duncan228
02-18-2010, 12:53 AM
Old deal: The trade the Spurs had to have (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Old_deal_The_trade_the_Spurs_had_to_have.html)
Buck Harvey
The Spurs pulled off a multi-player trade Wednesday night, and they had to give up a lot.
Mostly, they had to give up the last few years.
But there they were in Indianapolis, the trade completed, showing off with their new acquisitions: Manu Ginobili with end-of-the-game toughness, Tim Duncan with 26 rebounds and Tony Parker with 28 points.
Nice additions, and a better reminder.
For all the concern about everyone else on the roster, this is the deal that matters.
That hasn't always been clear leading up to today's trade deadline. A way to fix the Spurs, it seemed, involved dealing Antonio McDyess, Richard Jefferson or Roger Mason Jr.
Each has disappointed at times, but mostly the Spurs' front office has seen them as economic problems. A common link in wanting to trade them has been contracts that didn't match their production.
Mason's case was more notable recently. When his agent said Mason would like to play elsewhere, in order to get more minutes, the Spurs wanted to make him happy — because they would have made Peter Holt happy. The Spurs were looking to dump his salary for as little as a second-round draft pick in return.
That implies Mason was the wrong player when he signed in the summer of 2008. Instead, he just arrived at the wrong time, and he's not the first to do this.
Terry Porter and Kurt Thomas, among others, also were smart extras with championship potential. Neither won a ring.
But was it their fault? Or was it because Duncan hurt his knee in Porter's first season in San Antonio, and a teenage Parker was still learning in his final one? Did Thomas fail, or was it because he never played with a healthy Ginobili in the playoffs?
Others, such as Mario Elie and Brent Barry, were luckier.
Mason isn't the same player they were. Elie was a defensive bulldog with a winner's instinct, and Barry added passing to his long-distance shooting.
Still, there's always a place for someone who could do what Mason did last year. From Christmas in Phoenix to clever contact with Derek Fisher to beat the Lakers, Mason had as many big-shot moments as Elie or Barry did.
But along the way, because of injuries to Ginobili, Mason played more than he should have. He was eventually exposed, when he would have been better suited getting spot minutes. Wednesday gave an example.
Then, Mason threw in a significant 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter. At the time, the Spurs were losing their lead and needed a lift.
When Jefferson came up with his own late 3-pointer in the fourth, Mason looked like someone who won't be a distraction because he isn't playing as much as he would like. He could be seen on the bench, clapping.
It was enough against the Pacers, just as it was for Elie, Barry and others in the past. Even with Parker still hurting, and Duncan enduring what he called “the worst shooting night of my life,” the Spurs stars were still stars.
Will it last? If Parker's hip couldn't heal over the All-Star break, then he will be in pain again. Duncan's body wilted last year, and Ginobili hasn't finished strong since the Spurs' last title.
Still, no matter what happens, Wednesday outlined the only way the Spurs can succeed. Then, with role players helping, the core of three championships was in place.
All the way to the end. After George Hill had to force a shot as the 24-second clock expired, what followed was a fitting sequence of tips.
From Ginobili to Duncan to Parker.
Buck Harvey
The Spurs pulled off a multi-player trade Wednesday night, and they had to give up a lot.
Mostly, they had to give up the last few years.
But there they were in Indianapolis, the trade completed, showing off with their new acquisitions: Manu Ginobili with end-of-the-game toughness, Tim Duncan with 26 rebounds and Tony Parker with 28 points.
Nice additions, and a better reminder.
For all the concern about everyone else on the roster, this is the deal that matters.
That hasn't always been clear leading up to today's trade deadline. A way to fix the Spurs, it seemed, involved dealing Antonio McDyess, Richard Jefferson or Roger Mason Jr.
Each has disappointed at times, but mostly the Spurs' front office has seen them as economic problems. A common link in wanting to trade them has been contracts that didn't match their production.
Mason's case was more notable recently. When his agent said Mason would like to play elsewhere, in order to get more minutes, the Spurs wanted to make him happy — because they would have made Peter Holt happy. The Spurs were looking to dump his salary for as little as a second-round draft pick in return.
That implies Mason was the wrong player when he signed in the summer of 2008. Instead, he just arrived at the wrong time, and he's not the first to do this.
Terry Porter and Kurt Thomas, among others, also were smart extras with championship potential. Neither won a ring.
But was it their fault? Or was it because Duncan hurt his knee in Porter's first season in San Antonio, and a teenage Parker was still learning in his final one? Did Thomas fail, or was it because he never played with a healthy Ginobili in the playoffs?
Others, such as Mario Elie and Brent Barry, were luckier.
Mason isn't the same player they were. Elie was a defensive bulldog with a winner's instinct, and Barry added passing to his long-distance shooting.
Still, there's always a place for someone who could do what Mason did last year. From Christmas in Phoenix to clever contact with Derek Fisher to beat the Lakers, Mason had as many big-shot moments as Elie or Barry did.
But along the way, because of injuries to Ginobili, Mason played more than he should have. He was eventually exposed, when he would have been better suited getting spot minutes. Wednesday gave an example.
Then, Mason threw in a significant 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter. At the time, the Spurs were losing their lead and needed a lift.
When Jefferson came up with his own late 3-pointer in the fourth, Mason looked like someone who won't be a distraction because he isn't playing as much as he would like. He could be seen on the bench, clapping.
It was enough against the Pacers, just as it was for Elie, Barry and others in the past. Even with Parker still hurting, and Duncan enduring what he called “the worst shooting night of my life,” the Spurs stars were still stars.
Will it last? If Parker's hip couldn't heal over the All-Star break, then he will be in pain again. Duncan's body wilted last year, and Ginobili hasn't finished strong since the Spurs' last title.
Still, no matter what happens, Wednesday outlined the only way the Spurs can succeed. Then, with role players helping, the core of three championships was in place.
All the way to the end. After George Hill had to force a shot as the 24-second clock expired, what followed was a fitting sequence of tips.
From Ginobili to Duncan to Parker.