Ian, Pops, Gist, Hairston - Who to keep?

[raspsa]

Pops made an impressive debut. High energy coupled with great atleticism. can improve on defense.
Ian will finally (fingers crossed) be healthy and brings even more athleticism to the frontline.
James Gist is playing well in Italy. From his comments, he expects to join the Spurs next season. I think he and Pops are very similar.
Hairston likes to slash to the basket, something that Spurs don't do often enough. He shows definite potential to play solid defense.

For now, we can't consider Splitter as he'll be in the 2nd year of his contract. But these four are more than enough to fill the Spurs plate. The question is, who do the Spurs keep?

Related to this question is who do the Spurs drop from the lineup next season?
- Vaughn
- Udoka
- Oberto
- Finley

Its a nice situation for the Spurs in theoffseason with these talents to choose from.

[HarlemHeat37]

Vaughn is going to be a coach without a doubt..he'll be working for somebody as an assistant or specialty coach next year, probably the Spurs..

Udoka is a FA, so he's gone without a doubt..

Fab won't be here next year as well, since his contract will allow us to dump him..

Finley has a player option, so he's staying..

[Mugen]

i keep fab at a small price. i'm a big oberto fan.

vaughn and udoka are gone.

fin will probably be back.

[SenorSpur]

Keep all the young guys.

[50 cent]

I agree.

I wish Finley wasn't guaranteed. He wears me out more than any other Spurs player with his terrible inconsistency.

[angelbelow]

why not all...

[El_Mago]

1)Duncan
2)Parker
3)Ginobili
4)Thomas
5)Bowen
6)Oberto
7)Mason
8)Bonner
9)Finley
10)Mahinmi
11)Hill

12)Hairston
13)Pops
14)Gist
15)2nd Round Pick/Camp Invite/Back up PG

[024]

bowen and finley will retire voluntarily if they win a championship this year. finley will be a restricted free agent next year so all he has to do is not sign with another team and just retire. having both gist and pops will seem redundant because they are both undersized PFs. unless gist shows he can keep up with NBA SFs, those two will be battling for a roster spot. gist can shoot midrange and he is james gist so he will probably get the nod over pops.

[toki9]

agree, but remember we have 3 second round picks

Which we'll probably use on some players no one ever heard of, only to stash them overseas for a few years...

[stxspurs]

^^^i agree..

[Joe Schmoogins]

Keep them all... develop them. The three that have played NBA games all have futures as solid players in this league, and Gist's looking good too. They are perfect for the 2010 plan, and I hope to see them in Spurs uni's for years to come. It's very encouraging to see all of this young potential.

[tomtom]

yeah, remember when everyone was going batshit insane inthe offseason cause we had no youth :lol

[toki9]

If Gist and Hairston do stick next year, then everyone we drafted this year will have become rotation players. And given where we drafted, that's pretty darn impressive.

[wisnub]

Vaughn is going to be a coach without a doubt..he'll be working for somebody as an assistant or specialty coach next year, probably the Spurs..

Udoka is a FA, so he's gone without a doubt..

Fab won't be here next year as well, since his contract will allow us to dump him..

Finley has a player option, so he's staying..

I agree for old players...
But for youngsters:
- Splitter will never join spurs
- Gist is going to flirt with spurs while praying italy will pay him more to keep him
- Ian is a project, since he is injury prone before tasting real NBA season i think he is pretty much done....he will be average player even though he come back
- Hairston shows he can slash the defense with his body and become Bowens heir, Pops shown lifesign although he blew couple of plays but he really hustle and shown hope...those two should stay for supporting cast in future, which will lead by TP along with Mason,Hill,Bonner.

[Dingle Barry]

Fuck Ian. We can't afford to let this guy keep stealing money. Definitely the most expendable on this list.

[raspsa]

Fuck Ian. We can't afford to let this guy keep stealing money. Definitely the most expendable on this list.

Hopefully his injury issues are a thing of the past. One thing Ian has over Pops and Gist is height.. he can play both PF and C positions, or at least that's the idea. You can't teach height.

[urunobili]

keep all the young guys.

+1

[raspsa]

I guess its a testament to Bonner's perseverance and solid play that there's no clamor to drop him from next season's roster.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Keep them all, and jettison Finley (if possible), Udoka.

Having Ian, Pops, Gist, and Hairston would be a nice influx of youth to an aging squad.

Keep those four, and for the other 11 spots you have

Parker
Hill
Mason
Manu
Duncan
Thomas
Oberto
Bowen
Bonner

I suspect with the economy sucking world wide you will see Tiago come to America for what he can get.

That leaves one roster spot. If I were the Spurs I'd package all three of those second rounders to some team that is feeling the league's financial crunch and wants to get out of a guaranteed first round pick and move up to grab a SF prospect, and we'd be set.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs may need some of that future cap room just to keep some of their young players. How nice a problem would that be?

[venitian navigator]

Keep them all, and jettison Finley (if possible), Udoka.

Having Ian, Pops, Gist, and Hairston would be a nice influx of youth to an aging squad.

Keep those four, and for the other 11 spots you have

Parker
Hill
Mason
Manu
Duncan
Thomas
Oberto
Bowen
Bonner

I suspect with the economy sucking world wide you will see Tiago come to America for what he can get.

That leaves one roster spot. If I were the Spurs I'd package all three of those second rounders to some team that is feeling the league's financial crunch and wants to get out of a guaranteed first round pick and move up to grab a SF prospect, and we'd be set.


I like the thinking of the youth movement and I also think we should stay with them all...also if It's just a hope that Splitter will be free to join us next year. However, I think we'll be in the market for at least one good free agent with the mid level (see Wallace - Mac Dyess) or via some trade option...where the contracts of Oberto, Bonner, Finley and Bowen could be very nice assets...

[Marcus Bryant]

Spurs fans are just a tad bit ahead of themselves.

[exstatic]

Vaughn - gone
Udoka - gone
Oberto - gone, not much guaranteed
Bowen - here's the shocker: gone, also not much guaranteed. At the very most, back for minimum after release, and he plays like a wing version of Vaughn's role, coaching from the bench. They've been preparing the team for life without him this year.

Tim
Manu
Tony
Kurt
Bonner
Mason
Hill
Fin
Ian
Hairston
Gist
draft pick, FA, or d-leaguer
draft pick, FA, or d-leaguer

That's thirteen, the minimum you can carry. Spots 14 and 15 will either be empty or used for auditions.

[DarrinS]

Fab won't be here next year as well, since his contract will allow us to dump him..


Fab's a keeper. Dude is a very intelligent basketball player. He doesn't deserve big money or anything, but I'd keep him on the roster.

[bigfan]

I agree Vaughn and Udoka are gone. Fabs I dont know, maybe this depends on if we keep Pops? I dont know enough about Gist yet either. I agree I think this is Bowen's last season. A great guy, great defender but he's 37 now and we need to get some younger guys that can provide some offence as well. Bowen hasnt been shooting all that many 3's this year.

[exstatic]

I agree Vaughn and Udoka are gone. Fabs I dont know, maybe this depends on if we keep Pops? I dont know enough about Gist yet either. I agree I think this is Bowen's last season. A great guy, great defender but he's 37 now and we need to get some younger guys that can provide some offence as well. Bowen hasnt been shooting all that many 3's this year.

I put Gist and Hairston on the projected roster because the Spurs have shown plans for them by Euro-stashing, in Gist's case, or outright signing for the rest of the year in Hairston's. If they show prolonged interest in Pops, then he'll take one of those 12th or 13th roster spots in my projection.

The Bowen and Oberto goodbyes were both based on usage this year and money. They both only see the floor rarely, and they both have very little guaranteed next year.

[Obstructed_View]

Spurs fans are just a tad bit ahead of themselves.

In what way?

BTW, welcome back. Long time no see.

[EricB]

In what way?

BTW, welcome back. Long time no see.


Assuming maybe that this Pops guy, after 12 minutes of garbage time in a blowout is now gauranteed a roster spot.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I put Gist and Hairston on the projected roster because the Spurs have shown plans for them by Euro-stashing, in Gist's case, or outright signing for the rest of the year in Hairston's. If they show prolonged interest in Pops, then he'll take one of those 12th or 13th roster spots in my projection.

The Bowen and Oberto goodbyes were both based on usage this year and money. They both only see the floor rarely, and they both have very little guaranteed next year.

I'm with you, I see Bowen coming back for the minimum. We keep Bonner, Pops, bring in Ian and bring over Splitter, and there's no room for Oberto here.

Thomas sticks around as the wily vet big.

[Taking it to the Hole]

Well, at least for the first time in a long while, the Spurs will have options and they will mostly be young options.

[NFGIII]

Fuck Ian. We can't afford to let this guy keep stealing money. Definitely the most expendable on this list.

Let's not write him off just yet. I know it's hard not to since he hasn't done anything but get injured. I'm hoping that next year this all goes away and he will be in the rotation. If not them dump him but I would like to see him on the court next year just in case he pulls it together. Maybe wishful thinking but that's part of being a fan. :p:

^


Hopefully his injury issues are a thing of the past. One thing Ian has over Pops and Gist is height.. he can play both PF and C positions, or at least that's the idea. You can't teach height.

Hopefully a thing of the past but for now that isn't certain.

ding ding ding


The Spurs may need some of that future cap room just to keep some of their young players. How nice a problem would that be?

Yes this is a nice situation to be in. Damn about time!


I put Gist and Hairston on the projected roster because the Spurs have shown plans for them by Euro-stashing, in Gist's case, or outright signing for the rest of the year in Hairston's. If they show prolonged interest in Pops, then he'll take one of those 12th or 13th roster spots in my projection.

The Bowen and Oberto goodbyes were both based on usage this year and money. They both only see the floor rarely, and they both have very little guaranteed next year.

I would like for this to happen but I have a feeling that maybe Pop and his love for his vets might make him bring both back for a final year. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happens the way you layed it out.

This team is finally adding much needed youth to its roster.

[sananspursfan21]

you guys hope vaughan is gone. really, i don't see what's wrong with him. he doesn't really get playing time and he doesn't hurt the team. popovich likes him anyways, if there's an upgrade that comes along, by all means, he's gone, but he's fine until then. i say he stays.

[Hemotivo]

dwayne jones

[ChumpDumper]

dwayne jonesDefensively this is probably true, but Jones drives me nuts with his refusal to throw down. He took one opportunity out of about five Thursday to do so. I know he doesn't have Pops' hops, but he's not a complete slug either.

The Toros are trying really hard to develop Jones' offense, but it's very rudimentary.

[Spurs Brazil]

Assuming maybe that this Pops guy, after 12 minutes of garbage time in a blowout is now gauranteed a roster spot.

Agree, I think he has good upside but he won't be able to help this year.

I'd like to see the Spurs sign him for the rest of the season and then see what he can do in summer league and training camp.

For this season I'd rather see Thomas, Bonner and Oberto in a playoff game

[Hemotivo]

Defensively this is probably true, but Jones drives me nuts with his refusal to throw down.

:lol

[Manufan909]

The dream opening roster for me would be
Parker/Hill
Mason/Ginobili
Gist/Bowen
Duncan/Bonner/Pops
Wallace/Mahimni/Thomas
IR Finley, Hairston
in 2009.

I know Gist and Fin will make it in the top 12, and Wallace and Pops probably won't even make the roster, but that's what I'd like to see. I wish I could get Hairston on there, but I would know who to take off, besides maybe KT.

[mazerrackham]

The dream opening roster for me would be
Parker/Hill
Mason/Ginobili
Gist/Bowen
Duncan/Bonner/Pops
Wallace/Mahimni/Thomas
IR Finley, Hairston
in 2009.

I know Gist and Fin will make it in the top 12, and Wallace and Pops probably won't even make the roster, but that's what I'd like to see. I wish I could get Hairston on there, but I would know who to take off, besides maybe KT.

Solid, but I don't get why Spurs fans seem to be pushing for Rasheed Wallace so much. If anything, his recent temper tantrum shows he doesn't deserve to be a Spur. One of the reasons I respect the Spurs so much is because they rarely ever reward people with attitude problems. Plus, he's getting older and less consistent as time keeps ticking.

[Bruno]

All these players aren't that great prospects. Spurs will work with them and with time, some of them will end up as "not NBA material".

It's likely that the process goes smooth and every time Spurs waive one of these players, it won't be because of a roster crunch but because they don't think he will turn as a decent NBA player.

[HarlemHeat37]

they look like great prospects to me..

you have to remember that we're expecting them to be ROLE PLAYERS, not star players..none of them were drafted high enough to have expectations..I don't see any reason that they can't turn out to be solid role players for us, especially playing in a great system..

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Hairston, Hill, Gist and Mahinmi are all in the future picture. Pops might play his way into it, we shall see.

Next year JV will become a coach of some description, Ime is gone, and that leaves 11 guys with garunteed money (including Hill and Mahinmi). Add Gist, Hairston and Pops and that gives you 14, and we have no first rounder next year, so there's flexibility.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/san_antonio.htm

I like the look of the youth we're developing, I just hope Pop will give Hairston most of Finley's minutes, and Mahinmi Fab's minutes.

[VI_Massive]

I'm terrified for life without Bowen. Who guards the Kobe/LeBron/Wade/etc? One of our great strengths was our ability to shut down or at least inhibit the other team's best non-big scorer with Bowen.

I love Mason, Gist, and Hairston, but I just don't see them having the same level of defensive ability as Bruce.

[Obstructed_View]

Dorell Wright still around? He hasn't played for Miami at all this year.

[tav1]

Dorell Wright still around? He hasn't played for Miami at all this year.

OV, he's been injured. He's kind of their Ian Mahinmi this season. He was re-injured during rehab.

[Obstructed_View]

OV, he's been injured. He's kind of their Ian Mahinmi this season. He was re-injured during rehab.

Ah, I figured something had to be up. Thanks.

[AFBlue]

At a minimum Udoka is out. That opens one spot and I'd have to give the inside track to Gist.

All this talk about Oberto and Bowen being let go is a bit premature though....

Think about it, the Spurs may need their contracts to pick up a player during the '09 season....since some teams will be looking to dump salary and get in on the 2010 mania. If not, they could just let those contracts expire and get in on the 2010 mania themselves.

The only opportunity cost will be the roster spots going to veterans instead of young players. But, this is supposedly a very weak draft and the D-League isn't exactly overloaded with NBA-level talent.

Just saying...something else to think about.

[urunobili]

I think Hairston will be an upgrade on Finley moving forward if he's able to add a jump shot to his good D and rim attacks...

I think that if Gist proves he can stop opposing team's 3's he could play the 3 with us...

I can't say anything about Mahimni other than he is potentially a gem... There is one play i saw live that made me a believer... the block on Maurice Ager vs. Dallas in 2008 pre season at the AAC in DFW...

Pops may a have a shot to make it for the playoff roster this year with a hustle guy role ala Malik Rose but im not really sure he'd stick around next year...

[manufor3]

1)Duncan
2)Parker
3)Ginobili
4)Thomas
5)Bowen
6)Oberto
7)Mason
8)Bonner
9)Finley
10)Mahinmi
11)Hill

12)Hairston
13)Pops
14)Gist
15)2nd Round Pick/Camp Invite/Back up PG

how did mahimini get ahead of hill?

[Obstructed_View]

how did mahimini get ahead of hill?

Because he's seven feet tall.