Maybe it's just me, but.........

[SenorSpur]

No, the sky is not falling, - yet.

I know everyone is excited about the Finley acquisition. Personally, I've been on record as saying I didn't think we needed him. While I'll root for him, like everyone else, something about this acquisition doesn't set right with me.

As such, I offer the following 10 burning questions:

1. How does Pop manage the minutes of this very deep, Mavericks-like roster?

2. Does this now mean that both Barry and Rasho are on the block?

3. If the Spurs are indeed looking to move players, are there other tradeable commodities that are attractive to them?

4. How long should the Spurs commit themselves to Finley?

5. Have the Spurs compromised part of their future by signing 2 30+ veterans and losing Devin at the same time?

6. Are the Spurs nearing the "dreaded" luxury tax zone?

7. How will Bowen and Finley mesh?

8. Where's do the Spurs now turn to obtain the young, athletic wing player that was supposed to eventually replace Bowen?

9. Are we compromising our defensive identity, by having two 30+ perimeter players who are not known for their defensive prowess?

10. What happens now to Matt Barnes?

Teams like the Heat, Fakers, Suns, Mavs have all shown themselves as capable of loading up on talent, but incapable of meshing that talent into the type of chemistry that equals NBA championship.

While I'm of the belief that the Spurs core group is strong enough to overcome anything, I wonder how long it'll take for this bunch to hit their stride.

[Rummpd]

Valid points all but ones I am sure Pop et. al thought through.

[timvp]

Finley is younger and better than Barry. This was a no-brainer.

[thekingrobert]

ask yourself this did Pop get Big Dog to play "D" so why cant MF, Parker is not a defensive pg but Pop has him playing like a good defender, remember it's not the players but the system. People quickly forget that MF was once a good defender playing for offensive teams will make your "D" worst. Also remember Rasho wasnt that great a defender in Minn but much better in S.A.

[Kori Ellis]

1. How does Pop manage the minutes of this very deep, Mavericks-like roster?
Same way he always manages minutes.

2. Does this now mean that both Barry and Rasho are on the block?
I don't know about on the block, but the Spurs have been open to trading them all along. They don't want dead weight contracts 2 years down the line.

3. If the Spurs are indeed looking to move players, are there other tradeable commodities that are attractive to them?

4. How long should the Spurs commit themselves to Finley?
Probably 2 years, maybe 3rd year team option.

5. Have the Spurs compromised part of their future by signing 2 30+ veterans and losing Devin at the same time?
No - see the other thread about age.

6. Are the Spurs nearing the "dreaded" luxury tax zone?
Yes. But with the changes in the CBA luxury tax rebates, being slightly over the tax threshhold doesn't matter much.

7. How will Bowen and Finley mesh?
Fine. Bowen is probably one of the most professional and nicest guys in the league.

8. Where's do the Spurs now turn to obtain the young, athletic wing player that was supposed to eventually replace Bowen?
Lots of options - Barnes, Theron Smith, Sanikidze, etc.

9. Are we compromising our defensive identity, by having two 30+ perimeter players who are not known for their defensive prowess?
They aren't going to log major minutes and their shooting ability will be worth it.

10. What happens now to Matt Barnes?
Not effected. If he comes here, it's to get very little minutes at the minimum and learn from Bowen.

Feel better?

:)

[SenorSpur]

Thanks Dr. Ellis

But you didn't answer question #3 for me.

:princess

[Kori Ellis]

:)

I don't have a solid answer for that one. Let me think about it and get back to you with ideas :)

[ChumpDumper]

3. If the Spurs are indeed looking to move players, are there other tradeable commodities that are attractive to them?Sure, but almost any scenario is going to involve dumping a better player for a worse one who happens to have a shorter/smaller contract -- I'd be shocked if any trade netted an upgrade in overall team talent.

[gospursgojas]

Preparing for future means that eventually that future will play out. The Spurs have been preparing for a solid core, with talented all-around role players (and not so much the one dimensional ones that we have had before) for years...and now they have it.

It seems like the Spurs are always preparing for the future, which is good, but at times it seemed like they would prepare for it at the expence of the present. Yeah Devin had huge upside, and was a local fan favorite, but perhaps the Spurs front office didnt thing he was a player so special they wouldn't be able to find one like him down the line.
So Devin is the future sacrifice the Spurs make in order to preserve the present, however Finley is a type of player you only get a few chances to obtain. And unfortently Devin is a type of player that aren't as hard to find.

[SenorSpur]

Does anybody feel me on this?

[exstatic]

No.

[ChumpDumper]

My question is this:

Have you, as a Spurfan, have ever had less to worry about on the 1st of September of any given year?

[mrpach]

RIght now the spurs are in the situatoion where they can trade for a very good player a younger player to develop
i mean if your worried about the future

[tmtcsc]

I think we'll see increased interest now that the Spurs are stacked. The nice thing is.....we win either way. If we can't move them now, we'll be that much deeper. IF we can, then the Spurs are better off financially.

Rasho and Brent are good players. They have value and will get interest. I think that teams were doing everything they could to NOT help us. That just my opinion, but I think they are aware of our saavy and knew that keeping the players we had and not trading with us would hurts us somehow. WRONG. That's what makes keeping most of the team together while adding such quality players is so great.

[SenorSpur]

My question is this:

Have you, as a Spurfan, have ever had less to worry about on the 1st of September of any given year?

Good point.