Manu20
08-08-2005, 05:18 PM
The Smarter Kid in School
Adam Epstein - 8th August, 2005 11:56 AM
http://spurs.realgm.com/articles/42/20050808/the_smarter_kid_in_school/
The San Antonio Spurs followed their storybook championship run, with some off-season moves that surprised just about everyone in the NBA world. As the NBA Draft approached, many assumed that the Spurs were going to pick a European player that they could keep in Europe and eventually develop that player into a star, similar to what they did with Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and Beno Udrich.
In the NBA draft, there is basically a 25% chance that a European player will eventually pan out to be quality NBA player. Even teams drafting in the lottery cannot seem to grasp picking European players, shown by picks like Darko and the infamous “Skeeta”. So then how in the world does a team that consistently drafts at the end of the first round always seem to draft diamond in the rough European players that aid them in their championship run? It seems that the Spurs success rate for picking these players is on a completely different class than any other team in the NBA. Its almost as though they have a Back to the Future type of Sports Almanac, in which they can dictate the future of the NBA draft. Is there something Popovich isn’t telling us? Based on the Spurs moves this off-season, the answer to that question would be a triumphant “yes”.
The Spurs certainly made people believe that they knew more than anyone in the NBA Draft, when they surprised by picking the ,”who the heck is that guy” player of the 2005 draft in the Frenchman Ian Mahinmi. Not only did no one expect him to be selected in the first round, or second round for that matter, most GM’s had never even head of him. In fact, of the 300 player profiles created by the NBA, none of them were of Ian Mahinmi. Yet, when this large, lanky, Frenchman came up to gave the commish the celebratory handshake, analysts automatically assumed that the Spurs had picked another winner. The next day when analysts were giving draft grades, the Spurs clearly received a very solid grade. This grade was solely based on their reputation alone. The Spurs could have picked a thirteen year old Swedish boy with cornrows, and NBA people would have all assumed he’d be a great NBA player. Their draft pick was shortly followed by what many perceived to be an excellent move in free agency.
Coming into the free agent period, the Spurs were expected to come to a contract agreement with Luis Scola. Scola, for those who don’t know, was another European second round draft pick, and is now regarded as the best big man in Europe. However, talks about buying out Scola’s contract came to a dramatic halt when the team found out that bringing him over would be too expensive. Somehow, the team then pulled a complete 180 and signed the starting centre of the Gold Medal Winning Argentinean National team, Frabicio Oberto.
Immediately one must wonder what every other NBA team was thinking by not pursuing this big man. Not only did the Spurs acquire the 6’10’’ Argentinean at a fraction of the price that they would have had to pay for Scola, but, some NBA experts suggest that Oberto may even end up being a better NBA player than Scola. At this stage in the game, if I’m any other NBA I’m tapping the phones in the Spurs front office, sifting through Greg Popovich’s garbage, or trying to find someway to see what is next to come out of this think tank of an organization. The signing of Oberto, as well as the re-signing of Big Shot Rob Horry left many to believe that the Spurs only strengthened their championship winning team from last year.
It’s very intriguing and quite mysterious how the Spurs are able to consistently make their front office appear smarter than every other one in the NBA. They’re clearly the favourite to win the NBA championship again this coming season. There is simply no reason not to believe that, with their great depth and the fact that their nucleus is only getting better with age, rather than most contending teams. No one really knows if Oberto, Mahinmi, or Scola will be successful complimentary players to the NBA championship team. But, they certainly are doing a good job at making us believe that they’re going to be very good NBA players.
Adam Epstein - 8th August, 2005 11:56 AM
http://spurs.realgm.com/articles/42/20050808/the_smarter_kid_in_school/
The San Antonio Spurs followed their storybook championship run, with some off-season moves that surprised just about everyone in the NBA world. As the NBA Draft approached, many assumed that the Spurs were going to pick a European player that they could keep in Europe and eventually develop that player into a star, similar to what they did with Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and Beno Udrich.
In the NBA draft, there is basically a 25% chance that a European player will eventually pan out to be quality NBA player. Even teams drafting in the lottery cannot seem to grasp picking European players, shown by picks like Darko and the infamous “Skeeta”. So then how in the world does a team that consistently drafts at the end of the first round always seem to draft diamond in the rough European players that aid them in their championship run? It seems that the Spurs success rate for picking these players is on a completely different class than any other team in the NBA. Its almost as though they have a Back to the Future type of Sports Almanac, in which they can dictate the future of the NBA draft. Is there something Popovich isn’t telling us? Based on the Spurs moves this off-season, the answer to that question would be a triumphant “yes”.
The Spurs certainly made people believe that they knew more than anyone in the NBA Draft, when they surprised by picking the ,”who the heck is that guy” player of the 2005 draft in the Frenchman Ian Mahinmi. Not only did no one expect him to be selected in the first round, or second round for that matter, most GM’s had never even head of him. In fact, of the 300 player profiles created by the NBA, none of them were of Ian Mahinmi. Yet, when this large, lanky, Frenchman came up to gave the commish the celebratory handshake, analysts automatically assumed that the Spurs had picked another winner. The next day when analysts were giving draft grades, the Spurs clearly received a very solid grade. This grade was solely based on their reputation alone. The Spurs could have picked a thirteen year old Swedish boy with cornrows, and NBA people would have all assumed he’d be a great NBA player. Their draft pick was shortly followed by what many perceived to be an excellent move in free agency.
Coming into the free agent period, the Spurs were expected to come to a contract agreement with Luis Scola. Scola, for those who don’t know, was another European second round draft pick, and is now regarded as the best big man in Europe. However, talks about buying out Scola’s contract came to a dramatic halt when the team found out that bringing him over would be too expensive. Somehow, the team then pulled a complete 180 and signed the starting centre of the Gold Medal Winning Argentinean National team, Frabicio Oberto.
Immediately one must wonder what every other NBA team was thinking by not pursuing this big man. Not only did the Spurs acquire the 6’10’’ Argentinean at a fraction of the price that they would have had to pay for Scola, but, some NBA experts suggest that Oberto may even end up being a better NBA player than Scola. At this stage in the game, if I’m any other NBA I’m tapping the phones in the Spurs front office, sifting through Greg Popovich’s garbage, or trying to find someway to see what is next to come out of this think tank of an organization. The signing of Oberto, as well as the re-signing of Big Shot Rob Horry left many to believe that the Spurs only strengthened their championship winning team from last year.
It’s very intriguing and quite mysterious how the Spurs are able to consistently make their front office appear smarter than every other one in the NBA. They’re clearly the favourite to win the NBA championship again this coming season. There is simply no reason not to believe that, with their great depth and the fact that their nucleus is only getting better with age, rather than most contending teams. No one really knows if Oberto, Mahinmi, or Scola will be successful complimentary players to the NBA championship team. But, they certainly are doing a good job at making us believe that they’re going to be very good NBA players.