duncan228
02-13-2010, 03:21 AM
Spurs' Mason stays cool amid trade talk (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Mason_stays_cool_amid_trade_talk.html)
Jeff McDonald
Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. has heard no specific buzz, no credible piece of NBA intelligence that tells him he might be on his way out of town. In recent days, coach Gregg Popovich has hinted the Spurs might stand pat and let Thursday's trade deadline pass without incident.
Still, Mason can't wait until D-Day has come and gone.
“I want to be in San Antonio for my career,” Mason said. “I want to win a championship here. That would be the ultimate.”
Mason, however, is wise enough to know basketball is a business and some things are out of his control.
If the Spurs aim to make a move — if they aim to pry disgruntled forward Tyrus Thomas from Chicago, for instance — Mason's name will almost certainly be involved.
He has an expiring contract worth $3.78 million, an attractive chip to a trade partner looking to cut payroll. Other prominent Spurs with expiring deals include Matt Bonner ($3.25 million), Michael Finley ($2.5 million) and Manu Ginobili ($10.7 million), though the odds of the Spurs moving Ginobili appear slim.
That won't stop the rumors from swirling over the next several days. Mason was at the eye of them last season, too, his name surfacing in talks with New Jersey about Vince Carter.
“If something happens, it happens,” Mason said. “You can't really worry about it or control it. I can only control what I can, and that's to help this team win.”
A real pro: With Tony Parker sidelined again Thursday at Denver, Mason drew his third start of the season, and second against the Nuggets. This one went better than the last.
Mason scored 14 points and hit four 3-pointers, helping to spark the Spurs to a 111-92 victory heading into the All-Star break. In his previous start against Denver, in a Jan. 31 loss in San Antonio, Mason went 1 for 6 with two points.
Mason's minutes have swung wildly this season, and he admits it's been difficult to find a groove. Popovich said he has been pleased with Mason's professionalism in amid a trying season.
“That's his job,” Popovich said. “Guys get paid a lot of money to go play. It doesn't matter when you play, or how many minutes. I expect them to give everything they have when they're called upon.”
No distraction: Against Denver, George Hill shook off another injury to Parker and an unseemly trip through the Internet tabloids to produce the latest in a string of solid outings.
Playing for the first time since apologizing for a set of year-old nude photos of him that had surfaced on the Web, Hill filled in ably for Parker at the point, totaling 17 points, four assists, six rebounds and two steals.
Asked if the Internet incident had been a distraction for him, Hill simply said, “Nah.”
Jeff McDonald
Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. has heard no specific buzz, no credible piece of NBA intelligence that tells him he might be on his way out of town. In recent days, coach Gregg Popovich has hinted the Spurs might stand pat and let Thursday's trade deadline pass without incident.
Still, Mason can't wait until D-Day has come and gone.
“I want to be in San Antonio for my career,” Mason said. “I want to win a championship here. That would be the ultimate.”
Mason, however, is wise enough to know basketball is a business and some things are out of his control.
If the Spurs aim to make a move — if they aim to pry disgruntled forward Tyrus Thomas from Chicago, for instance — Mason's name will almost certainly be involved.
He has an expiring contract worth $3.78 million, an attractive chip to a trade partner looking to cut payroll. Other prominent Spurs with expiring deals include Matt Bonner ($3.25 million), Michael Finley ($2.5 million) and Manu Ginobili ($10.7 million), though the odds of the Spurs moving Ginobili appear slim.
That won't stop the rumors from swirling over the next several days. Mason was at the eye of them last season, too, his name surfacing in talks with New Jersey about Vince Carter.
“If something happens, it happens,” Mason said. “You can't really worry about it or control it. I can only control what I can, and that's to help this team win.”
A real pro: With Tony Parker sidelined again Thursday at Denver, Mason drew his third start of the season, and second against the Nuggets. This one went better than the last.
Mason scored 14 points and hit four 3-pointers, helping to spark the Spurs to a 111-92 victory heading into the All-Star break. In his previous start against Denver, in a Jan. 31 loss in San Antonio, Mason went 1 for 6 with two points.
Mason's minutes have swung wildly this season, and he admits it's been difficult to find a groove. Popovich said he has been pleased with Mason's professionalism in amid a trying season.
“That's his job,” Popovich said. “Guys get paid a lot of money to go play. It doesn't matter when you play, or how many minutes. I expect them to give everything they have when they're called upon.”
No distraction: Against Denver, George Hill shook off another injury to Parker and an unseemly trip through the Internet tabloids to produce the latest in a string of solid outings.
Playing for the first time since apologizing for a set of year-old nude photos of him that had surfaced on the Web, Hill filled in ably for Parker at the point, totaling 17 points, four assists, six rebounds and two steals.
Asked if the Internet incident had been a distraction for him, Hill simply said, “Nah.”