

I have this feeling like something is going to happen also....I hope its Sheed, I can only hope and dream as of right now....But man..a 4th qtr line-up of TD, Sheed, TP, Manu, and Mason? Wow!

[WalterBenitez]

we don't need a shooter, we have manu

we need a big man who can provide an interior presence. kurt's weird ass eyes aren't enough.

giving up roger mason jr and hill, hell no

+1, I think we need a big boy to help TD in the paint, for the record Manu is a scorer rather than a shooter like Pop said.

[benefactor]

Why the hell does Monroe keep talking about Timmy's knees?

[mudyez]

damn...I just hope we will make something happen these days...I feel, we have a chance with the roster as it stands, but it will be way better with sheed or carter

wallace is the better suit to our team, but dont underestimitade carters impact...with more minutes for bowen and maybe kurt, I think we will solve our defense problems, but our firepower would be lacking...and if carter can something, than have a nice impact on that end of the floor....love the manu, bowen, carter (+finley) rotation on the wings...we just would need to sign one or two biggs (I know, there isnt much substance out there, but with carters athletism, I could see us running some more small lineups.

I love the spurs for having so well grown base politics of making the team better from within and via draft, but thats just the right time to take a different approach and do it like detroit with wallace or the lakers with gasol...the pieces are out there!

(don't see lopez or chandler really beeing traded for nothing)

[SpursPreacher]

I demand they get tim what he wants.

[howbouthemspurs]

Carter is going to be a spur... i would put money on it!

[L.I.T]

In my mind, the only real way their pursuing this trade makes sense is if the thought in the front office has become: if we can't out defend 'em, just outscore 'em. I wonder if their interest in VC could be caused by the Lakers front court: just no viable sign/trade options out there that allow them to effectively match up with an Odom/Bynum/Gasol trio in the front-court.

[mudyez]

In my mind, the only real way their pursuing this trade makes sense is if the thought in the front office has become: if we can't out defend 'em, just outscore 'em. I wonder if their interest in VC could be caused by the Lakers front court: just no viable sign/trade options out there that allow them to effectively match up with an Odom/Bynum/Gasol trio in the front-court.

whats better defensively:
parker
mason
finley
bonner
duncan

or

parker
carter
bowen
thomas
duncan

???

first of all carters defense is underrated...I dont say, he is a prime stopper...but his athletism alows him to be a decent defender if put into our system...furthermore his presense allows us to replace some of our offensive weapons with defensive minded guys like bowen and thomas!

I'd take the second lineup any given day if I need some stops!

finley would become of an insurance or an option or small-ball lineups, while manu will take some minutes as the backup-PG.

[WalterBenitez]

Carter is going to be a spur... i would put money on it!

Man, you 'll have to put money, don't see Pop putting money :wow

[stxspurs]

i can handle mason being traded but not hill!!!!

[L.I.T]

whats better defensively:
parker
mason
finley
bonner
duncan

or

parker
carter
bowen
thomas
duncan

???

first of all carters defense is underrated...I dont say, he is a prime stopper...but his athletism alows him to be a decent defender if put into our system...furthermore his presense allows us to replace some of our offensive weapons with defensive minded guys like bowen and thomas!

I'd take the second lineup any given day if I need some stops!

finley would become of an insurance or an option or small-ball lineups, while manu will take some minutes as the backup-PG.

You're right, the Parker/Manu/Bowen/Duncan/KT+Oberto lineup has no defense at all and has failed the Spurs offensively and defensively in the past. And of course, Carter is going to do a bang-up job guarding bigs.

Carter as a defender in my mind does not take pressure off the Spurs front court. He may be a decent wing defender, but I fail to see how my original point does not stand: if the Spurs are seriously seeking to bring in VC this may signal their decision to outscore, not out-defend the bigger (ie Lakers) WC teams.

Edit: Put Finley in any Spurs lineup and it automatically becomes the Spurs worst defensive lineup.

[2Cleva]

SA could be trying to excel in smallball in hopes of forcing LA to play that way.

However, Gasol and Odom inside still beats up the Spurs and Bynum still will get his minutes in the rotation.

But going small now is better than doing nothing. Also, it may entice a big like Sheed to sign in FA.

[Mugen]

SA could be trying to excel in smallball in hopes of forcing LA to play that way.

However, Gasol and Odom inside still beats up the Spurs and Bynum still will get his minutes in the rotation.

But going small now is better than doing nothing. Also, it may entice a big like Sheed to sign in FA.

Going small against the lakers pretty much guarantees a Lakers series win. Our best chances are still with TD and Thomas defending their bigs and limiting their offensive rebounding.

[mudyez]

You're right, the Parker/Manu/Bowen/Duncan/KT+Oberto lineup has no defense at all and has failed the Spurs offensively and defensively in the past. And of course, Carter is going to do a bang-up job guarding bigs.

Carter as a defender in my mind does not take pressure off the Spurs front court. He may be a decent wing defender, but I fail to see how my original point does not stand: if the Spurs are seriously seeking to bring in VC this may signal their decision to outscore, not out-defend the bigger (ie Lakers) WC teams.

Edit: Put Finley in any Spurs lineup and it automatically becomes the Spurs worst defensive lineup.


one of the main reasons, the defense is worse than in previous years, have been more minutes by bonner and less minutes by bowen...I dont say, we have to play carter as PF! (possible short runs with bowen at PF are understandable against teams with versatile PF's)

I think our defense will be better anyway and carter helps us keeping the rotation in check nontheless

[mudyez]

Going small against the lakers pretty much guarantees a Lakers series win. Our best chances are still with TD and Thomas defending their bigs and limiting their offensive rebounding.

agree...unless the lakers are playing odom at PF (and even then) smallball against the lakers isnt a good idea...having bowen to stop kobe + kurt and duncan against the bigs is the thing to do (agree, that wallace would be sweet, but I just think the carter trade is the more likely).

[DPG21920]

I don't anyone would be "pissed" if the Spurs land Carter. In fact, most think it would be an improvement. However, most also think that a big is a more important need and that although Carter is an improvement over what would essentially be Hill and Mason (because guys getting waived to come back) that he comes at a steep financial price for what is perceived to be a small improvement.

Not to mention, NJ would have to waive 4 players BEFORE a trade could be done as this (4-1). If it happens, it will be exciting of course, because it is a big name and the Spurs usually do not partake in such affairs, but it does not seem like a "good deal" long term.

[mudyez]

problem is: I dont see us doing anything big in 2010...too many teams think they will find their savior but only 2 or 3 (wade, lebron and bosh) will finaly get him (and even then its not sure, they will have the pieces to complement them...(my bet is, that wade and lebron will stay, while bosh is an allstar but not much more)

I dont see us landing someone bigger than carter by then and thats why I would do this trade...he even could help us 1 /1/2 seasons earlier.

I think wallace is the better trade for us (coz of the thin frontcourt), but only if we could keep him to a fair contract....otherwise I'd tkae carter

[hater]

Carter is going to be a spur... i would put money on it!

well the Spurs are putting money in it too. Money Mason :(

I don't want Mason gone. that's all I know

[dreamerspur]

What about taking a gamble this season trading for Carter then see if that puts us over the hump Then regardless of the out come, sign Wallace to the mid level exemption next year when he becomes a free agent. If Wallace want to come to SA now he would certainly want to come with VC on board
Can u imagine this line up this year...
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Vince Carter
Tim Duncan
Kurt Thomas


Then this line up next year...
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Vince Carter
Rasheed Wallace
Tim Duncan
:wow :downspin: :wow

[STX_21]

We don't need Carter. I'd much rather keep Mason and Hill. Carter will not get us over the top. We need a big man. Sheed please!!!

[I. Hustle]

smokescreen for Manute Bol

[bigfan]

Man I hate all the VC talk, I do not want this guy here!

[Kori Ellis]

The only way that trading for Vince Carter would make sense is if the Spurs were trading Manu for him (just FYI - I wouldn't want this, I'm just making a point).

With Tim/Tony/Manu/VC - that's too many guys needing touches. Plus in the trade scenario as outlined, they'd lose their point guard depth in Hill and another clutch wing in Mason.

If the Spurs were trading Manu/Oberto/Bowen for Vince (with Bowen returning) instead, that would make more sense on paper.

However, I don't think at all that the Spurs would consider it.

[coyotes_geek]

What about taking a gamble this season trading for Carter then see if that puts us over the hump Then regardless of the out come, sign Wallace to the mid level exemption next year when he becomes a free agent. If Wallace want to come to SA now he would certainly want to come with VC on board

If the Spurs are looking at $60+ million tied up in just 4 players I think it's a pretty safe bet that they wouldn't use the MLE on anyone.

[DBMethos]

The city would riot if Manu were traded.

[YODA]

The only way that trading for Vince Carter would make sense is if the Spurs were trading Manu for him (just FYI - I wouldn't want this, I'm just making a point).

With Tim/Tony/Manu/VC - that's too many guys needing touches. Plus in the trade scenario as outlined, they'd lose their point guard depth in Hill and another clutch wing in Mason.

If the Spurs were trading Manu/Oberto/Bowen for Vince (with Bowen returning) instead, that would make more sense on paper.

However, I don't think at all that the Spurs would consider it.

totally agree. Like others have already stated, We need a big and I just dont see how VC works out.

[DPG21920]

The only way that trading for Vince Carter would make sense is if the Spurs were trading Manu for him (just FYI - I wouldn't want this, I'm just making a point).

With Tim/Tony/Manu/VC - that's too many guys needing touches. Plus in the trade scenario as outlined, they'd lose their point guard depth in Hill and another clutch wing in Mason.

If the Spurs were trading Manu/Oberto/Bowen for Vince (with Bowen returning) instead, that would make more sense on paper.

However, I don't think at all that the Spurs would consider it.

The only way that would make sense is if they included Brook Lopez as well.

[mudyez]

wow...just wow.....take a look at the nba.com/transactions paige!!!! :wow:wow:wow

can it bring us the 5th chanpionship???
















































































...absolutely nothing is happening...sorry, couldnt resist! :rolleyes

sorry!

[FromWayDowntown]

This idea of a deal makes little sense to me, but I got to wondering about what might be the softening of Tim's position. Over the weekend, he spoke as if he would be extremely reluctant to give his blessing to a multiple players-for-Carter deal; now, he's ever so slightly welcoming of that possibility.

I absolutely agree that acquiring Carter is a "we can't stop 'em, so we better try to outscore 'em" sort of decision on the Spurs' part. But I'm not sure that it would make the Spurs less likely to beat LA, as some have suggested. Frankly, I would suspect that (barring Manu's inclusion in the deal) the Spurs wouldn't play all-out small until late and that the structure of the lineup they use would basically be the same: Duncan and Bonner paired; Thomas and Bonner paired for brief stretches; Duncan and Thomas paired for some longer stretches. I think that would remain true even if Parker, Ginobili, and Carter would play together.

I think the massive difference it would make is that nobody could double Tim on the block anymore, other than with another big, and doing that would create driving lanes for three guys who can really put it on the floor and get to the rack -- and at least one guy who has the credibility to draw fouls and get to the line consistently. Mix in a big guy who can score from distance (Bonner from 3? Thomas from the elbow? Horry? :) ) and suddenly it becomes pretty difficult to defend the Spurs.

I'd agree that you don't get much rebounding and interior defense with that lineup, but that's not much of a change from what exists now.

I don't think this deal happens, but Tim's slight change of position is interesting. And if the deal does go down, I can see that it could improve the Spurs' chances to get out of the West -- even if only slightly.

[Evil Angel]

I don't like the Carter play. Giving up too much and would be a huge hit on the cap.
Think all a smokescreen towards getting a big like Sheed. At least I hope so.

[PM5K]

Sounds about right FWD.....

Obviously in a perfect world we could land a big like Sheed, we're already one of the top five teams in the league, he could put us over the top.

So the idea is, how much better would we be if we added a player we didn't necessarily need position wise, but who was better than what we gave up to get him?

Not considerably better, but better, but the price tag would be considerably higher....

[WildcardManu]

The city would riot if Manu were traded.

We would burn this mother!@#$%^ down!

[angel_luv]

Duncan hedges when the price for Carter reportedly includes Roger Mason Jr., Bruce Bowen, George Hill and Fabricio Oberto.

:rolleyes :lol


My guess is that Timmy is not really worried about something that is not going to happen.

I know I am not.

[phxspurfan]

Didin't Duncan just get quoted for saying he doesn't want half the team to be traded for VC? Now he says he would love to play with VC? This makes no sense.

[z0sa]

Didin't Duncan just get quoted for saying he doesn't want half the team to be traded for VC? Now he says he would love to play with VC? This makes no sense.

If you want my honest opinion, sounds like someone behind closed doors told him the chances of the trade going through are higher than expected.

[cheguevara]

Didin't Duncan just get quoted for saying he doesn't want half the team to be traded for VC? Now he says he would love to play with VC? This makes no sense.

Duncan found out Manu is injured. :bang

[Bruno]

Basketball wise, I can definitively see Spurs going after Carter.
Don't forget that his summer Spurs first target was Maggette, a player who would have play the same role of a dynamic scoring swingman.

While most Spurs fans were/are obsessed by adding a bigman, It's far form sure that Spurs share the same obsession. When I look back at what Spurs have done or try to do since this summer, few things have been bigmen related.

The onyl thign I don't get is how Spurs could be interested in taking a player with a that big contract. Maybe they are really high on Carter and they think he can help them to make some money with things like jersey sales.

[phxspurfan]

Basketball wise, I can definitively see Spurs going after Carter.
Don't forget that his summer Spurs first target was Maggette, a player who would have play the same role of a dynamic scoring swingman.

While most Spurs fans were/are obsessed by adding a bigman, It's far form sure that Spurs share the same obsession. When I look back at what Spurs have done or try to do since this summer, few things have been bigmen related.

The onyl thign I don't get is how Spurs could be interested in taking a player with a that big contract. Maybe they are really high on Carter and they think he can help them to make some money with things like jersey sales.

Parker himself said he wanted the Spurs to get a bigman to back up TD against teams like the Lakers.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Howabout the Spurs get Carter, then get 'Sheed in another deal or over the summer...

[timvp]

This article kinda looks like an article the Spurs would want released to ease the transition for Carter. Prior to this article, Duncan basically scoffed at the idea of trading for VC. Now he's somewhat softened on the issue.

It's really tough for me to say whether I'd trade RMJ and Hill for Carter. Carter is extremely talented and if motivated, he's probably a top 15 player in the NBA. And although he's aging, he's so athletic that he'll probably still be a plus athlete in four years.

I like RMJ and Hill but Carter is definitely better than either of them. Combined, it's closer but Carter is probably still better. A lineup of the current Big Three plus Carter would undoubtedly be the most talented Spurs team in history. The chemistry would be the only question mark ... and making sure Carter doesn't turn emo.

Basically, I'll be happy either way. Getting Carter doesn't have much downside -- I'm even fine with his contract considering that the Spurs would be lucky to ever sign someone as talented as Carter in free agency.

If the Spurs stick with RMJ and Hill, that's great.

No lose situation :tu

[bigdog]

This article kinda looks like an article the Spurs would want released to ease the transition for Carter. Prior to this article, Duncan basically scoffed at the idea of trading for VC. Now he's somewhat softened on the issue.

It's really tough for me to say whether I'd trade RMJ and Hill for Carter. Carter is extremely talented and if motivated, he's probably a top 15 player in the NBA. And although he's aging, he's so athletic that he'll probably still be a plus athlete in four years.

I like RMJ and Hill but Carter is definitely better than either of them. Combined, it's closer but Carter is probably still better. A lineup of the current Big Three plus Carter would undoubtedly be the most talented Spurs team in history. The chemistry would be the only question mark ... and making sure Carter doesn't turn emo.

Basically, I'll be happy either way. Getting Carter doesn't have much downside -- I'm even fine with his contract considering that the Spurs would be lucky to ever sign someone as talented as Carter in free agency.

If the Spurs stick with RMJ and Hill, that's great.

No lose situation :tu

I agree. I do think that Carter is a better basketball player than Hill and Mason, but if we were to get Carter, I really would hate to see Hill go. I mean, the Spurs have finally found someone that can be a good backup PG, and to just trade him away like that would kill me.

Also, with the possibly horrible salary cap and luxury tax situation in 2010, I doubt the Spurs would be able to get a top-tier free agent like the plans were. This could be a good move, who knows.

[chreph]

This article kinda looks like an article the Spurs would want released to ease the transition for Carter. Prior to this article, Duncan basically scoffed at the idea of trading for VC. Now he's somewhat softened on the issue.

It's really tough for me to say whether I'd trade RMJ and Hill for Carter. Carter is extremely talented and if motivated, he's probably a top 15 player in the NBA. And although he's aging, he's so athletic that he'll probably still be a plus athlete in four years.

I like RMJ and Hill but Carter is definitely better than either of them. Combined, it's closer but Carter is probably still better. A lineup of the current Big Three plus Carter would undoubtedly be the most talented Spurs team in history. The chemistry would be the only question mark ... and making sure Carter doesn't turn emo.

Basically, I'll be happy either way. Getting Carter doesn't have much downside -- I'm even fine with his contract considering that the Spurs would be lucky to ever sign someone as talented as Carter in free agency.

If the Spurs stick with RMJ and Hill, that's great.

No lose situation :tu

^^ Exactly how I see it :toast I'd throw anyone but Tim (never to be traded) or Tony (in his prime) in for the chance to somehow steal Lopez, too.

[DBMethos]

The economy has really had a negative effect on the 2010 plan for a lot of teams, I bet. That's the only reason I could see the Spurs willing to pull the trigger on a VC deal right now.

[DPG21920]

^^ Exactly how I see it :toast I'd throw anyone but Tim (never to be traded) or Tony (in his prime) in for the chance to somehow steal Lopez, too.

Don't beat around the bush, lol, just say Ginobili!

[Galileo]

Trading Mason, Bowen, Oberto, and Hill for VC would be a horrible move.

For one thing, we'd be down another big man (Oberto), and we'd be trading away a possible future star (Hill), and a player we need now to guard Kobe (Bowen).

We are not going to mave a move unless we can get Sheed or VC on the cheap.

[chreph]

Don't beat around the bush, lol, just say Ginobili!

LOL you're right, but that's more of a testament to what I think of Lopez than any sort of diss to Manu. It just so happens that the piece we'd have to take on (VC) plays essentially the same position that Manu does.

[DBMethos]

Trading Mason, Bowen, Oberto, and Hill for VC would be a horrible move.

For one thing, we'd be down another big man (Oberto), and we'd be trading away a possible future star (Hill), and a player we need now to guard Kobe (Bowen).

We are not going to mave a move unless we can get Sheed or VC on the cheap.

To be fair, I think that all of the proposed scenarios for the Spurs to get VC include the Nets releasing Oberto/Bowen and the Spurs signing them back a la Brent Barry last year.

[timvp]

An added bonus of a Carter trade would be that the Spurs wouldn't have to be as lucky to win a championship. Right now, the Big Three has to be 100% healthy for the Spurs to win it all. Add Carter to the mix -- a player capable of carrying a team for quarters at a time -- and one of those four players could be dinged up a bit and the Spurs would still have enough talent to compensate.

It's definitely a win-now trade but this is a buyer's market that would allow the Spurs to buy low on a top level talent.

[phxspurfan]

Does this mean we'd be left with Ginobili/Vaughn as backup point? Who would take that over? I see TD/TP as main starters/scorers, with Carter also in the starting lineup and taking Finley's current role. Finley on the bench with Manu as the main ballhandler and Vaughn as a placeholder would basically be going 4 vs. 5 on offense, but w/e. We'd be a small 7-8 man rotation like the Suns circa 05 IMO.

[KaiRMD1]

I'm not sure I want the Spurs to do away with Hill & Mason.

[xtremesteven33]

If its for either Hill or Mason, i say do it.

For both.....no way.

[bigdog]

If its for either Hill or Mason, i say do it.

For both.....no way.

I'd rather have them replace Hill in the deal with someone else. I can live with losing Mason if we're going to get someone who can score in Carter, but losing the backup PG we've been needing for a long time? I don't think so.

[jcrod]

I'd do it, but its too big a trade in the middle of the season for the Spurs. I don't think they'd pull the trigger, its not Spurs like. Sure would be exciting.

[EricB]

Howabout the Spurs get Carter, then get 'Sheed in another deal or over the summer...


MLE for Sheed in the offseason :tu

[baseline bum]

Howabout the Spurs get Carter, then get 'Sheed in another deal or over the summer...

I doubt they could afford to use the MLE if they're paying a fourth superstar contract. Then again, a bird in the hand beats two in the bush, and there's no guarantee someone doesn't throw good money at Sheed.