Who should get invited to training camp?

[Kori Ellis]

Melvin Sanders, Jamar Smith, Rich Melzer will reportedly be there.

Who else should get invited to Spurs training camp?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What else is left?

[RobinsontoDuncan]

Isnt that Meltzer guy the one the Front Office like to be our needed long three? Any info on him Kori?

[Kori Ellis]

What else is left?

Bonzi Wells :angel

:lol

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He's too busy crying about wanting to be a King again like T.O. in Phila.

[Kori Ellis]

Isnt that Meltzer guy the one the Front Office like to be our needed long three? Any info on him Kori?

I don't know much about him. Most of the Aussie/NZ posters who had seen him play said he was a selfish guy who chucked up a lot of shots. But he didn't appear that way in summer league. His wingspan alone should give a shot in the league.

Melzer, Rich Pre-draft measurements
no shoes 6' 7.5''
with shoes 6' 8.75''
weight 229
wingspan 7' 2''
reach 8' 11''

[thispego]

we need to quit stringin this melvin sanders fellow along

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Nice title.

[ducks]

lj

[dbestpro]

David Robinson

[Kori Ellis]

I would think the Spurs might look at DerMarr Johnson or Matt Barnes for the minimum (both are still unsigned). I heard 'Skita was invited to Sonics camp (I know some people here like him for some reason).

It's strange how many unrestricted FA's aren't signed yet.

http://www.nba.com/transactions/movement2006_name.html

Maybe the Spurs could snatch up one of the available vets rather than have a project guy for the last spot.

[Solid D]

The last news I heard on DerMarr Johnson was that he was in talks with Maccabi.

[Bruno]

Most of the Aussie/NZ posters who had seen him play said he was a selfish guy who chucked up a lot of shots. But he didn't appear that way in summer league.

It's quite usual that american players who are quite young and good are me-first instead of team-first players when they play overseas. Their main goal is to have good stats to get some calls from NBA or great european championship.
However, it doesn't mean that they can't be unselfish role player in nba. The best example is maybe Bruce Bowen : when he was in France he was a great scorer (25ppg). His coach has said that it was difficult to coach him because he was only interested by drawing attention from nba's scouts.

[Bruno]

I don't see Spurs keeping a player with a non-guaranted contract after the training camp for the same reason than last year : Spurs are $500K over the Luxury Tax threshold. If they keep a 15th player, they will lose flexibility to get under the threshold via a trade during the season.

If Eric Williams has still something left in the tank, Spurs won't need at all to sign a 15th player, unless they find a very intriguing prospect.

[Zunni]

DerMarr has the length and shooting ability, but he's not even a better rebounder than Bowen. He had some of the ability and inclination before he broke his neck, but seems not interested in crashing the glass now.

I don't see anyone out there to fit the Spurs bill this summer.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Master P. :hat

In all seriousness though, I wish they would end the Melvin Sanders experience, the guy just isn't an NBA player.

[ChumpDumper]

Minimum salaries don't count against the cap AFAIK, so the cap reasoning doesn't make too much sense. I'm not crazy about DerMarr or Matt Barnes as much as I used to be. They just haven't done much with their opportunities in the league. I was pleasantly surprised by Jamar Smith at SF in summer league and thought he actually defended better than Melzer at that position. He needs to get a better outside shot but he did appear to be one of the most coachable players on the Toros last season.

I would like to try to get some contingency players like Aaron Miles or Glyniadakis in camp in case we pull some trade that opens up another roster spot, but I'm sure they are getting better shots elsewhere. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the guys who are coming in.

[Sway]

I would think the Spurs might look at DerMarr Johnson or Matt Barnes for the minimum (both are still unsigned). I heard 'Skita was invited to Sonics camp (I know some people here like him for some reason).


DJ for the minimum would be really nice.

[wildbill2u]

Karl Malone:spin

Let's get some shit started. This place has been BORING for two months

[Bruno]

Minimum salaries don't count against the cap AFAIK, so the cap reasoning doesn't make too much sense.

Minimum salaries count against the cap and against the Luxury Tax. A minimum salary (that isn't a second round draft pick) counts $745K against the luxury tax this year.

[ChumpDumper]

I got the counting against the cap confused with trade value, but why would a minimum salary count $745k when the minimum is $412,718? $745k is what a 3+ year vet counted against the cap at the minimum salary last season. This coming season that figure is more like $771k.

At any rate, I still don't see it as a factor if the Spurs find a player they like. They paid the tax last season when everybody said they wouldn't.

[T Park]

They paid the tax last season.

but i thought they were cheap bastards and DIDNT pay it.

Damn, another myth foiled.

[Bruno]

I got the counting against the cap confused with trade value, but why would a minimum salary count $745k when the minimum is $412,718? $745k is what a 3+ year vet counted against the cap at the minimum salary last season. This coming season that figure is more like $771k.

$745k is for 2 years this year ($744,551).

The rule is :

Against the cap :
- Players with less than 2 years count their salary.
- Players with 2 or more years count the same amount than a player with 2 years ($744,551).

Against the luxury tax :
- Second round draft pick count their salary.
- Other player count the same amount than a player with 2 years ($744,551) even if they have less than 2 years of service.



At any rate, I still don't see it as a factor if the Spurs find a player they like. They paid the tax last season when everybody said they wouldn't.

They tried to go under the tax last year. The reason why Vroman was send in Atlanta in the Barry trade was to allow Spurs to go under the tax.

It was a huge factor last year : if Spurs haven't kept a player (like Sanders, Scales) during a long period last year before the trade deadline was to keep flexibilty to go under the tax before the deadline with a trade. Spurs haven't kept training camp invite like Ford or Graham too.
Don't forget that being $1 over the tax cost about $3M.

Of course, it won't be a factor if they find a great player but it will be a factor if the player is good but not great.
The only thing that change this year is that Spurs have an easy way to go under the tax before the deadline with a trade like : Eric Williams + cash to pay his remaining salary + 2nd round pick to a team under the cap. Maybe Spurs will keep a player with a non guaranteed contract if Eric Williams sucks during the training camp.

[ChumpDumper]

Players with less than 2 years count their salary.So Jamar and Melzer wouldn't count the amount you said they would against the cap.
It was a huge factor last year : if Spurs haven't kept a player (like Sanders, Scales) during a long period last year before the trade deadline was to keep flexibilty to go under the tax before the deadline with a trade. Spurs haven't kept training camp invite like Ford or Graham too.
Don't forget that being $1 over the tax cost about $3M.No shit. Point is they knowingly went over the tax limit getting players they wanted last season. Had Sanders or Ford initially played well enough to justify paying $1.5 million for them according to your figures there might be a point.
The only thing that change this year is that Spurs have an easy way to go under the tax before the deadline with a trade like : Eric Williams + cash to pay his remaining salary + 2nd round pick to a team under the cap.Or they could just buy Williams out for his salary minus $500k-1 million if his agent thinks he can get another salary this season. If Melzer or Smith look like Derrick McKey, they'll keep one of them. If they look like Sharrod Ford did last season, they won't.

[Bruno]

So Jamar and Melzer wouldn't count the amount you said they would.
Against the cap but not against the luxury tax. They are little differencies between salaries taken for salary cap and for luxury tax. Read the CBA FAQ if you want more details.



No shit. Point is they knowingly went over the tax limit getting players they wanted last season.

They get over the tax by signing Finley. Point is Finley for $2.6M is worth going in the tax area.



Had Sanders or Ford initially played well enough to justify paying $1.5 million for them according to your figures there might be a point.

It's not $1.5M but up to $4.1M ($400k in salary + $700k in luxury tax + $3M for being $1 over the tax).
Spurs wanted to go under the tax to save $3M and the closer you are from the threshold the easier is to go under with a trade.



Or they could just buy Williams out for his salary minus $500k-1 million if his agent thinks he can get another salary this season.

$1.1m to be accurate (Spurs are $400k over the tax threshold).



If Melzer or Smith look like Derrick McKey, they'll keep one of them. If they look like Sharrod Ford did last season, they won't.

Everything is relative. Point is that the lux tax factor won't help Melzer or Smith case.

[ChumpDumper]

Point is if they are good enough, one of them will be kept and the tax will be worried about later, just like last season. They don't have to be Michael Finley good.

[Fabbs]

Bill Walton.

Richard Melzer already is an invite isn't he?
Did the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic say why they cut Melzer?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

DJ would be a great pick up

Im still holding out for his return to Denver but i doubt he will be back. Its better for him to get away from Furious George :smokin

[Bruno]

Point is if they are good enough, one of them will be kept and the tax will be worried about later, just like last season. They don't have to be Michael Finley good.

Last season they did it for Finley. :lol

For the rest, as I said in my previous post : everything is relative and the lux tax problem won't help for sure Melzer or Smith to get a roster spot.

[wildbill2u]

Bill Walton.

Richard Melzer already is an invite isn't he?
Did the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic say why they cut Melzer?
When teams cut players they don't usually say things like: "He has marginal talents for this league and we don't think he is good enough to play on our second rank team."

[Solid D]

You never know how a player who has been cut and bounced around the league a bit is going to fit in. Sometimes it takes the right situation, scheme and stimuli.

Here is an example of a player who bounced around a bit:

YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
XXXX MIA 1 0 1.0... .000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .... .0 .0 .00 1.00 .00 .00 .0
XXXX BOS 61 9 21.4 .409 .339 .623 1.3 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.43 .48 .85 2.90 5.6
XXXX BOS 30 1 16.5 .280 .269 .458 .5 1.2 1.7 .9 .70 .30 .43 1.70 2.3
XXXX PHI 42 0 7.4 .356 .500 .500 .3 .5 .9 .4 .21 .12 .12 .90 1.4
....... MIA 27 2 21.0 .380 .464 .613 .5 1.7 2.2 .7 .52 .37 .52 3.00 5.1


Can you identify who that might be?

[spurster]

Does Spree need to feed his family?

[reydawg]

I would appreciate an invitation.

[Solid D]

I'm surprised Sequ hasn't chimed in with...

"17th Man Forum"

[gospursgojas]

You never know how a player who has been cut and bounced around the league a bit is going to fit in. Sometimes it takes the right situation, scheme and stimuli.

Here is an example of a player who bounced around a bit:

YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
XXXX MIA 1 0 1.0... .000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .... .0 .0 .00 1.00 .00 .00 .0
XXXX BOS 61 9 21.4 .409 .339 .623 1.3 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.43 .48 .85 2.90 5.6
XXXX BOS 30 1 16.5 .280 .269 .458 .5 1.2 1.7 .9 .70 .30 .43 1.70 2.3
XXXX PHI 42 0 7.4 .356 .500 .500 .3 .5 .9 .4 .21 .12 .12 .90 1.4
....... MIA 27 2 21.0 .380 .464 .613 .5 1.7 2.2 .7 .52 .37 .52 3.00 5.1


Can you identify who that might be?


Bruce

[10-tka]

I would appreciate an invitation.My words exactly. And I'm cheaper than you...

[Solid D]

Bruce

Yes...the winner!

[ChumpDumper]

In case anyone was wondering:
With little chance left to sign 6-foot-8, 245-pound free agent Reggie Evans, the Timberwolves have offered 7-foot-1, 275-pound free agent Andreas Glyniadakis a contract. But Glyniadakis, who is from Greece, also has offers from Atlanta, Toronto and New Jersey.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/15455915.htm

I don't think Toronto needs two Rashos, but Colangelo can't get enough of those Euros.