Spurs Waiving Khem Birch

[Mr. Body]

Godspeed Mr. Birch

[Seventyniner]

https://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/41/0/1855494679-Iago-Quote-Surprise.png

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs legend Khem Birch. He played hard when he was here. Can't wait for the video tribute

[Chinook]

I didn't have him as the first man out. I guess they were really hoping to trade him?

[Mr. Body]

I didn't have him as the first man out. I guess they were really hoping to trade him?

My guess? Either or both of 1) Rehabilitating him, show him in a game as a favor for his value or, more likely 2) Keep him just in case Bassey and Barlow faceplanted in the preseason.

My guess is the coaches like what Bassey and Barlow have done enough that keeping a veteran around isn't needed.

[ChumpDumper]

My guess? Either or both of 1) Rehabilitating him, show him in a game as a favor for his value or, more likely 2) Keep him just in case Bassey and Barlow faceplanted in the preseason.

My guess is the coaches like what Bassey and Barlow have done enough that keeping a veteran around isn't needed.

Oh I'm sure it was 1. Get him healthy and on his way. Goodwill story and mutually beneficial on a small scale.

[spurraider21]

I didn't have him as the first man out. I guess they were really hoping to trade him?
Really? Who did you have?

[CGD]

Maybe its as simple as the insurance payout for his injury finally expired? That or they wanted to keep Barlow, Mamu, Bassey on their A game.

[exstatic]

First man out? You mean after the other Cleveland guy, Payne, and Bullock?

[rankingtear]

CAA client. Only explanation.

[Chinook]

Really? Who did you have?

Payne, Osman or Bullock. Maybe Mamu or Wesley depending one how things went. I figured Birch was going to but cut pretty immediately or not cut at all if there was a monetary thing.


First man out? You mean after the other Cleveland guy, Payne, and Bullock?

Just to clarify, I meant "first man out" as in the last person cut. I figured the last one in is the 15th man (ignoring two-ways since they are their own case). Last one out sounds like it might fit better. However, in my experience it tends to be thought of as all of the players starting off on the training camp roster, with the guys getting "in" the regular roster. So like Wemby and the other real players are the "first guys in", Osman, Mamu or whatever would be "last guy in", and then the "out" guys would be ranked last to first based on the order they left the team. Payne (or maybe there was a Toro I'm missing) was "last man out" all the way to Birch, who is as far as I know the last cut their going to make before the season starts, being "first man out".


Maybe its as simple as the insurance payout for his injury finally expired? That or they wanted to keep Barlow, Mamu, Bassey on their A game.

Maybe. It may well be something like Birch playing again made it unlikely the insurance would pay for games this year or that the Spurs could apply for any kind of salary relief from cutting him. They might well have been hoping they could either avoid actually paying for his salary spot or that his potentially insured contract would give him some trade value. That makes sense from the perspective of us fans who hadn't seen Birch rehabbing or practicing. It's a bit more surprising for the Spurs given that they should've known by the off-season if Birch was going to legit come back or retire.

[JPB]

So long Byatch.

[FutureMan]

Expected. Randomly, he was 2nd for playoff minutes and is the only player who appears to have started in the playoffs.

[spurraider21]

Payne, Osman or Bullock. Maybe Mamu or Wesley depending one how things went. I figured Birch was going to but cut pretty immediately or not cut at all if there was a monetary thing.
oh gotcha. i thought you meant that even now, just prior to his being waived, you did not think he would have been the first to get the axe from who was left

[CGD]

What is Barlow's situation after all of this. Could another team poach him since he's on a 2 way, or do the Spurs have the right of first refusal in that situation?

[spurraider21]

What is Barlow's situation after all of this. Could another team poach him since he's on a 2 way, or do the Spurs have the right of first refusal in that situation?
cant be poached. but he's limited to being active for only 50 spurs games while on two-way status

the spurs had bassey on a two way last year and ended up just signing him outright after the deadline

[heyheymymy]

** #92 **

IN REMEMBRANCE

[exstatic]

What is Barlow's situation after all of this. Could another team poach him since he's on a 2 way, or do the Spurs have the right of first refusal in that situation?

A 2way is still a contract.

[exstatic]

cant be poached. but he's limited to being active for only 50 spurs games while on two-way status

the spurs had bassey on a two way last year and ended up just signing him outright after the deadline

That's exactly the way I see the Barlow situation playing out. We will trade Cedi/Graham, and the players we get back will be waived. That will create roster room for Barlow.

[Mr. Body]

I don't think Barlow would want to go anywhere else anyway. He's developing very nicely and he wanted us from the start.

[exstatic]

I don't think Barlow would want to go anywhere else anyway. He's developing very nicely and he wanted us from the start.

That's why I think he agreed to another 2way, knowing that the Spurs would have a roster spot available later in the season.

[jjspur]

Barlow isn't an all star or even close but he is progressing nicely. I believe he could turn into a decent role player. Birch did what exactly for the spurs ? I can't remember. Oh that's right nothing.

[TD 21]

So much for the (absurd) notion some had that Bassey or Wesley were candidates to get cut. The former was always going to be in line for a rotation spot and the latter, there's no urgency to make a decision on yet (even though it's obvious where it's more than likely headed).

[spurraider21]

So much for the (absurd) notion some had that Bassey or Wesley were candidates to get cut. The former was always going to be in line for a rotation spot and the latter, there's no urgency to make a decision on yet (even though it's obvious where it's more than likely headed).
just because someone wasnt cut doesnt mean they werent a candidate to be cut

not that i believed either would be cut

[TD 21]

just because someone wasnt cut doesnt mean they werent a candidate to be cut

not that i believed either would be cut

In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.

[Chinook]

just because someone wasnt cut doesnt mean they werent a candidate to be cut

not that i believed either would be cut

There's a difference between being a heavy favorite and a lock. If Bassey or Wesley had come out and looked horrible, and some of the other players looked really good like Cedi does, who knows? That's different to like if Vassell looked bad. He wasn't going to be let go no matter what, Moreover, that the Spurs didn't waive Birch until now may suggest they were looking to move his contract. While he wasn't beating out Bassey, the player acquired in the trade might have. That debate was never about what was likely to happen. It was about what kind of mentality the Spurs would show given their present and future roster constraints.

That said, it's also pretty clear that through some combination of PATFO's esteem in them and their own performance in practice, both guys were slotted high enough in the rotation to suggest they weren't serious candidates to cut. Graham and McDermott are more on the watchlist than they are. Depending on what's out there, we may see the Spurs make a move well ahead of the deadline, and who knows who'll stay on the roster at that point.

[Chinook]

In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.

Birch was always assumed, which is why I was surprised he outlasted so many other guys on the roster. I want to say the Bassey conversation was closer to the draft or start of free agency when there were multiple possibilities for other centers. Other than a couple of rumors here or there, there's not much evidence the Spurs really wanted to bring in another center. But I do think it would've been a much different competition if the team actually had to choose who to keep out of Bassey, Mamu or whomever versus just cutting one player who may never play NBA ball again anyway

[spurraider21]

In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.
yeah i agree. i never thought birch stood a chance of making the roster. i always felt the most likely outcome was in addition to birch, 2 of the 3 between payne/osman/bullock would be cut.


There's a difference between being a heavy favorite and a lock. If Bassey or Wesley had come out and looked horrible, and some of the other players looked really good like Cedi does, who knows? That's different to like if Vassell looked bad. He wasn't going to be let go no matter what, Moreover, that the Spurs didn't waive Birch until now may suggest they were looking to move his contract. While he wasn't beating out Bassey, the player acquired in the trade might have. That debate was never about what was likely to happen. It was about what kind of mentality the Spurs would show given their present and future roster constraints.

That said, it's also pretty clear that through some combination of PATFO's esteem in them and their own performance in practice, both guys were slotted high enough in the rotation to suggest they weren't serious candidates to cut. Graham and McDermott are more on the watchlist than they are. Depending on what's out there, we may see the Spurs make a move well ahead of the deadline, and who knows who'll stay on the roster at that point.
i think the more legitimate question around wesley is whether they will pick up his 3rd year option. decision on that has to be made by 10/31

[T Park]

That's exactly the way I see the Barlow situation playing out. We will trade Cedi/Graham, and the players we get back will be waived. That will create roster room for Barlow.

trading Osman would be pretty dumb. Graham I could see but Osman is too good.

[Mr. Body]

It always seemed pretty clear to me that Payne, Bullock, and Birch were never in the long-term plans (unless something went really wrong). Osman was likely always in the plans, which shows insight and canniness in jumping into that Max Strus trade and still getting an SRP (I believe).

Graham and Dougie have immense locker room value at this point. Not like they won't get traded mid-season, but their attitudes are excellent and their skillsets still have value for now. We could be entering next year with the oldest player being a 29-year-old Cedi.

[spurraider21]

last real roster question is what happens to the third 2-way spot, alongside Barlow and Rice

an obvious candidate is Bediako who has still hung around on a camp deal. im not really a huge fan of his at this time, but they seem to like him. otherwise they'll probably be scouring other roster cuts

[spurraider21]

trading Osman would be pretty dumb. Graham I could see but Osman is too good.
he's an obvious trade candidate given that he's a vet on an expiring deal. if he continues the level of play and effectiveness he's shown in the preseason, yes im sure the asking price for him would be higher than graham's. but he's still a rather clear candidate imo

[Chinook]

yeah i agree. i never thought birch stood a chance of making the roster. i always felt the most likely outcome was in addition to birch, 2 of the 3 between payne/osman/bullock would be cut.


i think the more legitimate question around wesley is whether they will pick up his 3rd year option. decision on that has to be made by 10/31

Yep. I think I mentioned that if they don't pick up that option, it would increase the odds of Wesley not making it the year by a lot in my eyes. I also think if they don't intend to pick up that option that they explore trade scenarios first, because the other team might want to pick up that option. Because they're neither featuring nor benching him, I think the odds of him not getting that option picked up are pretty low too. That's even more true how that most of the trade ballast has been cut. There likely won't be a deal to bring in the PG who'd have to be on the roster to really make Wesley expendable. While the Spurs should have the assets to get their PG of the future next draft, they aren't guaranteed to get one and probably don't want to go without any developmental point on their roster. They seemingly showed no interest in Washington, so they don't seem to be in the market for another prospect.

[spurraider21]

Yep. I think I mentioned that if they don't pick up that option, it would increase the odds of Wesley not making it the year by a lot in my eyes. I also think if they don't intend to pick up that option that they explore trade scenarios first, because the other team might want to pick up that option. Because they're neither featuring nor benching him, I think the odds of him not getting that option picked up are pretty low too. That's even more true how that most of the trade ballast has been cut. There likely won't be a deal to bring in the PG who'd have to be on the roster to really make Wesley expendable. While the Spurs should have the assets to get their PG of the future next draft, they aren't guaranteed to get one and probably don't want to go without any developmental point on their roster. They seemingly showed no interest in Washington, so they don't seem to be in the market for another prospect.
i still think the most likely outcome is they pick it up. even if they change their mind later, and are unable to trade him... they'd be eating 2.6 mil to let him go, which isnt the end of the world. and have to think that when drafting a 19yo freshman who wasnt exactly a star in college, they knew he would be facing a mutliyear development path. of course, wemby changes the timeline, so a 2-3 year development might not be something they care for. then again, what is cissoko... i dno :lol

but if they dont pick it up, it would be quite the statement

[exstatic]

i still think the most likely outcome is they pick it up. even if they change their mind later, and are unable to trade him... they'd be eating 2.6 mil to let him go, which isnt the end of the world. and have to think that when drafting a 19yo freshman who wasnt exactly a star in college, they knew he would be facing a mutliyear development path. of course, wemby changes the timeline, so a 2-3 year development might not be something they care for. then again, what is cissoko... i dno :lol

but if they dont pick it up, it would be quite the statement

If they're not going to pick up the option, then they should cut him. No point in keeping a player that isn't in your future plans, and that knows they aren't.

[timtonymanu]

No surprise. Did the guy even suit up once as a Spur? Totally forgot he was in the Poeltl trade too.

[spurraider21]

If they're not going to pick up the option, then they should cut him. No point in keeping a player that isn't in your future plans, and that knows they aren't.
he can play himself into it. would still be a restircted free agent that the spurs can exercise some control over, just without having guaranteed money on the books

[exstatic]

he can play himself into it. would still be a restircted free agent that the spurs can exercise some control over, just without having guaranteed money on the books

No. He becomes unrestricted AND the Spurs could only pay him what his offer would have been.

[spurraider21]

No. He becomes unrestricted AND the Spurs could only pay him what his offer would have been.
ah, i must have been mistaken.

carry along

:tu

[sfernald]

Really? Who did you have?

No mistakes at the bottom. Wesley would have been a good choice too.

[rankingtear]

Officially the youngest team in the league by .4 years after the cut.

[Obstructed_View]

last real roster question is what happens to the third 2-way spot, alongside Barlow and Rice

an obvious candidate is Bediako who has still hung around on a camp deal. im not really a huge fan of his at this time, but they seem to like him. otherwise they'll probably be scouring other roster cuts
They have to be watching the cuts from other teams. Pop's network helps in this regard.

[spurraider21]

They have to be watching the cuts from other teams. Pop's network helps in this regard.
yup. i dont see anything particularly inspiring with Bediako, i think they can do better

[spurraider21]

:lol guy is on the Canadian olympic team and logged 10 minutes yesterday

[scott]

:lol guy is on the Canadian olympic team and logged 10 minutes yesterday

Spurs legend

[Darkwaters]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.

[spurraider21]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.
Reminds me of a similar incident when i ran into LaMarcus Aldridge at HEB

We were in the pancake aisle looking at different kinds of syrups. He grabbed a jar of molasses which he was dropping into his basket. But he missed and it broke on the floor and started to seep everywhere. I moved out of the way so I wouldn't mess up my shoes. LaMarcus wasn't quick enough and the molasses got all over his shoes.

We both looked at the molasses and then at his shoes and then at each other and we both started laughing.

[exstatic]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.

[spurraider21]

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.
https://y.yarn.co/b02464bb-9cd0-4cae-a8e7-402d2ab2c9d2_text.gif

[Darkwaters]

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.

Yea, his whole situation was just strange.

[Darkwaters]

Reminds me of a similar incident when i ran into LaMarcus Aldridge at HEB

We were in the pancake aisle looking at different kinds of syrups. He grabbed a jar of molasses which he was dropping into his basket. But he missed and it broke on the floor and started to seep everywhere. I moved out of the way so I wouldn't mess up my shoes. LaMarcus wasn't quick enough and the molasses got all over his shoes.

We both looked at the molasses and then at his shoes and then at each other and we both started laughing.

That's a great story. It's easy sometimes to forget that they're just regular dudes.

[spurraider21]

That's a great story. It's easy sometimes to forget that they're just regular dudes.
sadly its a spurstalk copypasta

[timtonymanu]

Reminds me of a similar incident when i ran into LaMarcus Aldridge at HEB

We were in the pancake aisle looking at different kinds of syrups. He grabbed a jar of molasses which he was dropping into his basket. But he missed and it broke on the floor and started to seep everywhere. I moved out of the way so I wouldn't mess up my shoes. LaMarcus wasn't quick enough and the molasses got all over his shoes.

We both looked at the molasses and then at his shoes and then at each other and we both started laughing.

At least he didn’t turn down your daughter for an autograph

[exstatic]

Yea, his whole situation was just strange.

I mean, it was pretty clear they were just keeping his contract around for possible trade and cut value. I guess they can’t just say that, though.

[Darkwaters]

sadly its a spurstalk copypasta

Oh, I haven't seen it before. Or I've probably just slept since then.

I do enjoy the casual stories of interactions with players. When David West was a 3rd year player I worked in Lowe's in Oklahoma City (he played for the Oklahoma City Hornets during the Katrina exile) and he came into the store. He asked for some advice on painting some rooms in his house and I worked with him for like 15 mins getting him what he needed. At first I was a bit star struck (I knew exactly who he was) but by the end I was reminded that he was just a dude. I love those kinds of stories. Makes them more real to me.

[spurraider21]

I mean, it was pretty clear they were just keeping his contract around for possible trade and cut value. I guess they can’t just say that, though.
it was weird how he basically was never acknowledged. social media, no comments from pop about him, etc. but kinda awkwardly hung around the roster for a while

[exstatic]

it was weird how he basically was never acknowledged. social media, no comments from pop about him, etc. but kinda awkwardly hung around the roster for a while

The only official position that I remember was that shortly after the trade, they said he had a visa or passport issue, then nothing.

[scott]

Oh, I haven't seen it before. Or I've probably just slept since then.

I do enjoy the casual stories of interactions with players. When David West was a 3rd year player I worked in Lowe's in Oklahoma City (he played for the Oklahoma City Hornets during the Katrina exile) and he came into the store. He asked for some advice on painting some rooms in his house and I worked with him for like 15 mins getting him what he needed. At first I was a bit star struck (I knew exactly who he was) but by the end I was reminded that he was just a dude. I love those kinds of stories. Makes them more real to me.

My wife came home one day and said she saw a really tall guy at Staples buying a printer, she thought he might play for the Spurs. We pulled up a roster with pictures and she said "yeah, it was him!". It was Tim Duncan.

I saw Manu at a Best Buy a few days after the game 7 loss to the Mavs in 2006. Resisted the urge to dick punch him.

[TimmehC]

I once sold Vince Carter(Nets version) a laptop when I worked at Circuit City by 35/Walzem. Said his crapped out on him during the road trip.

Edit: Bruce Bowen also came into the store a few times, but I wasn't the one who helped him.

[scott]

Oh yeah, Kawhi used to be a regular customer of a business I owned (Danny Green lived in the neighborhood right behind and Nephew would hang out at his place). He'd come in to pick up things with his hoodie over his head cinched really tight like a psychopath... as though people wouldn't be able to recognize the giant human with the same face as Kawhi walking through.

[ismael-robert]

Oh yeah, Kawhi used to be a regular customer of a business I owned (Danny Green lived in the neighborhood right behind and Nephew would hang out at his place). He'd come in to pick up things with his hoodie over his head cinched really tight like a psychopath... as though people wouldn't be able to recognize the giant human with the same face as Kawhi walking through.

Adult toy store?

[RC_Drunkford]

Adult toy store?

:lol