2010 Free Agent: Matt Bonner

[Bruno]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_matt_bonner.jpg
Born: Apr 5, 1980
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight: 240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
College: Florida
Years Pro: 5

Info (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/matt_bonner/career_stats.html)

This thread is to talk about Bonner free agent status. For the rest of the Bonner's talk, please use the "Current Spur: Matt Bonner (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3347813) thread.

[SPURSCHAMP]

hopefully we can resign matt, the times ive seen him play hes been good

[superjames1992]

I'd resign him as long as he doesn't cost too much.

[blkroadrunners]

i'd resign him as long as he doesn't cost too much.

+1

[venitian navigator]

I'd sign and trade him for Nocioni...ha already said that he dosn't feel part of tyhe team in Sac, and we need someone that's O.K. for play offs time, Sacramento could need a big that can score from outside...

[yourtehclay]

If Bonner fails in this year's playoffs, which looks to be a possibility, is there really any point to bringing him back?

I wouldn't mind having him back at an extremely low price, but his limitations really prevent him from being a desirable, big time rotation player.

[Danny.Zhu]

Minimum wage.

[Big P]

Bonner's defense is absolutely horrible & him making a few 3's does not equal his play out. We have seen what bonner brings to the table & we could definitly find someone else to do what he does cheaper..I would rather have a sg that can hit the 3 consistently & a big man that can play defense in 2 players, not letting it all fall on bonners shoulders. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for what he has done, but in the overall scheme of things, the Spurs need other players.. bonner, rj, mason, bogans etc. can be replaced.

[drok210]

I believe Bonner is a decent stretch 4. The problem is when he gets put in games to be a low post presence, when he clearly is not. I would welcome him back for his perimeter offense and somewhat surprising ability to hit the runner he sets up with the three. That said I would offer the LLE after our frontcourt has been established, after the draft.

[Big P]

I would not even give him the LLE..that needs to go to a real need..we dont need bonner to win...minimum at best.

[coyotes_geek]

I'd take Bonner back. He's not someone you want to have to depend on, but that doesn't mean he still can't be a useful piece. Find that legit PF/C to put next to Duncan and you no longer have to worry about whether or not Bonner's O will make up for his D on a given night. There's no denying that when Bonner's knocking down 3's life gets a lot easier offensively for the Spurs as a whole. That's something the Spurs would benefit from having around, provided they've also got the insurance of not having to depend on him to be a defensive post presence.

[Spurstro]

That's something the Spurs would benefit from having around, provided they've also got the insurance of not having to depend on him to be a defensive post presence.

Bingo.

[mountainballer]

I would be really shocked if he was brought back on similar numbers.
(also couldn't understand the 9 million 3 years they gave him 2007).

IF he is brought back, the goal has to be, that he is no better than the 5th big in the front court rotation. and such a player should not get more than minimum to 2M. (no idea if he would sign for that money, but I doubt he gets better offers)
so, if they bring in Splitter and can't find a better option than Bonner for the 5th spot behind Tim, Dice, Blair and Splitter, so be it.

[coyotes_geek]

I would be really shocked if he was brought back on similar numbers.
(also couldn't understand the 9 million 3 years they gave him 2007).

IF he is brought back, the goal has to be, that he is no better than the 5th big in the front court rotation. and such a player should not get more than minimum to 2M. (no idea if he would sign for that money, but I doubt he gets better offers)
so, if they bring in Splitter and can't find a better option than Bonner for the 5th spot behind Tim, Dice, Blair and Splitter, so be it.

Given the sheer number of roster spots the Spurs will have to fill this offseason I'd think Bonner's chances of returning improve simply due to the Spurs having Bird rights on him. They won't need to use an exception on him. Assuming of course the price is right. I'd guess the Spurs would offer Matt something like 2yrs with the second being a TO at $2 mil per.

[Blake]

I'd take Bonner back. He's not someone you want to have to depend on, but that doesn't mean he still can't be a useful piece. Find that legit PF/C to put next to Duncan and you no longer have to worry about whether or not Bonner's O will make up for his D on a given night. There's no denying that when Bonner's knocking down 3's life gets a lot easier offensively for the Spurs as a whole. That's something the Spurs would benefit from having around, provided they've also got the insurance of not having to depend on him to be a defensive post presence.

I concur

[mountainballer]

Given the sheer number of roster spots the Spurs will have to fill this offseason I'd think Bonner's chances of returning improve simply due to the Spurs having Bird rights on him. They won't need to use an exception on him. Assuming of course the price is right. I'd guess the Spurs would offer Matt something like 2yrs with the second being a TO at $2 mil per.

agree. the mentioned 2+2 with a TO for next year (or a 50% guarantee) are somehow reasonable. the TO would give the Spurs a better position to decide what to do 2011. (keep Dice and Matt, keep either/or, keep none)

[DesignatedT]

I wouldn't mind resigning Matty. He is a decent option off the bench and if someone else comes and is better i dont see him bitching too much about PT.

[timtonymanu]

OK I'm officially over this guy.

Badass regular season player but goddamn horrible playoff player.


Hit the road, Matt!

[objective]

Bonner is a choker and playing him or re-signing him is just asking for failure.

[HarlemHeat37]

Bonner has been so bad in these playoffs that he actually has a negative +/-..Matt Bonner, the +/- king, has a negative number..

[4>0rings]

Screw this bum. Where are all the Bonner taint sniffers at? I'am looking at you Tpark.

[longhorn]

I'm so sick of this guy I scream every time he gets put in. Ian would even be more serviceable as a big when Time/Dice need a rest.

[Bruno]

A couple of weeks ago, some people were saying that Spurs should/could trade Dice this summer and re-sign Bonner. It's funny how fast things can change...

We will see what will happen in the next games, but, so far, it doesn't look good at all for Bonner.

[mountainballer]

same procedure as every year. come PO time Bonner somehow manages to cut down his production to an even lower level than the years before.
(3.3 PPG on 29% FG. jesus!)
I don't want to say he didn't try to play better. in fact he does try hard and also works on defense. he just can't.
Bonner should just play for a team, that never makes the PO.
(which is not the Spurs. obviously)

[TDMVPDPOY]

only reason to keep him arond is he can spread the floor thats about it...minimum wage is ideal anything more tell him gtfo...

if we going to replace him, is there any bigs available this summer that can shoot the 3?

[MaNu4Tres]

if we going to replace him, is there any bigs available this summer that can shoot the 3?

I rather try to resign Mahimni as our 5th big.

[tuncaboylu]

We can offer him veteran minimum and if he wants to stay no problem for me. I think he wouldn't get a better offer anywhere else and he's happy in San Antonio.(His brother is playing for Toros)

[MaNu4Tres]

We can offer him veteran minimum and if he wants to stay no problem for me. I think he wouldn't get a better offer anywhere else and he's happy in San Antonio.(His brother is playing for Toros)

With Splitter here next year, the time will be scarce at best for Bonner anyway as a 5th big.

[tuncaboylu]

With Splitter here next year, the time will be scarce at best for Bonner anyway as a 5th big. I rather try to resign Mahimni as our 5th big.


Yes if we can land on Splitter, Bonner will be our 5th or 6th big(depends on Mahinmi). But 6 bigs doesn't hurt too much when one of them comes so cheap. He can shoot three, 6 11 and knows the Spurs, i can easily jump on Bonner if he accepts veteran minimum.

If Splitter jons us, he will be a project next year. The expectations are too high about him, but he's still not have enough physical body to battle here. Dice and Duncan is aging and if Splitter struggles at te beginnning of the season, we would use a guy we know in regular season.

[MaNu4Tres]

Yes if we can land on Splitter, Bonner will be our 5th or 6th big(depends on Mahinmi). But 6 bigs doesn't hurt too much when one of them comes so cheap. He can shoot three, 6 11 and knows the Spurs, i can easily jump on Bonner if he accepts veteran minimum.

If Splitter jons us, he will be a project next year. The expectations are too high about him, but he's still not have enough physical body to battle here. Dice and Duncan is aging and if Splitter struggles at te beginnning of the season, we would use a guy we know in regular season.

If Bonner accepts the minimum and accepts being the 5th big in the rotation, I'm fine with that. I just don't see the first premise happening.

And Splitter won't be a project next year. The guy is as seasoned and ready as they come. He's probably more NBA ready than Manu was when made the jump in 2003. And Splitter has a physical body that's ready for the NBA. Splitter will be our starting center by the end of the 1st or 2nd month of the season. If not sooner.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

We probably should also be talking about replacement stretch 4s in general. Who would you prefer? I wonder if we could prise Ryan Anderson away from Orlando?

[Bruno]

There are two kinds of players I like to end at the end of the bench:
- Young players who have the upside to become more than end of the bench players.
- Seasoned vets who can step up in an emergency situation and give few solid minutes in a playoff game.

Bonner isn't obviously in the first category and if his playoffs sucking continue, he won't be in the second one.

And with the luxury tax, nothing is "cheap". Bonner for the min will cost $1.7M to Spurs. IMO, his market value is more around $2M, that is to say a $4M cost for Spurs.

[MaNu4Tres]

There are two kinds of players I like to end at the end of the bench:
- Young players who have the upside to become more than end of the bench players.
- Seasoned vets who can step up in an emergency situation and give few solid minutes in a playoff game.


Agreed completely.

[hsxvvd]

We probably should also be talking about replacement stretch 4s in general. Who would you prefer? I wonder if we could prise Ryan Anderson away from Orlando?

But can Ryan Anderson find the Hoagie Grail?

[coyotes_geek]

Bonner does appear to be focused on playing his way out of town.

[Agloco]

I rather try to resign Mahimni as our 5th big.

This. Ian appears to do just fine when given minutes, even if it is against bench fodder. The Spurs are really short right now, literally. We're essentially playing a 2 and a half Big Man rotation of Duncan, McDyess, and occasionally Blair. Length is what we need. Resigning Ian with Splitter coming over would be just what the Spurs need.

[tuncaboylu]

If Bonner accepts the minimum and accepts being the 5th big in the rotation, I'm fine with that. I just don't see the first premise happening.

And Splitter won't be a project next year. The guy is as seasoned and ready as they come. He's probably more NBA ready than Manu was when made the jump in 2003. And Splitter has a physical body that's ready for the NBA. Splitter will be our starting center by the end of the 1st or 2nd month of the season. If not sooner.

I watched too many games of Splitter this year in this year European competition, cause of living in Turkey. He is really thin to play center at NBA at the moment, he can be outmuscle by nearly every center of the league right now. He's thin,(but he's a superior athlete) and has a SF size right now. Next year we should strength his body, if we use him as starting center he will struggle a lot.

Manu is a different story, he was fast and furious and a back-court player. He didn't need to be strengthen his upper body because of his skill set.

Remember Scola and his first year... He was a bull-like player in Europe and have hard times in his firt year, even he was a PF.

I'm an admirer of Splitter, he will be an excellent player here. His worst will be better than Marcus Camby, i can guarantee it. But next year, if he joins us, don't expect a sudden impact.



And with the luxury tax, nothing is "cheap". Bonner for the min will cost $1.7M to Spurs. IMO, his market value is more around $2M, that is to say a $4M cost for Spurs.

Upps, I thought that he will get 1M as veteran minimum, as Bogans gets this year. You're right, 1.7M is too much, because we are over the luxury thrashold. And if we will sign with Spliiter(full MLE), the cost of the squad can't absorb another 3.4M. We can sign one f our 2nd round draft choice to 450K for saving

[mountainballer]

We probably should also be talking about replacement stretch 4s in general. Who would you prefer? I wonder if we could prise Ryan Anderson away from Orlando?

I don't think Anderson could be acquired via trade. (unless a team is willing to swallow one of the bloated contracts of players like Bass and Gortat and still sends back a decent talent).
Anderson still has two cheap years on his rookie contract, he is still only 21 and looks as if he could develop into a nice complementary player with the Magic. (different to Bass). his season wasn't that impressive by the overall numbers, but looks pretty nice in some statistical details and the fact that he got more PT than either Bass and Gortat (who combine for 10 million $ per season) tells a lot about is status in Orlando.

if Spurs try to acquire a stretch big via trade, maybe a Player like Jason Smith could be got for cheap. (if the Sixers gave up on him). or they look for such a player in the free agency.
Tolliver again? (he's RFA and Warriors might want to keep him tough)
Pecherov?
(yeah I know. I was just thinking about some young players, who might have some not yet unleashed potential and who probably could be hired for cheap)

[pad300]

Currently, I wouldn't resign Bonner, even for the vet min. We are a team that wants to be contending for the rest of the Duncan era... What is the point for SAS signing a guy who has never been able to produce in the post-season. He's had several playoff series, and never succeeded. He's a pretty good regular season minute sponge, but I don't see a point if he's going to shrivel up and hide in the postseason; I'd rather use a rookie (or Mahnimi) and try to develop him.

[HarlemHeat37]

Bonner really belongs on a team that doesn't make the playoffs, like mountainballer said..he could be a good mentor for some young players, produce nicely for some bad teams..he just isn't cut out for playoff basketball, unless we saw a drastic and shocking improvement if the Spurs make it past the 1st round..

As for Ryno, as a Magic fan too(because of VC), I wouldn't touch Anderson..he's a good player and better than Bonner, but he's one of the biggest chuckers in the NBA and way too inconsistent on D..SVG had to bench him for about a month or more because of his tendencies..I don't think Pop would get along with him based on his style of play..he's more suited for a bench role, but he'll probably end up getting more $ than that from a bad team(eventually) IMO..

[Bruno]

Upps, I thought that he will get 1M as veteran minimum, as Bogans gets this year. You're right, 1.7M is too much, because we are over the luxury thrashold. And if we will sign with Spliiter(full MLE), the cost of the squad can't absorb another 3.4M. We can sign one f our 2nd round draft choice to 450K for saving

It's $1.7M with the luxury tax.

And because of the luxury tax, I can see Spurs carrying a roster with 13 players and only 5 PF/C under contract.

[timtonymanu]

I hate this guy even more than Mason now.

Mason's not fully to blame for his suckage this year because Pop messed his game up.
Bonner on the other hand has just been told to shoot, his specialty and he cant even make those.

Bonner please go join your brother in the Toros.

[baseline bum]

Good call taking this fucker over Scola, RC!

[Darkwaters]

Hes done. next...

[mountainballer]

if at the beginning of this PO people thought the sample size of Bonner's PO appearances is still to small to call him a total PO bust, I think now it's fair to call it what it is.
Bonner isn't a NBA player when it really counts. not even a 3rd stringer. and this also discounts the theory that his shooting is somehow useful and necessary for the Spurs. when his only quality disappears right in the moment, it would be needed most, it seems counter productive that the team gets used to it and relies on it during the season. better work on and work with qualities you know will still be there, when the PO start.

I thought it is somehow reasonable to re sign Bonner for cheap (max 2M per) so he helps during the regular season. I no longer think that way. I wouldn't want him back for the minimum.

[objective]

Bonner is a choker and playing him or re-signing him is just asking for failure.

the objective truth

:depressed

[TheProfessor]

I understand that no one wants Bonner back, from if the Spurs want a stretch 4 after using the MLE on Splitter, what options will there be on the market at the min? I worry they will just default on Bonner, with the understanding that he will receive far fewer minutes in next year's rotation.

[coyotes_geek]

I understand that no one wants Bonner back, from if the Spurs want a stretch 4 after using the MLE on Splitter, what options will there be on the market at the min? I worry they will just default on Bonner, with the understanding that he will receive far fewer minutes in next year's rotation.

That's the problem. The Spurs have a lot of holes to fill this offseason and not a lot of cap exceptions to fill them with. Between Bonner, Mason, Bogans, Mahinmi, Temple, Gee and Jerrells you've got basically half the roster that should probably be turned over. That's going to be hard to pull off with only an MLE, a BAE, a 1st round draft pick and league min contracts. I think the numbers game dictates that someone out of the Bonner, Mason, Bogans, Mahinmi group has to be brought back for the simple reason that the Spurs are simply going to run out of cap exceptions.

[objective]

Anyone would be better than Bonner. A d-leaguer like Tolliver would be better than Bonner. Funny how Tolliver got his walking papers for shooting like Bonner even though he brought other things like good passing. Bonner shoots like Bonner and gets more chances and I would think is in line for another 3 years for 10 contract.

A draftee would be preferable in next year's playoffs. Give me Heyward and smallball, I'd rather have him shooting. Give me James Gist. Give me Viktor Sanikidze, who makes things happen even when his shot isn't going down too well. Can you imagine Bonner getting a game-saving block at the 3-point line like Sanikidze did this past year in Italy? Me neither.

Sean Marks is a free agent. I honestly would rather live and die in the playoffs on the play of Sean Marks than commit playoff suicide with Bonner.

[Spur-Addict]

Goodbye Bonner.

[Bartleby]

Mason's not fully to blame for his suckage this year because Pop messed his game up.
Bonner on the other hand has just been told to shoot, his specialty and he cant even make those.


No, they both suck and neither gets a pass for failing to do the one thing they were expected to do: make open threes.