ATRAIN
07-03-2007, 09:04 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA070107.01C.BKNspurs.freeagents.3556078.html
Hill on Spurs' radar, but focus is at home
Web Posted: 06/30/2007 11:03 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The NBA's free-agent market opened today, and, surprisingly enough, Spurs officials insisted they didn't hit the snooze button and roll over.
While the Spurs don't figure to be major players in free agency, they will have some work to do. The team hopes to re-sign its top three free agents — Fabricio Oberto, Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner — and all three have indicated they would like to return.
If the Spurs accomplish that goal, they will have 14 players under contract, not including Thursday's second-round pick, Marcus Williams. Teams are limited to carrying 15 once the season begins.
Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry both had their contracts become fully guaranteed today.
The Spurs will still look for ways to enhance their crowded roster and plan to speak with veteran free-agent forward Grant Hill. Hill, who will turn 35 near the start of training camp, hasn't ruled out returning to Orlando, but also has made it clear he would like to play for a championship contender.
Hill averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes while shooting 51.8 percent in 65 games last season. He has been significantly limited by injuries, playing fewer than 30 games in four of the past six seasons, but likely wouldn't be overworked on a veteran-heavy roster.
Hill is represented by Lon Babby, who also counts Tim Duncan and Bowen among his clients. Hill's longtime shooting coach, Chip Engelland, is on the Spurs' staff.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford made a brief attempt at signing Hill in the summer of 2000 when both he and Duncan were contemplating going to Orlando.
Hill's interest in the Spurs is unclear. The Detroit Pistons, for whom he played for during the first six seasons of his career, and Phoenix Suns will be among his biggest suitors. In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Hill reportedly said he considered the Suns a better fit for him than the Spurs.
The Spurs have the $5 million midlevel exception available to spend on free agents, but they might not want to use all of it considering their payroll could be bumping up against the luxury-tax threshold if they re-sign Oberto, Vaughn and Bonner.
Teams could begin negotiating with free agents at 11 p.m. Saturday, but can't sign them until July 12.
The Spurs have long had interest in Chicago free-agent forward Andres Nocioni, but likely would need a sign-and-trade deal to land him, and the Bulls appear intent on trying to keep him. Golden State swingman Mickael Pietrus could become another target, but the Warriors have the right to match any offer he receives.
The Spurs could open roster spots if they decide to waive James White and trade Beno Udrih or Jackie Butler. Butler and White, whose contract guarantees him only $300,000 if he is on the roster opening night, will have a chance to prove themselves on the Spurs' summer-league team, which begins play Friday in Las Vegas.
Udrih is due $1.7 million in the final season of his contract, and the Spurs tried to trade him at last season's trade deadline and again during Thursday's draft. The team also has continued to solicit offers for the rights to Argentine forward Luis Scola.
Scola is one of the best players in Europe, but the Spurs won't have room for him if they re-sign Oberto. French forward Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in 2005, will accompany the summer-league team to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, but won't play after recently injuring his right shoulder in mini-camp. Unless the Spurs lighten their roster, he, too, could be facing another season in Europe.
Williams is expected to play in Las Vegas. But even if the Spurs sign him just to send him to Austin to play in the developmental league, he will count against one of their 15 roster spots. Melvin Ely, the Spurs' lone remaining free agent, is expected to sign elsewhere.
Notebook: Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo met with Seattle officials, including owner Clay Bennett, on Friday night regarding the team's head-coaching job. The meeting was Carlesimo's second with the team.
Former Sonics assistant coach Dwane Casey also met with Bennett on Friday. With the Sonics having traded Ray Allen on Thursday — making the core of their roster noticeably younger — Casey may be a more viable candidate than Carlesimo for the job.
The team is expected to make a decision early this week.
Would injury prone HIll be a good addition off the bench? Do you think he could last a whole season with us?
Hill on Spurs' radar, but focus is at home
Web Posted: 06/30/2007 11:03 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The NBA's free-agent market opened today, and, surprisingly enough, Spurs officials insisted they didn't hit the snooze button and roll over.
While the Spurs don't figure to be major players in free agency, they will have some work to do. The team hopes to re-sign its top three free agents — Fabricio Oberto, Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner — and all three have indicated they would like to return.
If the Spurs accomplish that goal, they will have 14 players under contract, not including Thursday's second-round pick, Marcus Williams. Teams are limited to carrying 15 once the season begins.
Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry both had their contracts become fully guaranteed today.
The Spurs will still look for ways to enhance their crowded roster and plan to speak with veteran free-agent forward Grant Hill. Hill, who will turn 35 near the start of training camp, hasn't ruled out returning to Orlando, but also has made it clear he would like to play for a championship contender.
Hill averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes while shooting 51.8 percent in 65 games last season. He has been significantly limited by injuries, playing fewer than 30 games in four of the past six seasons, but likely wouldn't be overworked on a veteran-heavy roster.
Hill is represented by Lon Babby, who also counts Tim Duncan and Bowen among his clients. Hill's longtime shooting coach, Chip Engelland, is on the Spurs' staff.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford made a brief attempt at signing Hill in the summer of 2000 when both he and Duncan were contemplating going to Orlando.
Hill's interest in the Spurs is unclear. The Detroit Pistons, for whom he played for during the first six seasons of his career, and Phoenix Suns will be among his biggest suitors. In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Hill reportedly said he considered the Suns a better fit for him than the Spurs.
The Spurs have the $5 million midlevel exception available to spend on free agents, but they might not want to use all of it considering their payroll could be bumping up against the luxury-tax threshold if they re-sign Oberto, Vaughn and Bonner.
Teams could begin negotiating with free agents at 11 p.m. Saturday, but can't sign them until July 12.
The Spurs have long had interest in Chicago free-agent forward Andres Nocioni, but likely would need a sign-and-trade deal to land him, and the Bulls appear intent on trying to keep him. Golden State swingman Mickael Pietrus could become another target, but the Warriors have the right to match any offer he receives.
The Spurs could open roster spots if they decide to waive James White and trade Beno Udrih or Jackie Butler. Butler and White, whose contract guarantees him only $300,000 if he is on the roster opening night, will have a chance to prove themselves on the Spurs' summer-league team, which begins play Friday in Las Vegas.
Udrih is due $1.7 million in the final season of his contract, and the Spurs tried to trade him at last season's trade deadline and again during Thursday's draft. The team also has continued to solicit offers for the rights to Argentine forward Luis Scola.
Scola is one of the best players in Europe, but the Spurs won't have room for him if they re-sign Oberto. French forward Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in 2005, will accompany the summer-league team to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, but won't play after recently injuring his right shoulder in mini-camp. Unless the Spurs lighten their roster, he, too, could be facing another season in Europe.
Williams is expected to play in Las Vegas. But even if the Spurs sign him just to send him to Austin to play in the developmental league, he will count against one of their 15 roster spots. Melvin Ely, the Spurs' lone remaining free agent, is expected to sign elsewhere.
Notebook: Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo met with Seattle officials, including owner Clay Bennett, on Friday night regarding the team's head-coaching job. The meeting was Carlesimo's second with the team.
Former Sonics assistant coach Dwane Casey also met with Bennett on Friday. With the Sonics having traded Ray Allen on Thursday — making the core of their roster noticeably younger — Casey may be a more viable candidate than Carlesimo for the job.
The team is expected to make a decision early this week.
Would injury prone HIll be a good addition off the bench? Do you think he could last a whole season with us?