The Spurs Didn't Take a Flyer on Bynum. Why Not?

[LkrFan]

TD may have 1 or 2 years like last year left in the tank. It could have been him passing the torch to Baby Drew like The Admiral did for him back in the day. This would have been a gamble worth taking.


He will reportedly receive a two-year contract worth $24 million; only $6 million of Bynum’s 2013-14 salary will be guaranteed and the second year will be a team option

Worst case scenario: you guys are out of $6M because he got hurt or couldn't put up stats good enough to earn that additional $6M. You guys would decline his team option next year and move on... Or

Best case scenario: he puts up stats and y'all end up paying him $12M next year then pick up his team option for next year. Plus you guys get another year or two out of TD because Bynum is actually taking the reigns. KL and AB take your franchise into the next decade or so.

Of course all of this is contingent upon his glass knees actually holding up, but he's a risk worth taking. Pop could have turned him into a consistent beast. TD is his idol, so health permitting it would have worked out because he would have listened and learned. As big as he is I've read many times that he patterns most of his game from TD's.

Spurs should have taken the risk like the Cavs did. If it works out, i strongly feel they will be the new NBA powerhouse with LBJ, Kyrie, and Baby Drew (in 2014). This year and next would essentially contract years so he'd have extra motivation to put up numbers. Would have been a win-win for the Spurs, but as it is right now the Cavs are sitting pretty.

Thoughts?

[dallasmaverickslose]

Why didn't your Lakers try to get him back, eh?

[Darkwaters]

http://www.genufix.com/images/TKR1.JPG

That's why.

[LkrFan]

Why didn't your Lakers try to get him back, eh?
Our FO is not enamored with his agent David Lee due to previous contract negotiations with his agent.David Lee has another client named Trevor Ariza - who we also lost. I knew we'd lose them both. It was only a matter of time.

[LkrFan]

http://www.genufix.com/images/TKR1.JPG

That's why.
Still a risk worth taking. Last time he was healthy:

18.7ppg (55.8%)
11.8rpg
1.9bpg
PER: 23

[lefty]

too injury prone even considering the worst case scenario

[spurraider21]

I wasn't aware 2 years 24 million was a flier

[LkrFan]

too injury prone even considering the worst case scenario
They have been fluke injuries though:

- Kobe fell on his knee one year
- Odom in another one
- B:lolwling accident last year

Y'all still should have gone after himPERIOD. $6M is dirt cheap for an all star big. I could even see Pop watching his mpg to minimize the risk of him getting injured. In his lone all star season he proved he could play 35 mpg. Pop could have (theoretically) helped manage his minutes so that you guys get the biggest ROI possible. Oh well.

[LkrFan]

I wasn't aware 2 years 24 million was a flier
When you're first year is only $6M guaranteed (with incentives), and the next year is a team option, you do it. Bigs historically get paid. Once upon a time even Kwame Brown commanded $9M. You are saying Baby Drew ain't worth $6M+? :wow

High risk, high reward son.

[chazley]

This team doesn't need a back to the basket 7 footer. Would it help? Sure, every team in the league could use one of those guys. But don't lose sight of the fact that we were two missed free throws, 2 missed rebounds, and 2 made threes away from a Game 6 victory where if any one of those things dont happen we have a parade on the Riverwalk this year. You don't make major changes to those kinds of teams.

[spurraider21]

When you're first year is only $6M guaranteed (with incentives), and the next year is a team option, you do it. Bigs historically get paid. Once upon a time even Kwame Brown commanded $9M. You are saying Baby Drew ain't worth $6M+? :wow

High risk, high reward son.
High risk, high reward doesn't qualify as a flier. neither does 6 mil guaranteed

[Obstructed_View]

TD may have 1 or 2 years like last year left in the tank.

That could be 1 or 2 years more than Bynum has.

[anakha]

Bynum and Duncan doesn't seem like a combination that will work on the floor, especially defensively.

Defending the PnR would be a nightmare for the Spurs with both on the court.

[exstatic]

When you're first year is only $6M guaranteed (with incentives), and the next year is a team option, you do it. Bigs historically get paid. Once upon a time even Kwame Brown commanded $9M. You are saying Baby Drew ain't worth $6M+? :wow

High risk, high reward son.

That's because the NBA actually has a salary FLOOR, and he was signed for one year to meet that figure. That was also under the old CBA, you know, the one where the Lakers never gave a shit about the tax, and wouldn't dream of amnestying anyone. You can throw all that shit out the window. It's no longer valid.

I would say that none of the reasons so far are "it". The reason the Spurs wouldn't go after him is that he just doesn't give a shit about basketball.

[skulls138]

The Spurs don't want that much "maybe" in their organization. The Spurs want people they can count on, even if its less talent.

[Kidd K]

Still a risk worth taking. Last time he was healthy:

18.7ppg (55.8%)
11.8rpg
1.9bpg
PER: 23

Which means he's basically a slower, worse defensive version of Duncan. . .only also has huge injury issues, attitude problems, and costs more.

Btw, he hasn't played more than 65 games in a season since 2007 when he wasn't starting half the time and only playing 22 minutes a game. It's practically a guarantee he won't make it all the way through any season since he's never done it. He just missed the entire season last year.

If Duncan retired this offseason, I could see them having gone after him. Duncan will be around another 2-3 years and probably play more games, score more points, grab more rebounds, and block more shots than Bynum over that span because he's far less likely to be hurt (contrary to some's belief, he barely misses games)

I have nothing against Bynum as a player (besides the injury issues and occaisional lack of effort on defense), but I don't see why you'd bother comparing him to Timmy who even in his old, declined form has been producing more. Certainly always been more reliable too.

[rascal]

The Spurs do not take risks. Most conservative team in the league.

[Proxy]

the dude has the attitude of a child and he's injury prone.

[DwayneSchintzius]

Risking 14 million on manu sounds worse to me.

[BatManu20]

Cause he's an immature bum with 2 bad knees.


/thread

[yavozerb]

Would not shock me in the least if Bynum retires or is out of this league before TD..

[hooperflash]

He doesn't stretch the floor, tbh.

https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/1017684_10151471977461981_19331523_n.jpg

[spurraider21]

we don't need bynum because Aron Baynes is the Dwight stopper

[baseline bum]

I wasn't aware 2 years 24 million was a flier

The second year is a team option, first only half guaranteed, so it's a flyer.

[MeloHype]

He doesn't stretch the floor, tbh.

https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/1017684_10151471977461981_19331523_n.jpg
No homo

[Chinook]

This thread is stupid. The Spurs didn't have $12 Million to sign Bynum. Who cares about how much of it is guaranteed? It all counts against the cap. It simply would not have been smart to amnesty Bonner, renounce Neal and Splitter and let Ginobili walk for the hope that Bynum could come in a be as good next to Duncan as Splitter was last season.

[LkrFan]

Which means he's basically a slower, worse defensive version of Duncan. . .only also has huge injury issues, attitude problems, and costs more.

Btw, he hasn't played more than 65 games in a season since 2007 when he wasn't starting half the time and only playing 22 minutes a game. It's practically a guarantee he won't make it all the way through any season since he's never done it. He just missed the entire season last year.

If Duncan retired this offseason, I could see them having gone after him. Duncan will be around another 2-3 years and probably play more games, score more points, grab more rebounds, and block more shots than Bynum over that span because he's far less likely to be hurt (contrary to some's belief, he barely misses games)

I have nothing against Bynum as a player (besides the injury issues and occaisional lack of effort on defense), but I don't see why you'd bother comparing him to Timmy who even in his old, declined form has been producing more. Certainly always been more reliable too.
Good post. However, I didn't compare him to TD. I basically said he could eventually take the reigns from him and that he could learn from him within the next few years.

[LkrFan]

This thread is stupid. The Spurs didn't have $12 Million to sign Bynum. Who cares about how much of it is guaranteed? It all counts against the cap. It simply would not have been smart to amnesty Bonner, renounce Neal and Splitter and let Ginobili walk for the hope that Bynum could come in a be as good next to Duncan as Splitter was last season.
Your opinion. Bynum is a franchise level talent. Anytime you can get a player like that you do it. Whatever move you need to make, you do it. As far as the bolded, for the short & long term future of your franchise, 25-year old Bynum would be more important than any of those guys.
The only issue is his fluke injuries. That is a big factor though.

[Poolboy5623]

Fluke injures? A fluke is one of the most common fish in the ocean.

[ChumpDumper]

lol fluke

[cd98]

His attitude.

[anakha]

Bynum is a franchise level talent. Anytime you can get a player like that you do it. Whatever move you need to make, you do it.

Such a franchise-level talent that Philadelphia couldn't bother making him an offer anywhere near Cleveland's.

[Kidd K]

Good post. However, I didn't compare him to TD. I basically said he could eventually take the reigns from him and that he could learn from him within the next few years.

A'ight, my bad bro.

I'd have liked Bynum if Timmy was gone this season, but right now it wouldn't work. I think it could easily be argued that paying him that deal would potentially be better than Splitter and his 9m/year. Splitter doesn't exactly instill Spurfans with confidence. :\

[Embedded]

Too dumb. Remember him jacking a three and saying he will do it again? You really think he fits our culture? You really want a leader like that in our locker room, hair-braiding parties and all? Let's all skip practice and go bowling. Ouch - WHAT WAS THAT?!?!? Oh my gosh, my knee?!?! My future!!!!! My BOWLING SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chinook]

Your opinion. Bynum is a franchise level talent. Anytime you can get a player like that you do it. Whatever move you need to make, you do it. As far as the bolded, for the short & long term future of your franchise, 25-year old Bynum would be more important than any of those guys.
The only issue is his fluke injuries. That is a big factor though.

No. Absolutely not. Bynum and Duncan can't play together. So the Spurs instantly lose their defensive edge over teams like Golden State or Oklahoma City. The difference between Splitter's and Bynum's per-minute stats is really not that great. And it sure isn't worth losing six players, including three who were in the playoff rotation of a team that almost won the title.

Gambling that much on damaged good with "franchise-level talent" is something that bad teams like the Kings, Cavs and Bobcats do. Good teams that can't just buy contenders rely on development and chemistry instead of chasing waterfalls (I went there). Dunno why anyone think that any serious contender should have tried for Bynum with anything more than the MLE. Ask Philadelphia how great of an investment Bynum is.