Mavs claim Eddy Curry off waivers

[chazley]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/8552043/dallas-mavericks-claim-veteran-eddy-curry-waivers

Another big man stolen from us.

[DesignatedT]

lol

[yavozerb]

:lol, The mavs can have him...

[Raven]

what for?

[chazley]

It's clear that Pop kept Powell around because he feels that his prospects for playing next to Duncan are much better because he has a midrange J. Curry would've been the third center on this roster, a prospect that probably neither side would've been comfortable with. At this point, it is looking like Powell has made the team.

[phxspurfan]

wow, wtf

[Kidd K]

"Stolen"? They did us a favor by taking his contract. Now we don't have to pay his worthless ass.

Curry is dead weight. You won't miss him, trust me. You will be laughing at how the Mavs actually give him playing time. . .if they by some miracle don't waive him too.

[lmbebo]

1st Mahini, now Curry! Mavs are stealing our big men!

/end sarcasm

[PublicOption]

I want Bernard James. You think we could pry him from Dallas.

[Richie]

I want Bernard James. You think we could pry him from Dallas.

He was absolutely worth trading up in the draft. Gutted we didn't make a move

[swaggerjackson]

Anybody else think this Delonte West incident was an excuse to waive him to get Curry?:stirpot:

[dbestpro]

Powell is only on the team to try and make fans forget about Blair and Bonner. Curry actually might have had the opposite affect.

[Steve-O-Matic]

Maybe this means we're about to sign Leon Smith.

[Juggity]

First game against the Spurs, Cuban will make sure he plays just to spite the Spurs organization :lol

[The_Worlds_finest]

Leon Smith!!!

[sananspursfan21]

tbh, he looks better in blue and green

[timvp]

:lol Now if Curry re-energizes his career, this will double or triple the amount of meltdown we witness.

Tbh, I'll probably be melting down too if Curry shows a pulse on the Mavs.

[Phenomanul]

:lol Now if Curry re-energizes his career, this will double or triple the amount of meltdown we witness.

Tbh, I'll probably be melting down too if Curry shows a pulse on the Mavs.

Especially given your analytical exposé of how historically bad Powell's game has been throughout the past decade...

[racm]

Their best defensive big might be Elton Brand.

[chazley]

It just sucks Curry didn't fit at all on this team - to me he looked incredible scoring the basketball around the basket. Pop's refusal to play anyone next to Duncan who can't score outside 8 feet other than Blair basically made Curry redundant with Tiago on the roster, even though their games are almost nothing alike.

[jesterbobman]

If Curry plays and Brand doesn't, it was a great CIA Pop move.

[racm]

It just sucks Curry didn't fit at all on this team - to me he looked incredible scoring the basketball around the basket. Pop's refusal to play anyone next to Duncan who can't score outside 8 feet other than Blair basically made Curry redundant with Tiago on the roster, even though their games are almost nothing alike.

His problem wasn't scoring - it was the fact that apart from putting the ball in the basket he doesn't have the skills a Spurs big needs. Namely rebounding and post defense.

[dylankerouac]

They have been searching for said player for so long that Tim is going to be gone by the time they find Mr. Perfect. And trying to find him in the bargain bin is a ridiculous notion, considering this player should play defense and rebound - oh yeah these kinds of players can easily be found which is exactly why they have found no such player in the past few years.

Maybe Curry doesn't provide defense and rebounding but Tim, Diaw and Bonner all have some type of range and at this point Tim should not be asked to work in the low block for long periods of time.

Blair has shown some type of mid-range game in the pre-season but I would be surprised if he continues to use this effectively throughout the season and then into the playoffs. This will be his first season in implementing an effective jumper in his game, I don't expect it to take him very far. This doesn't consider the mistakes he continues to make, his presumed ineffectiveness in the playoffs and the fact that Pop won't play him during the playoffs anyway.

Tiago has the height but almost no authority in his post-up game, he's a big softy. Curry provided height and a post-up game that has to be respected. He was simply a bargain at the vet minimum and provided offense in a weak area for the Spurs, an area that would surely benefit them in the playoffs. He may not be a dynamic player that can play many positions and have an A-rating across the board but this is the bargain bin we're talking about.

[pookenstein]

Another big man stolen from us.

It's not stealing when we simply let him go...

[SenorSpur]

They have been searching for said player for so long that Tim is going to be gone by the time they find Mr. Perfect. And trying to find him in the bargain bin is a ridiculous notion, considering this player should play defense and rebound - oh yeah these kinds of players can easily be found which is exactly why they have found no such player in the past few years.

Maybe Curry doesn't provide defense and rebounding but Tim, Diaw and Bonner all have some type of range and at this point Tim should not be asked to work in the low block for long periods of time.

Blair has shown some type of mid-range game in the pre-season but I would be surprised if he continues to use this effectively throughout the season and then into the playoffs. This will be his first season in implementing an effective jumper in his game, I don't expect it to take him very far. This doesn't consider the mistakes he continues to make, his presumed ineffectiveness in the playoffs and the fact that Pop won't play him during the playoffs anyway.

Tiago has the height but almost no authority in his post-up game, he's a big softy. Curry provided height and a post-up game that has to be respected. He was simply a bargain at the vet minimum and provided offense in a weak area for the Spurs, an area that would surely benefit them in the playoffs. He may not be a dynamic player that can play many positions and have an A-rating across the board but this is the bargain bin we're talking about.

All good points. Not to mention, that Curry was so effective around the basket that it's conceivable teams would've tried to double him up, at times, thereby freeing up the Spurs cast of outside shooters. Of course, Curry is an end-of-the-bench player, but considering his size, power and offensive prowess in the paint, I really thought he could've helped the Spurs in some capacity - especially since the Spurs have been undersized along the frontline about 2-3 years now. It's a very long season and he could've helped give Tim a rest on occasion.

Speaking of Duncan, Pop is so much in love with the league's trend toward "small ball" and undersized players, that I'm a bit surprised that he bothered to resign Tim at all. :lol

[therealtruth]

All good points. Not to mention, that Curry was so effective around the basket that it's conceivable teams would've tried to double him up, at times, thereby freeing up the Spurs cast of outside shooters. Of course, Curry is an end-of-the-bench player, but considering his size, power and offensive prowess in the paint, I really thought he could've helped the Spurs in some capacity - especially since the Spurs have been undersized along the frontline about 2-3 years now. It's a very long season and he could've helped give Tim a rest on occasion.

Speaking of Duncan, Pop is so much in love with the league's trend toward "small ball" and undersized players, that I'm a bit surprised that he bothered to resign Tim at all. :lol

Exactly. The Spurs really need a good low post scoring threat with how many good shooters they have. It will even help Bonner's game. It's much easier to hit a 3 of a double in the post than a penetration and kick, which is easier to recover from.

The frustrating thing is it seems the Spurs have no plan to get that bigman that can defend, rebound, and score. Are they going to try developing a raw talent or are they going to trade for a guy. Is it easier to get a minimum talent that can rebound and defend and then work on his offense or the other way around? It looks like the Spurs are looking for polished products and they won't find that in the bargain bin. Because they can't develop bigmen they are not willing to take on any "projects". If we had taken on a project in the past few years and had been developing him we could have a pretty good bigman now.

[wildbill2u]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/8552043/dallas-mavericks-claim-veteran-eddy-curry-waivers

Another big man stolen from us.

When you put your trash out for pickup, do you call it stealing if a homeless man picks through it for scraps you can't use?

[DPG21920]

We couldn't have used championship rotation big man Ian Mahinmi?

[dbestpro]

Pop has never had a clue on how to develop or use a big man that did not come already made. Lets face it. Pop was a better coach when he didn't think he knew too much.

[Kidd K]

Exactly. The Spurs really need a good low post scoring threat with how many good shooters they have. It will even help Bonner's game. It's much easier to hit a 3 of a double in the post than a penetration and kick, which is easier to recover from.

The frustrating thing is it seems the Spurs have no plan to get that bigman that can defend, rebound, and score. Are they going to try developing a raw talent or are they going to trade for a guy. Is it easier to get a minimum talent that can rebound and defend and then work on his offense or the other way around? It looks like the Spurs are looking for polished products and they won't find that in the bargain bin. Because they can't develop bigmen they are not willing to take on any "projects". If we had taken on a project in the past few years and had been developing him we could have a pretty good bigman now.

That sort of thing costs a lot of money, and unfortunately the owner isn't willing to spend for it anymore. I'm not sure why since he makes quite a bit of money off the Spurs and we won't be very good anymore in a few years, but that is the case for whatever reason.

There are bigs like that out there, but they cost 8 million+ a year. We're lucky to have gotten Diaw for as little as we did. Basically we have to pin our hopes on everyone being healthy again, and guys stepping up more than they did last year. Unfortunately that means our odds of winning aren't very high since we need most of our dice to roll onto the "6" in order to get a championship this year. It's possible, but not very likely unless the main competiton ends up getting blown out knees and destroyed ankles or something.



Pop has never had a clue on how to develop or use a big man that did not come already made. Lets face it. Pop was a better coach when he didn't think he knew too much.

Nobody else made Curry work either. You can't bemoan Pop for giving up on a guy everyone else has given up on because he's given up on himself. That's an unrealistic expectation. Is Pop also a bad coach because he can't make Blair grow 5 inches taller? Or make Ginobili and Duncan 5 years younger? There's just some stuff a coach can't do.

[Ocotillo]

Cuban must read Spurstalk and is doing this just to screw with us........ :lol

[EJFischer]

If the Spurs invited Curry to training camp just to raise his stock enough that a division rival wastes time on him, it might go down as one of the sneakiest moves of the post-defense-first era. It's not like the Mavs are scary this year regardless, but if I ever see Eddy Curry and Jae Crowder on the court at the same time, I'm going to laugh and drink to the San Antonio front office.

[SenorSpur]

That sort of thing costs a lot of money, and unfortunately the owner isn't willing to spend for it anymore. I'm not sure why since he makes quite a bit of money off the Spurs and we won't be very good anymore in a few years, but that is the case for whatever reason.

There are bigs like that out there, but they cost 8 million+ a year. We're lucky to have gotten Diaw for as little as we did. Basically we have to pin our hopes on everyone being healthy again, and guys stepping up more than they did last year. Unfortunately that means our odds of winning aren't very high since we need most of our dice to roll onto the "6" in order to get a championship this year. It's possible, but not very likely unless the main competiton ends up getting blown out knees and destroyed ankles or something.




Nobody else made Curry work either. You can't bemoan Pop for giving up on a guy everyone else has given up on because he's given up on himself. That's an unrealistic expectation. Is Pop also a bad coach because he can't make Blair grow 5 inches taller? Or make Ginobili and Duncan 5 years younger? There's just some stuff a coach can't do.

Pop isn't a bad coach and that's not the point anyway. He's a bad developer of big men. As a matter of fact, it goes much deeper than that. He's proven to everyone that he's in love with guards. I don't care what trend the league is going. Two years ago, Memphis not only outhustled and outworked the Spurs on the perimeter, but kicked their asses in the paint. Last year, the Thunder did more of the same. The Spurs were left powerless to do anything about it. The Spurs have gotten their asses kicked around in the playoffs because they're no longer able to defend and their best players are now older. What more does anyone need to see? You cannot simply outscore people - especially in the playoffs. At some point, you have to get stops. Having another defensive-minded, "big-in-waiting" to pair along with Duncan should've been a priority about four years ago. Of course, it's always far easier to grow your own than try and lure one in free agencyt. The fact that hasn't taken a draft-day flier on another big man since Tiago Splitter/Ryan Richards is beyond explanation.

[xmas1997]

Since the Spurs let go of a really serviceable big like Curry, that have to be considering somebody even better, otherwise that would have been an insane move. So I expect something really major very soon because the Spurs don't make insane moves.

[ChumpDumper]

The fact that hasn't taken a draft-day flier on another big man since Tiago Splitter/Ryan Richards is beyond explanation. Because they mostly suck.

As do the guards in those draft positions.

[Malik Hairston]

Again, a lot of people are acting like this is a Mahinmi/Hairston type situation, where we want to see a player get a shot to prove himself..

Curry is a proven NBA player, especially in regards to scoring..he isn't a fringe player..his issue has always been health/conditioning/motivation..he has lost over a 100 pounds the last 2 years and he appears motivated and ready to contribute..

This is a great risk for the Mavs, just as it would have been for the Spurs..they need interior scoring even more than the Spurs do, as Dirk is a perimeter player(also hurt at the moment), Brand is a mid-range player and Kaman is inefficient and perennially overrated..

[Kidd K]

Pop isn't a bad coach and that's not the point anyway. He's a bad developer of big men. As a matter of fact, it goes much deeper than that. He's proven to everyone that he's in love with guards. I don't care what trend the league is going. Two years ago, Memphis not only outhustled and outworked the Spurs on the perimeter, but kicked their asses in the paint. Last year, the Thunder did more of the same. The Spurs were left powerless to do anything about it. The Spurs have gotten their asses kicked around in the playoffs because they're no longer able to defend and their best players are now older. What more does anyone need to see? You cannot simply outscore people - especially in the playoffs. At some point, you have to get stops. Having another defensive-minded, "big-in-waiting" to pair along with Duncan should've been a priority about four years ago. Of course, it's always far easier to grow your own than try and lure one in free agencyt. The fact that hasn't taken a draft-day flier on another big man since Tiago Splitter/Ryan Richards is beyond explanation.

What young big men have we had with great potential that needed to grow? Every halfway decent big man gets taken in the first 15 spots in every draft now because they're so rare. Every halfway decent big man now gets 8 million a year at least even if they're little more than a lumberwagon with height and halfway decent defensive timing and practically zero offensive skills (like Omer Asik).

We have crap draft position every year. We're almost always in the 25-30 area when no bigs are left. So I ask you, who is it we're supposed to grow? Have there been any big men (actual big men, not undersized PFs) that have been drafted AFTER us at any point in the last 5 years that turned into something more than Tiago Splitter is?

It's easy to just look and see that we don't have any big men. But it's another entirely to blame Popovich for it when the main reason we haven't done so is because of poor draft positioning. I think getting Blair and Splitter with the picks we made is a pretty nice success. No one else in the NBA has done better with picks that bad or worse. All the good or even halfway decent bigs are getting taken in the top 20. Usually in the top 12.

You can't take crap and turn it into gold. There has to be potential there first, and we haven't been fortunate enough to get decent draft picks. We have to pick off the bottom of the barrel, and all the big men with promise are gone by then unless they're overseas (and years away from actual NBA eligibility), or have some serious problem like have no ACLs or are 4-5 inches undersized. . .or both.

I'm also annoyed at the lack of having a big man, but it's ludicrous to blame Pop for it. Not to rehash what I just said to be annoying, but it's just not within the realm of realistic possibility to expect us to have drafted and grown some great big man given the circumstances. The only thing he could've done differently is suck the owner's dick several dozen times so he'd pay up so we could keep Scola rather than just say fuck it, I wanna be top 5 in profit margin, not just top 10.

We took Splitter in 2007 (good pick, and a big man), George Hill in 2008 (excellent pick), Blair in 2009 (another good pick considering our best pick was 37th in the draft), 2010 our picks didn't pan out but no bigs worth mentioning were taken after that besides two busts in Dexter Pittman and Derek Character. We got Leonard in 2011. 2012 all we had was the 59th pick.

Where did we go wrong in drafting? Who did we miss? I'm looking at the draft picks after ours and I'm not seeing any talented 6'10"+ guys taken. And of course, that would be irrelevant anyway even if there were (which there aren't), because the Spurs have done such a great job picking up useful guys at spots in the draft every other team doesn't do nearly as well with, and are essentially saying "dude you missed one, you fuckin suck".

We did fine. Our bad draft positions just make it impossible to find and grow big men since all the good ones are gone well before our turn comes up to pick. The only complaint you should be making is that the owner's a cheapskate who won't buy a decent free agent to come in and help. He refuses to lower his profit margin even though he'd still be well into the black. It seems like he just wants to ride out the team and make cash now, not win. That's the only real complaint there is to make right now imo. Check out Forbes.com if you don't believe me. Spurs are raking in lots of money right now. They're not poor and could afford a team salary 10m higher (including luxury tax penalty) and still be making a normal NBA profit rather than be in the top 5 or 6 for profit which we are now.

[-21-]

LOL

[Drom John]

We have crap draft position every year. We're almost always in the 25-30 area when no bigs are left. So I ask you, who is it we're supposed to grow? Have there been any big men (actual big men, not undersized PFs) that have been drafted AFTER us at any point in the last 5 years that turned into something more than Tiago Splitter is?

Marc Gasol

But point taken.

[Brazil]

meanwhile

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/spurs/imgs/Screen%20Shot%202012-10-26%20at%201.46.24%20PM.png

[monkeypunk]

meanwhile

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/spurs/imgs/Screen%20Shot%202012-10-26%20at%201.46.24%20PM.png

Matty's a nice guy but if he's not the 5th big off the bench then GTFO!

:flipoff

:lol

[ohmwrecker]

So, it's OK to make fun of Eddy Curry again?

[dbestpro]

That's right! We don't draft em ,and if we do, we don't develop em! Long diatribe to a agree with the initial point.

[superbigtime]

Pop wants to do it his way. But who doesn't ... everyone wants it their way. Spurs fans are stuck with this grump coach basically until Pop decides he wants to leave. It won't come soon enough for me. I am betting that will not be when Duncan retires but years after. I'm thinking this dinosaur is gonna be in town for 5 years more at least. And why not? He's getting paid very well, he runs the show and does what he wants, and he has the league's respect despite obvious shortcomings. He reminds me of Jerry Sloan. He wants players with heart and a hard-scrabble story, not ability or clutchness. I can't stand either of them. My buddy at work who I split season tickets with were guardedly excited as Spurs entered the playoffs, but we knew Pop would fuck it up and unfortunately we weren't wrong. He's a sure thing.

[Kidd K]

Marc Gasol

But point taken.

That's 6 years ago. I said last 5. No big deal though. Splitter was also viewed as the better big man of the two at the time, and likely would've been taken before Gasol. ESPN was on the whole, "I'll be damned, San Antonio did it again" train as soon as they made the pick.

[wildbill2u]

Attention! Eddie Curry will start for Mavs tonight and for the foreseeable future. After averaging $400,000 per point in salary during his career, he is now floating in a tub of butter in Dallas.

Mavs are 'resting' Eldon Brand. Kaman is injured and out for a while. Dirk had a knee operation today. Dontay Jones suspended indefinitely (probably means he will be traded)

[Jodelo]

Attention! Eddie Curry will start for Mavs tonight and for the foreseeable future. After averaging $400,000 per point in salary during his career, he is now floating in a tub of butter in Dallas.

Mavs are 'resting' Eldon Brand. Kaman is injured and out for a while. Dirk had a knee operation today. Dontay Jones suspended indefinitely (probably means he will be traded)

Wrong... Both, the person and writing the name. :lmao

[therealtruth]

Pop wants to do it his way. But who doesn't ... everyone wants it their way. Spurs fans are stuck with this grump coach basically until Pop decides he wants to leave. It won't come soon enough for me. I am betting that will not be when Duncan retires but years after. I'm thinking this dinosaur is gonna be in town for 5 years more at least. And why not? He's getting paid very well, he runs the show and does what he wants, and he has the league's respect despite obvious shortcomings. He reminds me of Jerry Sloan. He wants players with heart and a hard-scrabble story, not ability or clutchness. I can't stand either of them. My buddy at work who I split season tickets with were guardedly excited as Spurs entered the playoffs, but we knew Pop would fuck it up and unfortunately we weren't wrong. He's a sure thing.

At least Sloan's teams fought hard to the end. Spurs fans got to be hurting. It looks like the Mavs will start Curry.

[ace3g]

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/ZWZPw3yrPGUpEXgZWZUAXQ--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTUxMjtjcj0xO2N3PTM3MjtkeD0xO2 R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9NTEyO3E9NzA7dz0zNzI-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_NBA/201210262100756081660-p2.jpg

[SenorSpur]

What young big men have we had with great potential that needed to grow?

I'm gonna stop you right there - Ian Mahinmi. Drafted by the Spurs in 2005, his injury-riddled Spurs tenure is well-documented. Still, he's turned into a serviceable backup center, which is all that was really expected from him. I know people roll their eyes at the mention of his name, but from a production standpoint, I'd rather have the current version of Mahinmi, complete with his foul-prone propensity, than the annual playoff choking of Bonner and the spastic, inconsistent production and weight-flucuations of Blair.

As for their annual low drafting position, that doesn't and shouldn't mean that a team "mails it in", just because they're drafting low. The names of a couple of project bigs, that were recently taken at the bottom of the first round or top of the second, who come to mind are Daniel Orton (#29 - Orlando 2010) and Nikola Peković (#31 by Minnesota - 2008) and DeAndre Jordan (#35 by LA Clipppers - 2008). None of these guys are world beaters and I agree that you're not going to uncover a future HOFer drafting that low. However in the case of Pekovic, he may very well turn to be better than all of them. The Spurs are hailed around the NBA for the drafting prowess and rightfully so. Who knows? Perhaps they didn't like either of these guys.

And Peter Holt has nothing to do with whom the Spurs select in the draft, so blaming him because Pop has fallen in love with "small ball" is misguided. The point is rather that swing for the fences on smalls, as they tend to do so often, the Spurs rarely, if ever, swing for the fences on a project big. That's the point I was making.

[jesterbobman]

Pek is defensible. Everyone knew/thought he was going to be good, but that he wouldn't sign for the Low Salary of a late 1st round pick. So if we drafted him, We'd have been expecting to wait 3 years for him to come, just as with Splitter. Not worth having 2 guys in that situation. There's a reason he went 31st, not 30th. The George Hill pick also kind of worked out

[therealtruth]

I'm gonna stop you right there - Ian Mahinmi. Drafted by the Spurs in 2005, his injury-riddled Spurs tenure is well-documented. Still, he's turned into a serviceable backup center, which is all that was really expected from him. I know people roll their eyes at the mention of his name, but from a production standpoint, I'd rather have the current version of Mahinmi, complete with his foul-prone propensity, than the annual playoff choking of Bonner and the spastic, inconsistent production and weight-flucuations of Blair.

As for their annual low drafting position, that doesn't and shouldn't mean that a team "mails it in", just because they're drafting low. The names of a couple of project bigs, that were recently taken at the bottom of the first round or top of the second, who come to mind are Daniel Orton (#29 - Orlando 2010) and Nikola Peković (#31 by Minnesota - 2008) and DeAndre Jordan (#35 by LA Clipppers - 2008). None of these guys are world beaters and I agree that you're not going to uncover a future HOFer drafting that low. However in the case of Pekovic, he may very well turn to be better than all of them. The Spurs are hailed around the NBA for the drafting prowess and rightfully so. Who knows? Perhaps they didn't like either of these guys.

And Peter Holt has nothing to do with whom the Spurs select in the draft, so blaming him because Pop has fallen in love with "small ball" is misguided. The point is rather that swing for the fences on smalls, as they tend to do so often, the Spurs rarely, if ever, swing for the fences on a project big. That's the point I was making.

It should be obvious why now. Pop can't develop bigs for nothing. Even DB should be further along than he is.

[chazley]

Curry's line tonight: 25 minutes, 11 pts, 7 rb, 0 ast/stl, 3 blk, 2 to. Not bad.

[Raven]

disturbing.

[Capt Bringdown]

I guess Pop sees something in Blair and Bonner that no one else sees.

[ChumpDumper]

lol Orton

[Kidd K]

I'm gonna stop you right there - Ian Mahinmi. Drafted by the Spurs in 2005, his injury-riddled Spurs tenure is well-documented. Still, he's turned into a serviceable backup center, which is all that was really expected from him. I know people roll their eyes at the mention of his name, but from a production standpoint, I'd rather have the current version of Mahinmi, complete with his foul-prone propensity, than the annual playoff choking of Bonner and the spastic, inconsistent production and weight-flucuations of Blair.

As for their annual low drafting position, that doesn't and shouldn't mean that a team "mails it in", just because they're drafting low. The names of a couple of project bigs, that were recently taken at the bottom of the first round or top of the second, who come to mind are Daniel Orton (#29 - Orlando 2010) and Nikola Peković (#31 by Minnesota - 2008) and DeAndre Jordan (#35 by LA Clipppers - 2008). None of these guys are world beaters and I agree that you're not going to uncover a future HOFer drafting that low. However in the case of Pekovic, he may very well turn to be better than all of them. The Spurs are hailed around the NBA for the drafting prowess and rightfully so. Who knows? Perhaps they didn't like either of these guys.

And Peter Holt has nothing to do with whom the Spurs select in the draft, so blaming him because Pop has fallen in love with "small ball" is misguided. The point is rather that swing for the fences on smalls, as they tend to do so often, the Spurs rarely, if ever, swing for the fences on a project big. That's the point I was making.

It's Pop's fault Mahimni had lots of injuries the first few years of his career? He was well below average with us, and only sort of servicable last year. No better than Blair and is worse than Splitter. Better than Matt Bonner? Well fuck. . .anybody is. But Bonner isn't used the same way everyone else we mentioned is. Bonner is used with Duncan to spread out the floor, that doesn't work with Mahimni. Mahimni's time would directly go against players who do the same thing; i.e. Splitter and Blair. As much as I don't like Splitter, he's better. And Mahimni is no better on D', on the glass, or on offense than Blair. He's better than Blair on defense in specific situations, sure. . .like against tall lumberwagons with no face up skills. That's about it. He was released because SA didn't want to pay him as we already had Blair who had the same role and was outperforming him already.

Not to regurgitate here, but it's Mahimni's production vs Splitter/Blair, not vs Bonner. Bonner plays a different role entirely, and no I don't like Bonner and I'm not defending him. . .just saying the reality.

Orton isn't very good, that's a real stretch.

Choosing Pekovic, we would've had to not draft George Hill (our best draft pick in the last 5 years we didn't trade way up for) in order to get him. We also just selected Splitter the year before that and were awaiting him to come over.

Deandre Jordan wouldn't be getting any more playing time than anyone we already have since he has non existant offense. He's practically a dead spot on the floor, and would just clog up the paint making it harder for our best 3 players to score. Does not fit well with SA. We also would've had to not draft Hill to get him.


I didn't blame Peter Holt for the draft, what're you talking about? I blamed Peter Holt for not wanting to open his pocketbook to sign a good free agent big man so we could have a better chance at a title. I didn't associate him with the draft or who we've selected.

[spursnatic]

Yeah and the most fucked up thing about it is we keep sorry ass Bonner around and Waive good Players?...WTF???...In all of our previous Championships we have always had a decent Big Man to compliment TD...And now we get a decent one and waive him...Until FO opens their eyes we will always be deep into Playoffs just to later be upset

[ace3g]

Speaking of Orton, Thunder waived him, not sure how quickly the Spurs will start trying out players, if any at all (unless they have a trade lined up and want the roster spots open).

Darnell Mayberry ‏@DarnellMayberry

The Thunder has waived Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson and Daniel Orton...DeAndre Liggins has won the 15th spot.

--

On the subject of players waived, anyone you would want the Spurs to take a look at, that has been waived so far?

[elemento]

Orlando just waived Quentin Richardson, Justin Warper and Chris Johnson.

Harper might be interesting. I would take a look in JaJuan Johnson if HOU waive him. I know some SA fans wanted him back in 2011 and I think he is an interesting prospect. 6'10, athletic a good shot-blocker.

[Libri]

Even if they sign someone to the last spot, that player will not be given an opportunity to make a significant impact. Bench warming will be his role.

[SenorSpur]

I didn't blame Peter Holt for the draft, what're you talking about? I blamed Peter Holt for not wanting to open his pocketbook to sign a good free agent big man so we could have a better chance at a title. I didn't associate him with the draft or who we've selected.

Assuming Holt did open up his pocketbook, as you say, what free agent bigs that have hit the market should the Spurs have tried to pursue in the past few seasons? Where have you been? Have you been watching the free agent signings the past couple of years? Even if there was money available, no free agent big man in his prime would ever come to the Spurs? There are only a few favorable free agent destinations - Miami, L.A., New York and Boston. San Antonio is simply not an attractive market for free agents of any kind - big or small.

[elemento]

I think it depends

If they sign someone like Martin, I doubt he will be a bench warmer; I am sure he will kick Bonner and Blair out of the rotation as soon as he gets in SA.

[wildbill2u]

I realized I'd made a mistake as soon as I posted it but decided it wasn't important enough to fix. I'm glad you got a :lmao out of it. :toast

[Kidd K]

Assuming Holt did open up his pocketbook, as you say, what free agent bigs that have hit the market should the Spurs have tried to pursue in the past few seasons? Where have you been? Have you been watching the free agent signings the past couple of years? Even if there was money available, no free agent big man in his prime would ever come to the Spurs? There are only a few favorable free agent destinations - Miami, L.A., New York and Boston. San Antonio is simply not an attractive market for free agents of any kind - big or small.

Are you rhetorically asking me to make a list, or are you really asking? Because you pre-emptively posted that regardless of what I post, it won't matter because of the "no one will come here" excuse.

Part of the reason we don't get anyone is because we don't pay top dollar. I don't see much about, "oh, the Spurs offered the same amount, but this prime time guy went elsewhere".

Just to throw out a few though with a quick scan of unresricted free agents:

2008: Diop, Chris Anderson (not much this year)

2009: Zaza Pachulia, Brandon Bass, Chris Anderson (again), Sheed, McDyess (who we got)

2010: Ben Wallace, Shaq, Pryzbilla, Jermaine Oneal, Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler

2011: Turiaf, Pryzbilla, Shaq, Nene, Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler, Dalembert, Fresenko,

2012: Turiaf, Pryzbilla, Jermaine ONeal, Nazr Mohammed, your precious Ian Mahimni, Haywood, Hawes, Fresenko, Camby.

And this year I probably don't need to rehash the guys that were out there. List wasn't huge, but as you can see, a lot of these guys keep resurfacing every year to go play somewhere else for however much they can get.


And those are just centers. I didn't even list any PFs, of which there was a lot more of. I'm not saying we could have gotten each and every one of those guys, but several of them we could have. They were all available if we wanted to make an attempt at them. And again, all I listed was centers, no PFs who don't play C. if I combined that, the list would be a lot bigger.

[SenorSpur]

Are you rhetorically asking me to make a list, or are you really asking? Because you pre-emptively posted that regardless of what I post, it won't matter because of the "no one will come here" excuse.

Part of the reason we don't get anyone is because we don't pay top dollar. I don't see much about, "oh, the Spurs offered the same amount, but this prime time guy went elsewhere".

Just to throw out a few though with a quick scan of unresricted free agents:

2008: Diop, Chris Anderson (not much this year)

2009: Zaza Pachulia, Brandon Bass, Chris Anderson (again), Sheed, McDyess (who we got)

2010: Ben Wallace, Shaq, Pryzbilla, Jermaine Oneal, Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler

2011: Turiaf, Pryzbilla, Shaq, Nene, Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler, Dalembert, Fresenko,

2012: Turiaf, Pryzbilla, Jermaine ONeal, Nazr Mohammed, your precious Ian Mahimni, Haywood, Hawes, Fresenko, Camby.

And this year I probably don't need to rehash the guys that were out there. List wasn't huge, but as you can see, a lot of these guys keep resurfacing every year to go play somewhere else for however much they can get.


And those are just centers. I didn't even list any PFs, of which there was a lot more of. I'm not saying we could have gotten each and every one of those guys, but several of them we could have. They were all available if we wanted to make an attempt at them. And again, all I listed was centers, no PFs who don't play C. if I combined that, the list would be a lot bigger.

Other than Tyson Chandler, no one else on that list even comes close to being true difference-makers when paired with Tim. As such, none of them really makes any sense because most of them are/were either overpaid or are/were past their primes or both - especially Wallace, Shaq and Pryzbilla. It's never a good idea for a team to sign a vet just because of the name on the back of his jersey. The Spurs have never done that and they've been wise not to. It has to be about current production and with the exception of Chandler, the arrow of production for all those guys is/was clearly pointing down.

Speaking of Chandler, I totally agree with you on him. When word spread that the Bobtails were willing to give him up, HE should've been the clear target. In fact, I don't believe there has been a player in recent history that would've/could've instantly transformed the defensive intensity of a championship-caliber team more than him. Instead, he ends up in Mavs uniform and they go on to win a title. I think that says it all right there.

We can kick this can back and forth, but as I mentioned before, we're on the outside. Because of that, it's hard to really tell if the Spurs simply do not like any of the players we've discussed, or is Holt limiting the purse strings. Actually, I'd say it's a bit of both. Seeing how Pop has evolved his offensive philosophy, I just don't think he gives a damn about bigs with that can change a game on both ends. For the most part, the Spurs have ALWAYS been fiscally responsible. Spend money, but spend it smartly is a good strategy. However overpaying for a player that is past his prime, is dumb. The only thing that strikes me to be just as dumb is keeping non-productive rotation players on the roster, in spite of themselves.

[therealtruth]

Other than Tyson Chandler, no one else on that list even comes close to being true difference-makers when paired with Tim. As such, none of them really makes any sense because most of them are/were either overpaid or are/were past their primes or both - especially Wallace, Shaq and Pryzbilla. It's never a good idea for a team to sign a vet just because of the name on the back of his jersey. The Spurs have never done that and they've been wise not to. It has to be about current production and with the exception of Chandler, the arrow of production for all those guys is/was clearly pointing down.

Speaking of Chandler, I totally agree with you on him. When word spread that the Bobtails were willing to give him up, HE should've been the clear target. In fact, I don't believe there has been a player in recent history that would've/could've instantly transformed the defensive intensity of a championship-caliber team more than him. Instead, he ends up in Mavs uniform and they go on to win a title. I think that says it all right there.

We can kick this can back and forth, but as I mentioned before, we're on the outside. Because of that, it's hard to really tell if the Spurs simply do not like any of the players we've discussed, or is Holt limiting the purse strings. Actually, I'd say it's a bit of both. Seeing how Pop has evolved his offensive philosophy, I just don't think he gives a damn about bigs with that can change a game on both ends. For the most part, the Spurs have ALWAYS been fiscally responsible. Spend money, but spend it smartly is a good strategy. However overpaying for a player that is past his prime, is dumb. The only thing that strikes me to be just as dumb is keeping non-productive rotation players on the roster, in spite of themselves.

Exactly. I have no doubt if the Spurs had gone after Chandler we would have won a fifth. Even a guy like Camby probably could have made a difference. We're left to wonder what if because the front office put their hopes in Bonner/Blair.

[ChumpDumper]

lol alternative timeline fans

[Kuestmaster]

lol
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/344356-mavs-forced-to-open-with-curry?eref=twitter_feed

[Kidd K]

Other than Tyson Chandler, no one else on that list even comes close to being true difference-makers when paired with Tim. As such, none of them really makes any sense because most of them are/were either overpaid or are/were past their primes or both - especially Wallace, Shaq and Pryzbilla. It's never a good idea for a team to sign a vet just because of the name on the back of his jersey. The Spurs have never done that and they've been wise not to. It has to be about current production and with the exception of Chandler, the arrow of production for all those guys is/was clearly pointing down.

Speaking of Chandler, I totally agree with you on him. When word spread that the Bobtails were willing to give him up, HE should've been the clear target. In fact, I don't believe there has been a player in recent history that would've/could've instantly transformed the defensive intensity of a championship-caliber team more than him. Instead, he ends up in Mavs uniform and they go on to win a title. I think that says it all right there.

We can kick this can back and forth, but as I mentioned before, we're on the outside. Because of that, it's hard to really tell if the Spurs simply do not like any of the players we've discussed, or is Holt limiting the purse strings. Actually, I'd say it's a bit of both. Seeing how Pop has evolved his offensive philosophy, I just don't think he gives a damn about bigs with that can change a game on both ends. For the most part, the Spurs have ALWAYS been fiscally responsible. Spend money, but spend it smartly is a good strategy. However overpaying for a player that is past his prime, is dumb. The only thing that strikes me to be just as dumb is keeping non-productive rotation players on the roster, in spite of themselves.

I'm not sure why suddenly bigs we've mentioned have to be "true difference makers" only when I list guys, yet you were talking about not taking "draft day fillers" at C instead of guard. Then you listed guys like Ian Mahimni, Daniel Orton, And Deandre Jordan. . .as if those guys are big difference makers? We were talking about servicable bigs who would've been potentially better than guys we've had, not borderline DPOY players. Why're you raising the bar only on my examples, yet you can list bottom of the barrel guys and it's fine? That's a little bit annoying dude. I'm all for debating since it can be fun, but let's stay consistent both ways?

Imo: Anderson, Mohammed, either O'Neal, Dalembert, Chandler, Haywood, and Hawes would've all been good additions. Most of the others would've at least defended better than Bonner and Blair. Most of our bigs are offensive guys, not defensive. None of our bigs "can't score". But most of them can't defend. But yes, Chandler was the only borderline superstar type big to sign. I didn't realize that was the discussion, but yeah, he would've been the best guy of the lot to sign.

As for the Spurs "not liking" some of those players, I think you're giving Holt way too much credit. It's clearly a matter of not wanting to spend the money, not a matter of not having the money or not liking the players. You can't look at even half those guys and think "I wouldn't want him on my team". Especially when you look at all the scrubs we've been trying out like Ike Digou and Eddie Curry. They "liked" those guys, but not Chandler, Ben Wallace, Shaq, Mohammed who we won a title with once already, Dalembert, the other O'neal, Haywood and Camby? Every other dude I listed was better than Curry and Diogu too.

When you look at the list of income and profit margin for NBA teams on forbes.com, you will see why I'm so adamant about them being cheap. Just like with OKC trading Harden. I predicted that months ago because OKC's owner is also a cheapskate who was clearly not going to do what was in the best interests of the team, and rather do what was in the best interests of his bank account. Team owners (rich people) are usually businessmen. Very rarely are they actually fans first who want to win (like Mark Cuban, George Steinbrenner, etc). Money usually rules over wins and titles. They have priorities, and making as much money out of it as possible is usually #1.

[Solid D]

“He’s doing OK,’’ (Rick) Carlisle said. “He’s a force in the paint offensively. We’d like to get him more active defensively and rebounding a little bit more. But his attitude has been good, and he’s worked hard to get himself in pretty good shape.’’

Yep. Pretty much the same assesment here in SA.

[ajballer4]

Supposedly he's starting tomorrow

[ace3g]

So who scores more points tonight? Curry or Howard?

[txstr1986]

Yep, he's starting for them in their season opener. Haha, from getting waived by a good team to starting for a crappy one...

[ace3g]

no Curry; Brand and Wright in SL

[DesignatedT]

:lol guy looks like complete shit out there.

Guys are ridiculous.

[ElNono]

he's been bad on defense... but he already scored more in 5 mins than ginger did all preseason, tbh

[DesignatedT]

Replacing one turd with another wouldn't accomplish anything. People freaking out over releasing this guy is comical. Dude is fat and slow. If the Spurs are going to realistically improve the front court it's going to take some effort. Nobody on the waiver wire is going to do it.

[007nites]

Say what you want you want but he got Dwight 2 fouls in the first quarter.

[DesignatedT]

He got 1 on him. Dwight got called for puttin his hand on Collisons back on one of those.

[DesignatedT]

I have a feeling Dwight is going to be n a lot of foul trouble this season with Nash guarding PGs on the perimeter.

[ElNono]

Replacing one turd with another wouldn't accomplish anything.

Well, it would accomplish going away from a known turd. Not that it matters anyways, since Ginger is still the centerpiece.

[jon123spurs]

The more I watch curry play the more I understand why he's with the mavs and not us. Yea I would take him over bonner but he's just not the answer to our problem. He's terrible on defense barely runs back on plays.

[timtonymanu]

This should end the delusion that Curry would "knock some skulls around" if he was on the Spurs.

[justinandimcool]

:lol

Spurs fail

[007nites]

Curry is ABUSING Gasol right now. He is going no mercy on him lol.

[lefty]

He is still looking better than most of our "bigs"

Spurs :lol

[Proxy]

He looks good here in the 3rd for a short stretch. Still can't believe FO decided to let him go and rely on the two pussies and whatablair.

[slick'81]

He is still looking better than most of our "bigs"

Spurs :lol


this jesus hes looks like an allstar tonight compared to bonner/blair

[The_Worlds_finest]

I would give him PT if Matt Bonner wasn't already eating up 8 mil over this and next year

[Malik Hairston]

He looked like typical Eddy Curry, tbh..

His defense was horrible, lack of conditioning, but his offense looked pretty good for a guy that just joined their team a week ago..

I still would have taken the risk that he can contribute if he gets into game shape, especially considering Splitter will inevitably suffer an injury at some point..

[TD 21]

He looked like typical Eddy Curry, tbh..

His defense was horrible, lack of conditioning, but his offense looked pretty good for a guy that just joined their team a week ago..

I still would have taken the risk that he can contribute if he gets into game shape, especially considering Splitter will inevitably suffer an injury at some point..

There was no risk. I had no delusions about him or the role he'd have played. I wanted him for when they're in the midst of 4-in-5 on the West/East coast and either Splitter is injured or they want to give Duncan a night off. It would have been nice to at least have the option of throwing him at a Cousins or a Bynum for 15 minutes, as opposed to having Blair defend them.

As an aside, I'm surprised Johnson cleared waivers (I'm actually not 100% that it's official, but I think it is). The Spurs should sign him. Long, athletic, mobile, shot blocking four, with a decent mid range jumper and by all accounts, a character guy. Plus, he can be sent to the D-League.

[lefty]

He looked like typical Eddy Curry, tbh..

His defense was horrible, lack of conditioning, but his offense looked pretty good for a guy that just joined their team a week ago






..
Basically Bonner and Splitter on steroids

[TDMVPDPOY]

a legit big playing avg defense is still better then a undersized playin any form of defense

[FuzzyLumpkins]

a legit big playing avg defense is still better then a undersized playin any form of defense

This isn't the 80's and 90's. Very few plodding bigs are successful. If the Laker's would have put Curry in pnr sets against Nash with Gasol/Howard he would have raped him all day long. Instead they let Curry stay closer to the rim where he's less of a liability.

Situational adjustments is obviously one of Brown's strong suits.

[Obstructed_View]

Curry's defense and Carter's offense were neck-and-neck most of the game for "worst thing on the floor", but Carter's jumpers stopped clanging in the fourth quarter, and Lakers' offense took the lead.

[Obstructed_View]

a legit big playing avg defense is still better then a undersized playin any form of defense

If you're referring to Curry, then clearly you didn't watch the game, because his defense was way below average. That may have been the worst pick and roll defense I've ever seen.

[ChumpDumper]

a legit big playing avg defense is still better then a undersized playin any form of defenseI would rather have Chuck Hayes than Curry defending pretty much anyone.

[Obstructed_View]

I would rather have Chuck Hayes than Curry defending pretty much anyone.

I worried that I was just a homer suffering from sour grapes in watching Curry. He was really that bad, wasn't he?

[elemento]

If you're referring to Curry, then clearly you didn't watch the game, because his defense was way below average. That may have been the worst pick and roll defense I've ever seen.

Al Jefferson says hello and SA says ty:lol

[SpurPadre]

I think it depends

If they sign someone like Martin, I doubt he will be a bench warmer; I am sure he will kick Bonner and Blair out of the rotation as soon as he gets in SA.


But wouldn't the old fart slip off his cane by trying to kick them out of the rotation? Point is: enough with the old farts!

[Seventyniner]

Al Jefferson says hello and SA says ty:lol

The point is that once the Lakers get their heads out of their asses, they'll be running Nash-and-Howard PNRs all game. If Curry is useless against the Lakers, there's no point in having him.

[Obstructed_View]

Al Jefferson says hello and SA says ty:lol

:lol

[spursnatic]

We could've used Curry tonight...Our rebounding sucked ass..We probably beat NOLA Big Time have we had some rebounds

[DesignatedT]

lol Curry would have been abused tonight with all that quickness on NOH. People need to stop talking about this fat fuck.

[Mel_13]

Mavs, I'm told, poised to waive Eddy Curry -- NOT Dominique Jones -- to make roster room for Troy Murphy

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine

[Darkwaters]

Mavericks To Waive Eddy Curry
Nov 02, 2012 11:37 AM EDT


The Dallas Mavericks will waive Eddy Curry to create a roster spot for Troy Murphy.

Curry was signed before the start of the season due to the Mavericks being thin in the frontcourt.

Via Marc Stein/ESPN


Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/224280/Mavericks_To_Waive_Eddy_Curry#ixzz2B58j0t9I

[ChumpDumper]

I worried that I was just a homer suffering from sour grapes in watching Curry. He was really that bad, wasn't he?Well, Chuck Hayes is that good -- but yeah, Curry's D is turrble.


We could've used Curry tonight...Our rebounding sucked ass..We probably beat NOLA Big Time have we had some reboundsMan, Curry's legend grows with every post.

[therealtruth]

Troy Murphy wouldn't be bad if he could still play. He gives you size and rebounding plus the ability to hit the 3pt shot.