Hollinger: Breaking down latest offseason moves (insider, please post)

[jiggy_55]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=moves-100712&action=upsell&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dmoves-100713

Would appreciate if someone would post the Splitter part he has in this insider article. :toast

[Vic Petro]

Didn't see a mention of Splitter in the article.

[JMarkJohns]

I'd be appreciative if the article in its entirety could be posted. I'm curious to see what "PER" has to say about Childress (I imagine good) and Turkolgu (I imagine negative).

Thanks

[deibero]

THIS IS HOLLINGER'S PART REGARDING SPLITTER:

Splitter signs for a song
Here it is, the best free-agent deal of the summer: Tiago Splitter hooking up with the Spurs for three years and $10.9 million. Entering the offseason, most thought the Spurs would need their entire midlevel exception to lure Splitter, a 2007 first-round draft pick who no longer is bound by the rookie contract scale, from his team in Spain.
If you want to know how much European teams are struggling right now, take a look at that price tag. A year ago it was unthinkable; two years ago, absurd. Now, with franchises overseas struggling even more than the ones in the U.S., we've seen two expats return (Linas Kleiza (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2770) and Josh Childress (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2373)) and the Brazilian big man Splitter finally take the plunge.
Splitter is seen as a high-energy center in the mold of countryman Anderson Varejao (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2419) -- he's more physical, less hyper and a bit more skilled, but just as vexing for opponents. Given the price other teams are paying for second-tier big men, it's shocking that the Spurs could lock him up so cheaply. And with nearly half their midlevel exception left to spend upgrading the backcourt, the Spurs can redouble their efforts to add some talent on the wings.

[JMarkJohns]

I'd be appreciative if the article in its entirety could be posted. I'm curious to see what "PER" has to say about Childress (I imagine good) and Turkolgu (I imagine negative).

Thanks

Bump? Thanks!

[Ginobili2Duncan]

Suns agree to acquire Josh Childress (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2373) from Atlanta


The Suns continued to rebuild their post-Amare Stoudemire (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1727) roster, agreeing to give Josh Childress (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2373) a five-year deal for the midlevel exception ($34 million); it's technically a sign-and-trade that will leave them with about $6.5 million on their trade exception from the Stoudemire deal.
Atlanta still owned Childress' rights even though he played the past two years in Greece. He was one of my favorites in Atlanta -- an underrated, impactful sixth man who could score without having plays called for him. He's a great rebounder for his size and a decent ball handler and defender, but he's a poor outside shooter. For that reason, it will be interesting to see how he fits in Phoenix's floor-spacing system, but as long as he's not sharing the floor with Grant Hill (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=336) it shouldn't be too problematic.
My other misgiving with the deal is that it pays Childress 'til he's nearly 32 years old. Given his attributes, it's very unlikely that Childress will age well in his late 20s and early 30s, and as a result the last two years of the deal in particular are likely to be wasted money. He'll return some of that value on the front end, and if he plays like he did in Atlanta it will end up a wash and be a decent deal for the Suns.
The cost to Phoenix was only a second-round pick; the Hawks also get a small trade exception that is made smaller by Childress' base-year compensation status. I suppose the exception could net them something of value and they weren't about to go into the tax for Childress, but the Hawks don't walk away with a whole lot here.

[JMarkJohns]

Thanks!

Where the hell does he get poor outside shooter? The 36% career average is borderline very good, and he's had seasons better than that? I watched him for three seasons at Stanford and he's never been a volume chucker, and is very selective about what perimeter shot he takes, but that's not a bad thing, and he's clearly, worst case, average to slightly above average from range. I don't think the age issue is a concern. 32 isn't that old for the final year, and the Suns staff works miracles as far as health and sustained high levels of play for post-30 players. He's a heady player that uses spacing, timing and positioning to play well. If he can find his touch from range and rebound well, he'll be worth his contract, even later into it.