some_user86
02-21-2008, 12:52 AM
NBA: Spurs trade for veteran Thomas
Web Posted: 02/20/2008 09:18 PM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
MINNEAPOLIS — In a move necessitated by the ongoing beef-up of front lines in the Western Conference, the Spurs on Wednesday added some beef of their own.
The Spurs sent injured guard Brent Barry, little-used center Francisco Elson and their first-round draft pick in 2009 to the Seattle SuperSonics for Kurt Thomas, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound veteran of 13 NBA seasons who gave them some matchup problems last spring during their Western Conference semifinal series against the Phoenix Suns.
Thomas averaged 7.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 42 games for the Sonics this season.
In the past few weeks both the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, two of the Spurs' prime rivals for Western Conference supremacy, got bigger and more talented up front. The Lakers traded for 7-footer Pau Gasol and the Suns gave up All-Star power forward Shawn Marion to get former MVP center Shaquille O'Neal.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said trading for Thomas was not so much a response to those two deals as a recognition that the Western Conference has been more physical all season.
“This is strictly a deal where we had an opportunity to add some physicality and presence,” Buford said. “When you look at the matchups we have to face in the West, with (Utah's Carlos) Boozer and (Houston's) Yao Ming and Pau Gasol and (New Orleans') David West and Tyson Chandler, and Denver, with a very physical lineup, hopefully, this addresses a need.
“I wouldn't say this is necessarily because of those two (Gasol and O'Neal) deals, but the West has become very strong inside. We feel this trade gives us an opportunity for roster balance in our tough matchups.”
The fact Barry has suffered two separate injuries to his left calf this season and missed 23 games factored into his inclusion in the deal.
“We've missed Brent throughout the year, and it's disappointing,” Buford said. “But that's the nature of trades. To get a good player, you normally have to compensate with a good player.”
Before he tore the plantaris muscle in his left calf on Dec. 26, Barry had been enjoying a productive season. He resumed playing on Jan. 17, but suffered a second injury in the left calf, to a different muscle, just a week later, in a game in Miami.
Barry very nearly was traded two seasons ago on trade deadline day, the trade falling through because details could not be finalized in time to submit them to the league's lawyers before the deadline passed.
This time, the deal took place roughly 24 hours before today's 4 p.m. (CDT) deadline.
Elson, in his second season with the Spurs, had fallen out of Gregg Popovich's regular playing rotation over the past few weeks. He had played only 22 minutes in the past six games. He played only 48 minutes in the nine games of the rodeo road trip.
Thomas was available because the Sonics, who have the second-worst record in the West, want to use the remainder of the season to look at younger big men, mostly 22-year-old 7-footer Robert Swift.
Thomas is in the final year of a contract that pays him $8.1 million this season. The fact the contracts of both Barry, at $5.54 million, and Elson, at $3 million, also are in their final seasons made the deal palatable to the Sonics.
Further, the deal drops the Spurs' player payroll by roughly $400,000 and assures they won't exceed the NBA's luxury tax threshold.
Thomas, a Dallas native who played college basketball at Texas Christian, was the 10th pick of the 1995 draft, by the Miami Heat. He played for the Heat, Mavericks, Knicks and Suns before being traded to the Sonics last summer.
It was not known if Thomas would report to the Spurs in Minneapolis, where they are to play the Timberwolves on Thursday night at Target Center.
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022108.SpursTrade.en.117e2fba.html
Web Posted: 02/20/2008 09:18 PM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
MINNEAPOLIS — In a move necessitated by the ongoing beef-up of front lines in the Western Conference, the Spurs on Wednesday added some beef of their own.
The Spurs sent injured guard Brent Barry, little-used center Francisco Elson and their first-round draft pick in 2009 to the Seattle SuperSonics for Kurt Thomas, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound veteran of 13 NBA seasons who gave them some matchup problems last spring during their Western Conference semifinal series against the Phoenix Suns.
Thomas averaged 7.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 42 games for the Sonics this season.
In the past few weeks both the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, two of the Spurs' prime rivals for Western Conference supremacy, got bigger and more talented up front. The Lakers traded for 7-footer Pau Gasol and the Suns gave up All-Star power forward Shawn Marion to get former MVP center Shaquille O'Neal.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said trading for Thomas was not so much a response to those two deals as a recognition that the Western Conference has been more physical all season.
“This is strictly a deal where we had an opportunity to add some physicality and presence,” Buford said. “When you look at the matchups we have to face in the West, with (Utah's Carlos) Boozer and (Houston's) Yao Ming and Pau Gasol and (New Orleans') David West and Tyson Chandler, and Denver, with a very physical lineup, hopefully, this addresses a need.
“I wouldn't say this is necessarily because of those two (Gasol and O'Neal) deals, but the West has become very strong inside. We feel this trade gives us an opportunity for roster balance in our tough matchups.”
The fact Barry has suffered two separate injuries to his left calf this season and missed 23 games factored into his inclusion in the deal.
“We've missed Brent throughout the year, and it's disappointing,” Buford said. “But that's the nature of trades. To get a good player, you normally have to compensate with a good player.”
Before he tore the plantaris muscle in his left calf on Dec. 26, Barry had been enjoying a productive season. He resumed playing on Jan. 17, but suffered a second injury in the left calf, to a different muscle, just a week later, in a game in Miami.
Barry very nearly was traded two seasons ago on trade deadline day, the trade falling through because details could not be finalized in time to submit them to the league's lawyers before the deadline passed.
This time, the deal took place roughly 24 hours before today's 4 p.m. (CDT) deadline.
Elson, in his second season with the Spurs, had fallen out of Gregg Popovich's regular playing rotation over the past few weeks. He had played only 22 minutes in the past six games. He played only 48 minutes in the nine games of the rodeo road trip.
Thomas was available because the Sonics, who have the second-worst record in the West, want to use the remainder of the season to look at younger big men, mostly 22-year-old 7-footer Robert Swift.
Thomas is in the final year of a contract that pays him $8.1 million this season. The fact the contracts of both Barry, at $5.54 million, and Elson, at $3 million, also are in their final seasons made the deal palatable to the Sonics.
Further, the deal drops the Spurs' player payroll by roughly $400,000 and assures they won't exceed the NBA's luxury tax threshold.
Thomas, a Dallas native who played college basketball at Texas Christian, was the 10th pick of the 1995 draft, by the Miami Heat. He played for the Heat, Mavericks, Knicks and Suns before being traded to the Sonics last summer.
It was not known if Thomas would report to the Spurs in Minneapolis, where they are to play the Timberwolves on Thursday night at Target Center.
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022108.SpursTrade.en.117e2fba.html