What would you prefer this offseason?

[MaNu4Tres]

A legit big man next to Duncan or an athletic all around small forward?

Due to the luxury tax, we may have room to only add in one area. Which would you prefer?

[koriwhat]

a big.... a big who we need and not one we just settle for... we need size up front and duncan can't do it on his own even though he is a beast!

i feel for duncan. fuckin' waste of role players i tell ya.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs needed both of those plus a backup point guard at the end of last season. What I'd like is not to enter a third postseason with the exact same problems.

[Thomas82]

The Spurs needed both of those plus a backup point guard at the end of last season. What I'd like is not to enter a third postseason with the exact same problems.

Amen to that!!

[spurspokesman]

Amen to that!!
:toast

[mexicanjunior]

A legitimate big man...

[z0sa]

big man, bruce still has another year in him should Pop play him

[ChumpDumper]

Whichever one is athletic.

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs needed both of those plus a backup point guard at the end of last season. What I'd like is not to enter a third postseason with the exact same problems.

:clap

[tp2021]

Its possible to get both, one through trade and one through free agency. They won't be big names, most likely. These are still the frugal Spurs.

[callo1]

An athletic big who can defend one on one...extends Timmy's career and allows TD to get weak side blocks. Spurs shot blocking was crap this year.

[SenorSpur]

An athletic big who can defend one on one...extends Timmy's career and allows TD to get weak side blocks. Spurs shot blocking was crap this year.

Actually, they already have one within their grasp - Drew Gooden - should they choose to go that route.

[Duncan2177]

A legit big man next to Duncan or an athletic all around small forward?

Due to the luxury tax, we may have room to only add in one area. Which would you prefer?

Both

[burntorange]

Dahntay Jones and a legit big.

[Spursfan092120]

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fITfn89xZcqh/610x.jpg
Either one is cool...I'm happy either way.

[portnoy1]

The spurs remaining roster is - the big 3 and Bowen/ Hill / Mason Jr. / Thomas /Oberto / Bonner / Mahinmi. that totals $60.3 million. the spurs will probably have $69 million total, leaving them with $9 million to get a good free agent. Here's my plan. all the polls say we need a Center and a small forward. We can get both, Center Mehmet Okur is an unrestricted free agent. He made $8 mill. last year. 17pg / 7.7 rbds
Scouting report: Okur doesn't move well or get back quickly on defense and is a non-existent help defender and shot blocker (only three centers had a lower rate of blocks per minute, only one of whom wasn't named Collins). In most respects, this makes him a liability, but he has one positive attribute -- he's a tough, physical post defender who isn't afraid to knock around opposing centers. He's also a decent defensive rebounder.

Offensively, he's mostly a spot-up shooter who posts extremely low turnover ratios (third among centers in 2007-08, first a year earlier), but what makes him dangerous is that he can post up against smaller opponents -- so teams usually have another big guy trying to chase him around the perimeter on pick-and-pop plays. Okur has 3-point range and a quick trigger, and at his size he can easily get his shot off over a closing defender.

Small forward Ron Artest is also unrestricted Free agent. He made $7 mill. last year. 17 pg/ 5 rbds
Scouting report: When his head is on straight, Artest is one of the best two-way forwards in basketball. Though he's as strong as any player in the league and brutalizes smaller wings on post-ups, he also can handle the ball and beat bigger players off the dribble, making him a very difficult matchup. He was at his best in Sacramento when he could play as a power forward and abuse bigger defenders, and it appears Houston will use him that way too -- only much more frequently.

Of course, his head isn't always on straight. In addition to the occasional craziness that gets him in the papers, Artest will also force crazy shots and take silly fouls more regularly. And his off-court circus can be a major distraction if a team allows it to be, as the Pacers found out.

That said, almost nobody plays harder once the ball goes up. Artest can be a major defensive force when he's focused because of his strength, quickness and amazing hands, which allow him to get a high rate of steals even while playing relatively straight-up defense. He struggles to chase cutters through screens, but he's impossible to score against on the blocks and is very good on the ball in one-on-one situations.

For such a tough player, it's odd that durability is an issue. While suspensions have been the cause of much of his missed time, Artest has never played more than 76 games in a pro season and missed 25 games a year ago.


By trying to trade up some guys for cash or doing a sign and trade ( kinda like the Derek Anderson / Steve Smith Scenario ) we can have a better rebounding/ defensive team. Let me know what you think.

[bigfan]

What about Javtokas now? I know we hav e to wait another year for Splitter.

[portnoy1]

I'd love to have him. As far as I know, he is currently a free agent over in Europe. This coming season is basically the spurs last chance to get him over to the states. Like i've said the spurs have about $9 mill. to spend on free agents ( Javtokas included ).

[MaNu4Tres]

The spurs remaining roster is - the big 3 and Bowen/ Hill / Mason Jr. / Thomas /Oberto / Bonner / Mahinmi. that totals $60.3 million. the spurs will probably have $69 million total, leaving them with $9 million to get a good free agent. Here's my plan. all the polls say we need a Center and a small forward. We can get both, Center Mehmet Okur is an unrestricted free agent. He made $8 mill. last year. 17pg / 7.7 rbds
Scouting report: Okur doesn't move well or get back quickly on defense and is a non-existent help defender and shot blocker (only three centers had a lower rate of blocks per minute, only one of whom wasn't named Collins). In most respects, this makes him a liability, but he has one positive attribute -- he's a tough, physical post defender who isn't afraid to knock around opposing centers. He's also a decent defensive rebounder.

Offensively, he's mostly a spot-up shooter who posts extremely low turnover ratios (third among centers in 2007-08, first a year earlier), but what makes him dangerous is that he can post up against smaller opponents -- so teams usually have another big guy trying to chase him around the perimeter on pick-and-pop plays. Okur has 3-point range and a quick trigger, and at his size he can easily get his shot off over a closing defender.

Small forward Ron Artest is also unrestricted Free agent. He made $7 mill. last year. 17 pg/ 5 rbds
Scouting report: When his head is on straight, Artest is one of the best two-way forwards in basketball. Though he's as strong as any player in the league and brutalizes smaller wings on post-ups, he also can handle the ball and beat bigger players off the dribble, making him a very difficult matchup. He was at his best in Sacramento when he could play as a power forward and abuse bigger defenders, and it appears Houston will use him that way too -- only much more frequently.

Of course, his head isn't always on straight. In addition to the occasional craziness that gets him in the papers, Artest will also force crazy shots and take silly fouls more regularly. And his off-court circus can be a major distraction if a team allows it to be, as the Pacers found out.

That said, almost nobody plays harder once the ball goes up. Artest can be a major defensive force when he's focused because of his strength, quickness and amazing hands, which allow him to get a high rate of steals even while playing relatively straight-up defense. He struggles to chase cutters through screens, but he's impossible to score against on the blocks and is very good on the ball in one-on-one situations.

For such a tough player, it's odd that durability is an issue. While suspensions have been the cause of much of his missed time, Artest has never played more than 76 games in a pro season and missed 25 games a year ago.


By trying to trade up some guys for cash or doing a sign and trade ( kinda like the Derek Anderson / Steve Smith Scenario ) we can have a better rebounding/ defensive team. Let me know what you think.

They will only have the MLE and the LLE to use. Not 9 million.

[Marcus Bryant]

They can have both with the right trading partner.

[Steve-O-Matic]

SF Trevor Ariza

[TheProfessor]

They can have both with the right trading partner.
:tu

[peskypesky]

big man. duh.

[holcs50]

I think if we could get a SF like Ariza (highly unlikely) or T.Outlaw (actually a good chance) I'd be stoked. Then offer like the MLE to sheed or dice. Upgrades in both and both possible. Get er done!

[Obstructed_View]

Center Mehmet Okur is an unrestricted free agent. He made $8 mill. last year. 17pg / 7.7 rbds
Scouting report: Okur doesn't move well or get back quickly on defense and is a non-existent help defender and shot blocker (only three centers had a lower rate of blocks per minute, only one of whom wasn't named Collins).

I wonder if the third was named Bonner.

[exstatic]

I think if we could get a SF like Ariza (highly unlikely) or T.Outlaw (actually a good chance) I'd be stoked. Then offer like the MLE to sheed or dice. Upgrades in both and both possible. Get er done!

How on earth do you think you're getting Ariza without the full MLE, which you would then NOT have to offer to a big man?

[Obstructed_View]

We don't get two MLEs?

[holcs50]

How on earth do you think you're getting Ariza without the full MLE, which you would then NOT have to offer to a big man?


For ariza obviously i was talking about mle....still don't think LA will let him get away...and then hoping maybe sheed would play for a reduced price maybe LLE. For outlaw i was thinking a trade and then we could use mle or part of on sheed or dice-which is way more likely. If somehow we got outlaw and one of the piston big guys that would be a good off-season IMO

[itzsoweezee]

is gortat on the magic available? he'd be a great pick up.

[Obstructed_View]

If somehow we got outlaw and one of the piston big guys that would be a good off-season IMO

Change "good" to "boner-inducing" and I'm inclined to agree with you.

[holcs50]

Change "good" to "boner-inducing" and I'm inclined to agree with you.

Well I doubt we even get what I suggested and just wait for crap to fall to us like usual... but yes would be boner-riffic, ha.

[poop]

why are there people saying we need a backup PG?????

HELLO, HILL???????

[ulosturedge]

I'd say go after Trevor Ariza and hope Ian can fill that "big man" spot. I can dream right.

[onarollbaby]

the spurs need both a big man and an athletic wing man. Tim Duncan needs someone by his side to take care of the boards

[Mel_13]

I'd say go after Trevor Ariza and hope Ian can fill that "big man" spot. I can dream right.

That's the only way you're gonna see Ariza in a Spurs uniform.

[Yuixafun]

Isn't Memo's wife a former Miss Turkey too.

giggity

[Obstructed_View]

why are there people saying we need a backup PG?????

HELLO, HILL???????

He's not useful from the bench. Regardless of what your opinions are about his ability at that position, the fact remains that the continuing lack of a backup point guard affected the team through the playoffs this season.

[urunobili]

Ariza and Dice

[sprrs]

When's the timeline for Gist coming in?

[SouthTexasRancher]

It depends on how Manu is if/when he comes back. If he is completely healthy and the doctors say both ankles are like new and there won't be any flashback injuries then I say we get a big who can produce, get rebounds and take the double/triple teams away from Tim when our perimeter guys are not connecting. We also need a good, backup Point Guard so we can play Hill @ Shooting Guard where he belongs. If Manu is not able to come back as he was pre-injury then we need a wing who has range and can slash and create his own shots in the paint. And we definitely need to get rid of several players and we all know who those guys are. And most important of all is for Tim to be fully rested and as pain free as is humanly possible. Then we go for the gusto in 2009-2010...:ihit

[AusSpursFan]

What about Javtokas now? I know we hav e to wait another year for Splitter.

You have to be kidding? The guy sucks, we need to improve not tread water.

[BUMP]

an athletic big who does the dirty work, gets rebounds, and plays one-on-one defense. You guys already have the answer right in front of you

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2009-w00/img.450449_t.jpg

http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2007/12-14/lakers14csf_400.jpg

[NewJerSpur]

It depends on how Manu is if/when he comes back. If he is completely healthy and the doctors say both ankles are like new and there won't be any flashback injuries then I say we get a big who can produce, get rebounds and take the double/triple teams away from Tim when our perimeter guys are not connecting. We also need a good, backup Point Guard so we can play Hill @ Shooting Guard where he belongs. If Manu is not able to come back as he was pre-injury then we need a wing who has range and can slash and create his own shots in the paint. And we definitely need to get rid of several players and we all know who those guys are. And most important of all is for Tim to be fully rested and as pain free as is humanly possible. Then we go for the gusto in 2009-2010...:ihit

If young Marcus Williams can fortify himself as a point forward (similar to what Manu has provided as well as Grant Hill in his prime with Detroit), as he is being projected, a backup PG might not be necessary and it would still allow George to move over to the 2 (even though I think he's going to end up there anyway).

[rapliketp]

Adriana Lima