McDonald: There went the trade deadline ... what now?

[Spurs Brazil]

There went the trade deadline ... what now?
By Jeff McDonald on Feb 19, 2009 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) Save & Share Yahoo! BuzzYahoo! Newsvine del.icio.us Facebook Google Reddit Fark
The NBA trade deadline came and went about 45 minutes ago, and all we heard were crickets.

The Spurs were in discussions over the past few days for the likes of Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and John Salmons. Carter and Jefferson are staying put. Salmons is now occupying Michael Jordan's old position in Chicago.

Without much in the way of expiring contracts -- and without a keen desire to trade Roger Mason Jr. or George Hill -- the Spurs weren't able to get a deal done, for anybody. The sagging economy certainly played a role. Like most other teams, the falling luxury tax threshold made the Spurs skittish about taking on excess salaries.

This, Spurs fans, is your team. Pray for the health of Manu Ginobili's right ankle (more on that tonight).

There are still ways to tweak the roster, post-deadline. Somewhere a veteran will seek and receive a buyout to become a free agent, a la Damon Stoudamire last season (keep an eye on Oklahoma City's Joe Smith).

Plus, there's always the D-League. The Spurs have always been willing to mine the minors, but they've seldom found a key rotation piece there.

Playing just up the road in Austin, Pops Mensah-Bonsu should be on the Spurs' radar. He's an athletic big man currently tearing up the D-League, and -- though lacking NBA expierence -- would fit the mold of what the Spurs want.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/02/there-went-the.html

[Texas_Ranger]

Now we hope that Rasho will be released!

[mudyez]

Damon Stoudamire?

F§$% YOU!!!

[crc21209]

So as far as big men that I've heard most likely being bought out are Joe Smith and Mikki Moore. Where are ppl getting this Rasho idea from? And from what I've read of Pops I say give him a try, bring him over.

[Holt's Cat]

There's only one bigman in NBA history with a hyphenated last name to achieve stardom. With good reason.

[crc21209]

Ok so Mikki Moore is gone, anyone up for Joe Smith? Boston cant get him too now can they?

[Holt's Cat]

In the Ghanaian language Twi, Mensah-Bonsu's name means King (Nana) Father (Papa) Thursday Born (Yaw) Three (Mensah) Whale (Bonsu). In several interviews Mensah-Bonsu has suggested that his family earned its surname when an ancestor slew a whale.

link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pops_Mensah-Bonsu)


So now our hopes hinge on Father Thursday Born Three Whale?

We're so screwed.

[Duncan2177]

Joe Smith?

[crc21209]

On a related note, one very, very interesting thing to watch for is a possible bidding war for Mikki Moore, who Marc Stein is reporting will be waived by the Kings to clear room for Will Solomon in the three-way deal that also sends Patrick O'Bryant from Boston to Toronto. Cleveland has a big chunk of its mid-level exception, and they'd be willing to throw a sizeable chunk of it at Joe Smith, if he is bought out by Oklahoma City. Whether or not they like Mikki Moore, well, I expect a reading on that from Brian Windhorst within the hour.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=TradeTalkRoundup-090218

[nkdlunch]

I don't understand Spur fans. We pickup a steal in Roger Mason Jr. We then proceed to pickup a steal drafting George Hill.

And now Spurs fans are pissed because we did not pickup Rasheed or VC for our trash players.

:lmao

Spur fans are one of a kind

[xtremesteven33]

If Bynum is out of the playoffs. And Manu comes back healthy, I say we can still go all the way.

Insert Bowen and Oberto back in the starting lineup and our defense becomes A WHOLE lot better.

Also Hairston needs to take Finleys minutes. Hes proved hes more valuable.

[Bruno]

I'm all for Spurs trying Pops.

And people shouldn't forget Oberto. He is a good vet who was the starting center on the NBA champions two years ago. It's far from sure that Joe Smith, Mikki Moore or Rasho are upgrades over him.

[Holt's Cat]

Malik Hairston is going to Carmelo-ize the NBA now.

OK, I need a drink. Or some catnip.

[rascal]

If Bynum is out of the playoffs. And Manu comes back healthy, I say we can still go all the way.

Insert Bowen and Oberto back in the starting lineup and our defense becomes A WHOLE lot better.

Also Hairston needs to take Finleys minutes. Hes proved hes more valuable.


Keep dreaming with all your ifs.

[xtremesteven33]

Keep dreaming with all your ifs.


Exactly.

[LockBeard]

WCF Exit.

[Duncan2177]

Keep dreaming with all your ifs.
Its called wishful thinking

[Holt's Cat]

What now? Spurs fans will turn George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. into Hall of Fame locks, while Malik Hairston and Pops Kunta-Kinte will be future All-Stars.

[leemajors]

Malik Hairston is going to Carmelo-ize the NBA now.

OK, I need a drink. Or some catnip.

How about some Fancy Feast? Avoided taking on salary, it's time for some treats.

[TDMVPDPOY]

thats why the spurs FO should start pouring their resources into developing POPS give him the 2 year spurs treatment. Instead of wasting time with ian. we could have pops playing games till end of the playoffs, and he probably be ready for next season to contribute....

The team this year looks like going nowhere, we be lucky to advance into the wcf and thats it......

[MateoNeygro]

link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pops_Mensah-Bonsu)


So now our hopes hinge on Father Thursday Born Three Whale?

We're so screwed.

haha that was fuckin funny. thanks for brightening my day.

[Yogurt210]

IAN to the rescue.
Like I said all along.
No need for a big. we already have em. and KT is def. improving.

[gospursgojas]

IAN to the rescue.
Like I said all along.
No need for a big. we already have em. and KT is def. improving.

:lol:rollin:lol

[porksword]

Malik Hairston is going to Carmelo-ize the NBA now.

OK, I need a drink. Or some catnip.

So Malik is gonna wildly throw punches at the opposition while running backwards like a scared pussy?

[EricB]

:lol:rollin:lol


Roll with what you have.

Does no good to bitch about it now.

Support whos there.

[Doug Collins]

What now? Spurs fans will turn George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. into Hall of Fame locks, while Malik Hairston and Pops Kunta-Kinte will be future All-Stars.

Well done.

[Bartleby]

link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pops_Mensah-Bonsu)


So now our hopes hinge on Father Thursday Born Three Whale?

We're so screwed.

Hey, somebody has to keep Samaki Walker's legacy going.

[baseline bum]

I was hoping they'd S&T Rob to someone looking for cap relief. I'm surprised the Spurs didn't find a market for a one-year deal.

[raspsa]

There's only one bigman in NBA history with a hyphenated last name to achieve stardom. With good reason.

Didier Ilunga-Mbenga?

[Holt's Cat]

I was hoping they'd S&T Rob to someone looking for cap relief. I'm surprised the Spurs didn't find a market for a one-year deal.


http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04tra3w3mPbyW/610x.jpg

[SenorSpur]

thats why the spurs FO should start pouring their resources into developing POPS give him the 2 year spurs treatment. Instead of wasting time with ian. we could have pops playing games till end of the playoffs, and he probably be ready for next season to contribute....

The team this year looks like going nowhere, we be lucky to advance into the wcf and thats it......

I agree with investment in Pops. I don't agree that Ian is a waste. Fact is, he's still an unknown commodity. I'd like to see both of those guys get looks next year. Ian certainly will because he's under contract.

[EricB]

Get rid of Holt and bring in Cuban.

That'll make everything perfect.

[K-State Spur]

If Bynum is out of the playoffs. And Manu comes back healthy, I say we can still go all the way.

Insert Bowen and Oberto back in the starting lineup and our defense becomes A WHOLE lot better.

Also Hairston needs to take Finleys minutes. Hes proved hes more valuable.

of course the team can go all the way. in 4 championship runs, the team has been the favorites heading into the playoffs a grand total of once ('99, and that's more because they were the hot team as opposed to a lot of people believing that they were the best team).

as constituted, they need to pick up a few breaks and clearly have a smaller margin for error than some clubs, but they can still win this thing if they do things right and the right times.

now, hopefully they can get something positive out of the "waiver" period.

[Yorae]

Bring in the POPS!!!! Bring in the PPPPPPPPOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!