Mike Monroe: Spurs notebook: Davis salutes Washington's fight

[Bruno]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101907.01D.BKNspurs.warriors.gamer.7b2a9d.html


Web Posted: 10/19/2007 12:37 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News

Moments after the Spurs defeated Golden State 116-111 at the AT&T Center on Thursday night, Warriors All-Star guard Baron Davis made a beeline for Spurs point guard Darius Washington.

Davis, perhaps the NBA's most physical point guard, let the 6-foot-1 rookie from Memphis trying desperately to earn a spot on a Spurs roster that doesn't have an opening, know he appreciated his competitiveness.

"You're pretty good," Davis said, high praise from a player who led the Warriors to their first-round upset of Dallas in April.

Indeed, Washington matched Davis play for play, finishing with 18 points, eight assists and nine rebounds. There were occasional moments when he looked like an unproven player going against an NBA All-Star, but he impressed the Spurs coaches with his competitiveness.

"I thought he competed great tonight," said Mike Budenholzer, the Spurs assistant who served as head coach for Thursday's game, as Gregg Popovich took the night off to give him the feel of coaching an NBA team. "I think he came out with that mission: to compete.

"That's what Pop is looking for and what the Spurs are looking for, and he really took it to heart with the rebounding. We ask our guards to rebound, and with the nine rebounds that's a huge sign of competitiveness and getting after it."

Washington smiled broadly reflecting on his chat with Davis, a player he has admired for years.

"I met 'BD' when I was in college," Washington said, "and he gave me some positive tips. It was a privilege to play against him tonight."

Pop's ailing back: Popovich had decided on Wednesday to have Budenholzer serve as head coach against Golden State, but the decision looked intuitive when he awoke Thursday with a stiff back. Taking a seat for a pregame chat with old friend Don Nelson, the Warriors' coach, Popovich winced, telling Nelson his back had been hurting all day and he had been wearing a back brace

Breaking a slump: Veteran guard Michael Finley came into the game having made only 2 of 13 shots, but he broke out of his preseason shooting slump when he made two 3-pointers in less than 30 seconds in the second period.

Stepping outside: Four of Francisco Elson's seven baskets came from the perimeter, one of them from just inside the 3-point line. "Pop's giving me the green light," Elson said. "Not from the 3-point line yet."

[alamo50]

Stepping outside: Four of Francisco Elson's seven baskets came from the perimeter, one of them from just inside the 3-point line. "Pop's giving me the green light," Elson said. "Not from the 3-point line yet."


It´s about time!
Now keep that green light on during the season please?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Francisco Elson developing his jumpshot. :hat

[Darkwaters]

Francisco Elson developing his jumpshot. :hat

Hes had a jumpshot for a while, we just never let him use it. Why? Because we really don't need much offensive production from him in our system anyways and also because hes hardly "automatic" with it either. But still, he has always been able to knock down the open J fairly well.

[SenorSpur]

Hes had a jumpshot for a while, we just never let him use it. Why? Because we really don't need much offensive production from him in our system anyways and also because hes hardly "automatic" with it either. But still, he has always been able to knock down the open J fairly well.

Exactly. Cisco has "hidden" offense.

[Indazone]

tell ya guys what, you guys don't sign Washington and I bet Larry Bird jumps all over this guy.

[picnroll]

Hopefully Washington gets to go up against Billups and Hunter.

[Budkin]

Please please dump Beno for this guy. Please!

[biba]

Washington focused on future, not past
http://stories.dailytimes.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4a4082b413adcbb3

Published October 20, 2007

SAN ANTONIO — He hasn’t quite made the dream a reality yet, but Darius Washington is close to making a NBA roster.

Though it may not be the defending NBA champions, Washington is happy to just be around such a great program.

After tossing in 18 points to lead the Spurs over the Golden State Warriors 116-111 and attempting to defend NBA star Baron Davis all night, Washington said the experience had it’s up and downs.

“Yeah, I scored a few baskets, but I had to guard Baron when he was on the floor. Everybody knows how tough that is, “ the former Memphis Tiger said.

Coming out of high school as one of the most heralded guards in the country, Washington was, to put it simple cocky.

Displaying his talent and skill along with his mouth, earned him a scholarship to the University of Memphis where he was named Conference USA freshman of the year and listed on the All-Conference USA third team.

It was also at Memphis where Washington had a humbling expeience.

Able to live up to the apparent hype, Washington led the Tigers to the Conference USA title game where they met up with Louisville. Winning the game meant the Tiger would automatically reach the NCAA Tournament.

Some how the game ended up in Washington’s hands with no-time left on the scoreboard.

Taking a deep breath, Washington drilled the first one and needed one more to tie and two more to win. He missed both and the Tigers were headed to the National Invitational Tournament — leaving Washington on the court in tears.

“That was a very tough time for me, but I’m here now trying to reach another chapter of my life. Hopefully, I can do that here,” Washington said.

Washington survived the doubters and his sophomore season at Memphis, but went undrafted.

Now after traveling from team to team and country to country, Washington finds himself ready to land a home that is not temporary.

“San Antonio is a great city and the team is of course the best,” he said. “I just hope I can do something to get noticed.”

Ironically enough, with the score tied at 92 on Tuesday, it was Washington who took four of the last six free-throws — netting all four to give the Spurs the win.

Believe me, Spurs nation noticed.

[Mr. Body]

Believe me, Spurs nation noticed.

Yeah we did, but Holt was too busy snorting coke off a Juarez whore's bunghole to notice.

I just have to say, passing up on young, eager, talented players who are hungry, tough, and have already overcome events that have knocked lesser players out is not a good idea. When your roster is full, yeah, you have to pass. But our roster is NOT FULL.

Instead we'll take puss-boy who's had everything handed to him and has never fought for anything in his life and never will and who is a disgrace when you look down the bench at him.

Listen... it costs NOTHING to waive Beno. NOTHING.

[ChumpDumper]

So you'll pay his salary. After all, it's NOTHING.

[Mr. Body]

So you'll pay his salary. After all, it's NOTHING.

I see you know nothing of business, do you? Don't know what a sunk cost is, which isn't anything to cry about, as it's a fairly sophisticated topic. Read what I wrote again: cutting Beno costs nothing.

Think about that for a little while. It means: his salary is already paid, whether he's with the team or not. It's already done. Spilled milk, shall we say. For decision making purposes, his salary doesn't exist.

Since you're not going to get basketball value out of him, pay a little extra for the guy that will.

Capice?

[ChumpDumper]

It's $1.7 million.

Plus the luxury tax hit.

Holt will need a certified check from you.

Capice?

[T Park]

Says the guy who thought trading Erick Williams didn't save the team money.

[ChumpDumper]

That's just it -- there are still several ways to get rid of Beno and his salary, and will be until the trading deadline. I'd venture a guess that there will be Washington-level talent available all through the season like there was last season. I want Beno gone as much as anyone, but business school theories are theories and money is money. There really isn't a good reason to spend a grand total of about $3 million to shuffle guys on the IR if you don't have to.

[T Park]

Whatever happened to Aaron Miles?

[ChumpDumper]

Miles is playing for Cajasol Sevilla in Spain.

http://www.acb.com/stsacum.php?cod_competicion=LACB&cod_edicion=52&cod_equipo=SEV&totales=0

[Darkwaters]

Miles is playing for Cajasol Sevilla in Spain.

http://www.acb.com/stsacum.php?cod_competicion=LACB&cod_edicion=52&cod_equipo=SEV&totales=0

As I remember, wasn't he in SL with the Wizards (and fairly underwhelming there as well)?

[ChumpDumper]

As I remember, wasn't he in SL with the Wizards (and fairly underwhelming there as well)?I only watched him in one game and was paying more attention to the Wizards' forwards. Miles was unspectacular but played decently -- better than Brian Chase, whom I also like and is still in Miami's camp.

[Mr. Body]

It's $1.7 million.

Plus the luxury tax hit.

Holt will need a certified check from you.

Capice?

Man, you're a complete dolt sometimes.

WAIVING BENO COSTS NO MORE OR LESS THAN KEEPING HIM.

You're much too bright to be a fucking moron at times.

[ChumpDumper]

Man, you're a complete dolt sometimes.

WAIVING BENO COSTS NO MORE OR LESS THAN KEEPING HIM.

You're much too bright to be a fucking moron at times.Man, you're a complete dolt sometimes.

THERE ARE STILL WAYS TO GET RID OF BENO AND HIS SALARY.

You're much too bright to be a fucking moron at times.

[Mr. Body]

OF COURSE there are ways of getting rid of his salary AND him.

But they're not likely to happen.

If they were there, I'd think he'd be gone by now.

My point was always that:

Keeping Beno = $1.7 million
Waiving Beno = $1.7 million

Algebraically, Beno = $0

And that:

Barring some team desperately needing a feckless nincompoop who hasn't played decent ball in years and is injury prone in the most wimpy ways, the Spurs should just ax his hairy ass and bring in someone who actually wants to play.

But that's not going to happen, because of the EXTRA money it would cost to sign someone else.

[T Park]

But that's not going to happen, because of the EXTRA money it would cost to sign someone else.

the extra 2 to 3 mill? yeah sounds a bit much on the business side of it.

[yavozerb]

Cleveland is really the only team who could use him..Daniel Gibson and Eric Snow may be the worst PG combo in the league. Hell, I would give up the rockets 2nd rd pick and Beno for that trade exemption at this point.

[ChumpDumper]

OF COURSE there are ways of getting rid of his salary AND him.

But they're not likely to happen.Our track record at predicting the Spurs' trades is in fact pretty poor. Since the Spurs are now able to take back almost any length contract in a trade, the number of potential deals has increased exponentially compared to previous years -- i.e., we don't have to find another expiring deal to unload our expiring deals like last season.

[Obstructed_View]

WAIVING BENO COSTS NO MORE OR LESS THAN KEEPING HIM.
But you have to wait at least until the last possible moment to do that because you damn sure want to retain every opportunity to get something for him. Like it or not, he has talent, and he's got an expiring contract. You said that moving him isn't likely to happen, but it's not impossible unless you just dump him now.

[picnroll]

Barring some team desperately needing a feckless nincompoop who hasn't played decent ball in years and is injury prone in the most wimpy ways, the Spurs should just ax his hairy ass and bring in someone who actually wants to play.

But that's not going to happen, because of the EXTRA money it would cost to sign someone else. Bruno has already shown how Beno could be traded with cash to the Sonics for their trade exemptiion and BOTH teams would end up benefiting financially.

[Mr. Body]

Bruno has already shown how Beno could be traded with cash to the Sonics for their trade exemptiion and BOTH teams would end up benefiting financially.

How would Seattle benefit? You'd have to give them two million, which isn't going to happen. Their roster seems to be full at the moment, anyway, and they certainly don't need another point guard.

[picnroll]

How would Seattle benefit? You'd have to give them two million, which isn't going to happen. Their roster seems to be full at the moment, anyway, and they certainly don't need another point guard.
Per bruno

After looking at Spur's Luxury tax situation, I change my view on that. Trading Beno can make a lot of sense money wise.

Spurs are $1.06M over the Luxury tax threshold and Beno's salary is $1.75M. If Spurs trade Beno for a trade exception, they will save :
- $1.75M in salary.
- $1.06M in dollar for dollar tax.
- Between $1.5M and $2M in Luxury tax redistribution.
It makes between $4.3M and $4.8M.

Take a team like Seattle that has a little trade exception and is nowhere near the tax threshold. Spurs can offer to them Beno + cash to pay Beno's salary + cash as incentive (something like $500K or $1M) for the TE.
I don't see Seattle turning down a trade that will give them $500K or $1M and a free look at Beno without a significant drawback.

After the trade Spurs will be $690K under the tax. They won't be able to sign a min player as 3rd string PG and stay under the tax because a min player cost $771K. However, if Spurs wait 3 weeks, the cost of the min player will be prorated and won't put Spurs over the threshold.

If I were Spurs GM I would do that. At the end, Spurs will save between $800K and $1.8M by doing this move.

[dwashfan]

Darius has proven himself. He played in Europe last year and was an All Star and MVP of the All Star Game. He was #1 in the country in high school and an honorary all american in college. He just hasn't had a chance to do that in the NBA. But he is obviously ready and willing. I say give him a chance.

[dwashfan]

check out dwash.net...dw is a phenom