NYTimes - Should the Spurs Start Over?

[TheProfessor]

Should the Spurs Start Over?

LINK (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/sports/basketball/28dribble.html?_r=1&ref=sports)

There may be no more excruciating choice for an N.B.A. executive than deciding when to blow up a roster, especially a championship-winning roster.

The Pistons started the process last fall, despite making six Eastern Conference finals in a row and winning the championship in 2004. Is it now the Spurs’ turn to press the plunger?

The Spurs, trailing the Mavericks, 3-1, after Saturday’s 99-90 loss, could be bounced in the opening round for the first time since 2000. It is perhaps unwise to underestimate Tim Duncan and his mates. They did overcome a two-game deficit against the Hornets last year.

But the Spurs no longer appear capable of such minor miracles, not without the injured Manu Ginobili, and not with the mediocre cast that now surrounds Duncan and Tony Parker, the Spurs’ remaining stars.

Duncan and Parker played brilliantly in Game 3, combining for 68 points, and yet San Antonio never had a lead in the final 22 minutes. Afterward, Parker made an admission that championship teams never make: “They have a lot more weapons than us.”

If Ginobili were healthy, the Spurs might have a fighting chance against Dallas. But could they beat the feisty young Nuggets, much less the talent-rich Lakers? How much longer can the Duncan-Parker-Ginobili trio contend in a Western Conference that is becoming more competitive each season, with rising teams in Portland, Utah and Houston?

The Spurs have become too old in spots (Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto), and their young additions (Roger Mason, George Hill) have fallen flat. They have no great assets to trade, outside of their three All-Stars.

The Pistons made that leap in November, trading their star point guard Chauncey Billups in a move to create salary-cap room. The rebuilt Pistons made the playoffs as the eighth seed, but got swept in the first round by the Cavaliers. The Spurs — who beat the Pistons in the 2005 finals — are not ready to entertain such radical possibilities.

“Our group is going to be, more than likely, a group that we don’t pull the plunger on,” Spurs General Manager R. C. Buford said. “We’ll continue to build around those three and hope to add better pieces.”

San Antonio will not have cap space until 2010 (when Ginobili’s contract expires), but there will be plenty of talented free agents who may accept the mid-level exception this summer. Expect the Spurs to make a run at Rasheed Wallace, the longtime starting power forward for the Pistons.

One franchise’s implosion could help delay another’s.

[portnoy1]

No way the spurs start over. Just add A shot blocking center / Another off the dribble scorer and fill the roster with a whole bunch of young guys who all bring something different but needed to the table.

[Darrin]

Good luck, Rasheed and the Spurs. He's not in great health and his interior defense was not of his usual quality. Some could attribute that to his disinterest in the season, but I choose to look at it as a part of his decline.

[mytespurs]

I don't think the spurs should implode but they need to start getting younger and talented role players to help out the big 3. I still think that this team, healthy and with talented & younger role players, may have one more good run in them.

[TDMVPDPOY]

NYTIMES lmao

they should be more concern with their home town knicks than the spurs....

[hater]

if Duncan keeps getting owned by players like Dampier in the playoffs there really is nothing the front office can do. Blow it up, don't. doesn't matter.

[TheProfessor]

NYTIMES lmao

they should be more concern with their home town knicks than the spurs....
Their Sports section is definitely in decline.

[SenorSpur]

If Manu were healthy and playing, does anyone feel like the FO would have come to the same realization about revamping the supporting cast?

[Thomas82]

No way the spurs start over. Just add A shot blocking center / Another off the dribble scorer and fill the roster with a whole bunch of young guys who all bring something different but needed to the table.

That's it in a nutshell.

[Bruno]

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/04/26/sports/nh808375.txt


The Bucks don't plan on being a player in free agency because they are on the threshold of the luxury tax. They will likely explore possibly trading forward Richard Jefferson again this summer. They are also facing free agency from two of their key players — Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions.

[loveforthegame]

I don't see much of an overhaul this summer. The Spurs won't panic and will bank on the health of the big 3 for at least another year.

I really don't see more than 4 new players here.

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs could definitely use Jefferson's scoring. However, because he makes so much money, they probably do not have the cap room to get him - unless, of course, they're willing to part with Manu.

If the Spurs really want to target a player off the Bucks roster, they should go after Luc Mbah A Moute. Dude can play both forward spots. Rebounder, shotblocker, and has surprisingly decent offense in and around the basket. He was a surprise starter for the Bucks for most of this past season. He'll be an UFA this summer. Spurs could probably get him for 1.5m - 2m. He would solve the Spurs long-standing need for a long, defensive-minded, SF, type.

[Bender]

Duncan and Parker played brilliantly in Game 3, combining for 68 points

nobody played brilliantly in Game 3 :lol

[Bruno]

If the Spurs really want to target a player off the Bucks roster, they should go after Luc Mbah A Moute. Dude can play both forward spots. Rebounder, shotblocker, and has surprisingly decent offense in and around the basket. He was a surprise starter for the Bucks for most of this past season. He'll be an UFA this summer. Spurs could probably get him for 1.5m - 2m. He would solve the Spurs long-standing need for a long, defensive-minded, SF, type.

Luc ... isn't a FA this summer. He will be a restricted free agent in 2011.

[EVAY]

The NYT has never had particularly thorough or insightful basketball coverage. Indeed their whole sports section is usually pretty thin...they conceded sports coverage to the the NYPost a long, long time ago. They occasionally do well on baseball. They always cover tennis very, very well, but basketball has not been much for them in along time. I think this article is just a small piece on the decline of the basketball powerhouse over the last decade. The Times is a great paper for literacy and science and arts and culture...sports is just not their strong suit.

[SenorSpur]

Luc ... isn't a FA this summer. He will be a restricted free agent in 2011.

He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Bucks. Doesn't appear that he's listed on their books for next season.

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

Does that make him restricted, thereby giving the Bucks right of first refusal?

[SequSpur]

What 3? It's more like 1 and a 1/2. Ginobili is useless, i don't want to here shit about him anymore... Duncan is just used up.

[Bruno]

He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Bucks. Doesn't appear that he's listed on their books for next season.

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

Does that make him restricted, thereby giving the Bucks right of first refusal?

A blank year isn't the same thing than a $0.
$0 year : the player isn't under contract.
blank year : the player is under contract with an unknown salary.

And hoopshype is far form being the most accurate site about salaries. shamsports.com is significantly better.

Players, who are RFA, are :
- First round picks after their fourth year.
- For player not under a first round pick contract, they are restricted if they have been in the league for 3 or less years.

[dbreiden83080]

Duncan is just used up.

He's not used up, he just isn't what he was 2 or 3 years ago. Still name 5 or 6 big guys in the league better than Duncan?? Don't be spitting on TD too much here..

[TheProfessor]

The NYT has never had particularly thorough or insightful basketball coverage. Indeed their whole sports section is usually pretty thin...they conceded sports coverage to the the NYPost a long, long time ago. They occasionally do well on baseball. They always cover tennis very, very well, but basketball has not been much for them in along time. I think this article is just a small piece on the decline of the basketball powerhouse over the last decade. The Times is a great paper for literacy and science and arts and culture...sports is just not their strong suit.
It was especially strange to have them lump Hill in with Mason as players that have "fallen flat." Hill was deprived of that opportunity late in the season, but played extremely well early on. Not to mention his play in the last game when he was finally given the opportunity. Poor journalism.

[crc21209]

Who to keep: TP, Manu, Bowen (1 more year), TD, Hill, Mason, Gooden.

Gone: Oberto, Bonner, Udoka, Vaughn, Finley. (Thomas is a toss-up, I think maybe one more year is in him.)

[EricB]

I really don't think this team is over the brink of the hill as much as they say.

I mean you add a piece here and a couple there and this team is right back at it.


I mean yes the team is in transition and yes they need youth and yes they need scoring.

I think though that its an overreaction to say its time to gut 99% of the team.

[Spur|n|Austin]

He's not used up, he just isn't what he was 2 or 3 years ago. Still name 5 or 6 big guys in the league better than Duncan?? Don't be spitting on TD too much here..


Agreed. Some people just have no respect or appreciation for what he has done for this organization over the years.

As far as the team goes, I think we can build around our big three and have one more shot at a championship before we hit the panic button. But it's definitely time to let go of Oberto, Bonner, and a couple others.

[EricB]

People also forget how awesome Duncan looked before the tendonosis.

If Duncan can get that fixed this summer, and could play again next year like he did this year up till March, then this team is OK and just needs a few tweaks.

[objective]

RC interested in adding better pieces?

Since when?

In summer 07, all the Spurs cared about was bringing EVERYONE back to "give them a chance to defend their title".

I mean, what could go wrong?

RC should stick to doing what RC does best.

He should re-sign everybody that's a free agent so the Spurs have the chance to defend their first round exit honor.

[DDS4]

Ariza! Ariza! Ariza!

[Spur|n|Austin]

People also forget how awesome Duncan looked before the tendonosis.

If Duncan can get that fixed this summer, and could play again next year like he did this year up till March, then this team is OK and just needs a few tweaks.

True, he was a monster during most of the regular season this year. Hopefully he get's plenty of rest and rehab this off season.

[DPG21920]

I have said for a long time that RJ would be ideal for the Spurs with his offensive abilities and character and size.

If the Bucks are looking for pure salary dump, Mason/Bruce/Oberto for RJ works.


Edit: To add to this, this is all contingent on the Spurs FO willingness to take on salary.

If the FO main goal is to maximize TD's title hopes, then they should be willing to take on contracts if it helps the team win. Win now, worry about the future in the future.

If that is the case, then doing a trade for someone like RJ along with spending the MLE would certainly maximize the potential for another title. A line up of:

MLE Big or trade for big (Sheed...)/TD/MLE Wing or trade for wing (RJ)/Manu/Parker is a very strong line up.

That would definitely catapult the Spurs back into contention talent wise.

[dbreiden83080]

True, he was a monster during most of the regular season this year. Hopefully he get's plenty of rest and rehab this off season.

The problem is Timmy has so much wear and tear on the tires by this point. He's got 11 years in the league and close 3 extra seasons of games played in the playoffs. So while he just turned 33, there may be nights when he feels closer to 36.. It's a double edged sword in the NBA. If You want to be a legend, you have to push yourself for years and years but by this point in your career it is all gonna add up..