Splitter signs a four-year extension with Tau

[timvp]

Tiago Splitter Press Conference After Being Drafted By Spurs (http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/teams/spurs/splitter_070720.asx)

RC Buford verbally S's Splitter's D to start off with. It's tough to watch after this news.

:depressed

[SequSpur]

Dude, you are arguing about a white basketball player who has never played in the NBA. This dude wasn't going to get any playing time anyway. Shit. Give it up already.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Whatever.

Chump and Bruno only explained it a million times, not my fault your a jerk and want to continue to insult me instead.

Jerk? You're being a bitch hiding behind the skirt of the search function.

Show me how you get to $20 million in lux tax penalty. $68 million lux tax cap....


Spurs salaries this year: $70 million

Subtract Spanoulis (-1.9 million) = ~68 million

Add Butler: + 2.3 million
Add Scola: +2.9 million

= 73.2 million, approximately 5 million in luxury tax penalty.

Subtract Bonner (-2.7 million)

= 70.5 million, 2.5 million in luxury tax penalty (about $500K more than what they ended up paying this year)


Show me your $20 million. Hell, show me a post with Chump or Bruno or whoever getting to $20 million.

Or you STFU.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Wanna point me to the thread or link that says he made that much?

Quit trying to change the topic.

Show me $20 million in luxury tax penalties for signing Scola this year, or take back your drama queen bullshit about not having an owner who could afford such a move.

[Slydragon]

http://i27.tinypic.com/33m9bbt.gif http://i27.tinypic.com/33m9bbt.gif http://i27.tinypic.com/33m9bbt.gif http://i27.tinypic.com/33m9bbt.gif

[timvp]

Tiago Splitter Press Conference After Being Drafted By Spurs (http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/teams/spurs/splitter_070720.asx)

RC Buford verbally S's Splitter's D to start off with. It's tough to watch after this news.

:depressed

Splitter: "I have one more year in Tau. I just want to win the ACB championship and do well in Euroleague."

"I just have to work on my game. That's the only way to get through the year." ... sounded like he was headed to prison for a year.

And then he wins the ACB championship and his one more year becomes five more years. Fantastic.

Thanks :tu

[ShoogarBear]

RC Buford verbally S's Splitter's D to start off with. It's tough to watch after this news.

:depressed

It took me about three minutes to figure out what the hell you were talking about. I kept going "he didn't say anything about his defense" . . . :wtf

[2centsworth]

RC is just over his head. No shame in it because the job is hard, but don't compound it by being stubborn and sticking around. RC should immediately step down.

[SequSpur]

dude is getting bank and you guys are pissed. RC is gambling to much on these got damn foreigners, it's time to get some home grown talent and quit fucking around.

[timvp]

It took me about three minutes to figure out what the hell you were talking about. I kept going "he didn't say anything about his defense" . . . :wtf:lol You should have fired up the video. Not sure how else to describe the first 20 seconds. It was like RC was introducing LeBron James to the Spurs.

[ShoogarBear]

:lol You should have fired up the video. Not sure how else to describe the first 20 seconds. It was like RC was introducing LeBron James to the Spurs.

Oh, I did watch about the first 90 seconds.

Another thing about RC: the man doesn't blink. That's not right.

[kobyz]

it's ruin our plan, we want to improve this summer in the bigs and in the wings, our plan was that the bigs improvment will came from Splitter and we use the draft to improve in the wings, now it's complicate our plan, there is not good bigs in the FA that we can brings.
my plan was to get Splitter, and to take Rush in the draft, now my plan have to change - maybe to sign J.R Smith ant to take big in the draft, i dont know ,we are in a mess.
this is make me a very pessimistic about next season!!!

[2centsworth]

Spurs should put all of their eggs in Maggette

[Admidave50]

it's ruin our plane, we want to improve this summer in the bigs and in the wings, our plane was that the bigs improvment will came from Splitter and we use the draft to improve in the wings, now it's complicate our plane, there is not good bigs in the FA that we can brings.
my plane was to get Splitter, and to take Rush in the draft, now my plane have to change - maybe to sign J.R Smith ant to take big in the draft, i dont know ,we are in a mess.
this is make me a very pessimistic about next season!!!

Obviously, your plane crashed! lol

[Bruno]

It doesn't matter if he said his intention was to come to the NBA. I believe it WAS his intention.

He didn't guarantee anything. He didn't sign anything.

When the time came, Splitter just weighed his options and didn't pick the Spurs.

I'm not sure how many people would have picked a job half way around the world for 1/8th the money, out of your comfort zone and away from your family.

I didn't blame Splitter for deciding that the Spain was the best choice for him, I blame him for not having weighed his options before the draft.
You can't take the draft process lightly and just say "playing in NBA is my dream, draft me".

While I'm not sure that I would have picked the "1/8th the money, out of your comfort zone and away from your family" job; I'm sure that I wouldn't have asked my future employers to spend $3M to prepare my coming without being almost sure to go there.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I didn't blame Splitter for deciding that the Spain was the best choice for him, I blame him for not having weighed his options before the draft.
You can't take the draft process lightly and just say "playing in NBA is my dream, draft me".

While I'm not sure that I would have picked the "1/8th the money, out of your comfort zone and away from your family" job; I'm sure that I wouldn't have asked my future employers to spend $3M to prepare my coming without being almost sure to go there.

Exactly.

[polandprzem]

It will get tougher and tougher to take players away from Europe.

I predicted some time ago that Europe will be growing fast and NBA won't be a priority in many players minds.
In90s it was a dream getting to NBA, in '00 it's a great accomplishment and oppurtunity to show yourself play in best competition in 10s it will probably be NBA is real good and stuff but I prefer to stay over here and in 20s we will be talking about equal leauges in value ...

[Indazone]

Trading Tiago for 2 draft picks doesn't sound so bad now does it? :lol

[ChumpDumper]

Trading Tiago for 2 draft picks doesn't sound so bad now does it? :lolWe don't need any more picks, so it does sound bad.

[jcrod]

Another thing about RC: the man doesn't blink. That's not right.

:lol

[jcrod]

Whatever.

Chump and Bruno only explained it a million times, not my fault your a jerk and want to continue to insult me instead.



If you're going to argue a point, don't be a bitch and tell someone to search and prove your point. You argue your point, prove it don't wait and hug someone elses nuts and wait for them to save you.

You always cry when you're getting insulted but it never fails that you always insult more than being insulted. :rollin

[milkyway21]

good for Splitter. He just made the move before drafting time.

Memo to teams who want to draft International players esp from this Tau team : think twice

[jcrod]

I hope this finally stops the Spurs from always going international. If they have a contract just stay away. He's praying Ian comes through.

[___uPtOwNgIrL___]

the spurs need to bring in some real ass motha fuckers...

young, tatted up, thugged out tru to the game BALLERS.

fuck your homegrown, team, friendly ass bullshit.

get some niggas in here that will win games.

[nil.ball]

:toast
Can't wait to see Splitter in a Rockets Uniform! Thank you Spurs

[T Park]

If you're going to argue a point, don't be a bitch and tell someone to search and prove your point. You argue your point, prove it don't wait and hug someone elses nuts and wait for them to save you.

You always cry when you're getting insulted but it never fails that you always insult more than being insulted. :rollin

It never fails theres always someone who acts like a tough guy.


Read or scroll chump.

[temujin]

im starting to think TAU is trying to fuck with our organization

I am sure all TAU fans think that the Spurs were more than trying to fuck with THEIR organization.

[MacGyver]

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/IMG/lookout_for_tiago_splitter-arton42548-200x160.jpg vs. http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2678/stifler3ac.jpg

:blah

[bigdog]

Spurs drafted Splitter, RC basically all but said he was coming over next year, Splitter decided "I'm gonna fuck with these guys, sign an extension, and be way overpaid", and he took the money and ran.

Splitter is way overrated, and a waste of a pick. RC should stop drafting guys that are still in their contracts or have huge buyouts, because in the end, they don't end up coming over. We have tons of useless players playing in other countries that will never wear a Spurs uniform. RC and Pop should consider an actual American player sometime.

This should be that year, although I wouldn't be pissed if they used one of the 2nd rounders on a foreigner. We don't exactly need all 3 picks. That would probably be too many young to develop, so just trade one or mayb both of the 2nd rounders for a future pick, or a player. It's very simple.

[SenorSpur]

He's like any other executive. Bad performance shouldn't override good feelings, not when the corporation is injured by this bad performance.

Buford really needs to be called onto the carpet. Splitter resigning is not his fault, but it does emphasize the fact that he has failed to get any young talent on this team whatsoever and, leaving aside Mahinmi for the moment (again, a Presti pet project), the Spurs' drafting and personnel management since Parker's draft has been a five year disaster.

We have a talented coach in Pop.
We have one of the greatest players ever in Duncan.
Our General Manager is not up to par, not by a long shot.

It's time for a change. This is his crunch time. If he can't get it done this summer, I say hit the road.

Exactly. RC's biggest offense isn't the Splitter fiasco. Yet is does serve as an indictment to this "All-Euro-only, draft-n-stash" philosophy that has all but left the cupboard bare of young talent. With the possible exception of Ian in 2005, the Spurs have absolutely NOTHING to show for their five out of their last six drafts since drafting Tony Parker in 2001.

Does RC expect us to believe there hasn't been one suitable American-born player available in that time period that could been drafted to help this team? Wait, it gets better. The Spurs have no number 1 pick next year either.

I wonder if the rest of the NBA community will continue kissing RC's ass for finding Parker and Ginobili. What have you done for us lately, RC? I'm going to blame Pop too because he had laid the ground work for this philosophy. OF course, he compounded matter with his "sign the next old guy for the veteran's minimum" strategy.

These are supposed to be smart guys. Which is why it's mind-boggling they would "sell their souls" to one particular talent-acquisition strategy. This latest folly, coupled with the recent loss to the Fakers, hoperfully will cause them to change their way of thinking going forward.

[temujin]

It was win-win situation.

Splitter would have been a hell of a player and made Spurs contender again for 2-3 years.
He is SO good. Without him, my prediction is a 56-26 season and out in the second round.

On the other hand, I am quite happy he decided to stay and make the Euroleague a better league. I am looking forward going to watch him, if his team comes to town next year.

To those that blame Splitter.
It's business. Top players want to be in the NBA because that's where the big money is. The NBA has lured most top NON-american players because of the money and the possibility to play with the top. Many factors are reversing this.
Splitter just made a business decision. That's all. EXACTLY like those that leave their own country for doing business in the US.
Period.

To those that blame the Spurs FO.
I thought that they would have made a more serious effort.
At the end of the day, the kid is way way way better than Damon Stoudamire. I see a flair of arrogance since the summer of 2007.

[jcrod]

It never fails theres always someone who acts like a tough guy.


Read or scroll chump.

Proving my point pansy. :lol

[bigdog]

It was win-win situation.

Splitter would have been a hell of a player and made Spurs contender again for 2-3 years.
He is SO good. Without him, my prediction is a 56-26 season and out in the second round.

On the other hand, I am quite happy he decided to stay and make the Euroleague a better league. I am looking forward going to watch him, if his team comes to town next year.

To those that blame Splitter.
It's business. Top players want to be in the NBA because that's where the big money is. The NBA has lured most top NON-american players because of the money and the possibility to play with the top. Many factors are reversing this.
Splitter just made a business decision. That's all. EXACTLY like those that leave their own country for doing business in the US.
Period.

To those that blame the Spurs FO.
I thought that they would have made a more serious effort.
At the end of the day, the kid is way way way better than Damon Stoudamire. I see a flair of arrogance since the summer of 2007.


I find it quite hilarious that you, including many other people think that Splitter is some amazing player that would have possibly gotten the Spurs a championship just by his presence.

Next, you're clueless to the fact that the Spurs could only offer him the rookie salary respective to where he was drafted, and nothing more, so you shouldn't be trying to make a point that he stayed for more money. If he really wanted to come to the NBA, he would have come now. No matter what, if he ever decided to come over, the Spurs (or whatever other team he could get traded to) could only offer a cheap rookie salary, so don't try to make a point that is impossible to be made. He would have never gotten more money over here if he had signed with us. So that shouldn't be an issue. It's the opportunity to play in the best league in the world, with one of the greatest franchises in the world, and with some of the best players in the world. If you can prove yourself against this talent and this league, then the money will come to you when the time is right.

and finally, you just compared Tiago to Damon Stoudamire. There's no comparison there, because first of all, they play completely different positions. Second of all, Damon is older than Tiago. Damon was just a guy to fill in as a 3rd PG, as an insurance policy. Are you trying to say that Splitter would have done a better job as a 3rd PG than Stoudamire? That's what I thought.

I blame Splitter for being greedy and not coming over to prove himself, but I blame the Spurs' FO even more for drafting him. He had a contract already, the buyout was too big, and I guess RC doesn't think that players can negotiate new ones while they are sill playing for their teams. We need to stop drafting guys that won't come over. Period.

[SenorSpur]

Fuck Splitter. I'm pissed that this is yet another wasted pick. When are these GMs going to realize that picks are like currency. You cannot and should not simply flush them down the toilet.

This fiasco is akin to allowing one of your own free agents to walk without compensation. As a result, the Spurs have absolute NOTHING to show for last year's draft - in either round. So much for RC's genius tag.

[kobyz]

i dont blame the spurs for this, remember lest year Splitter was project to be a lottery pick, he was fall to us and we where must take it, it was a STEAL !!
he still will coming in 2 years...

[objective]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

As of right now there's no news item at all about Pop being in Spain to to personally court Tiago Splitter. The season has been over and the exit interviews completed for several days now, Pop could have been over there. RC might have the excuse that he had to attend the pre-draft camp and deal with workouts and such. Pop though as far as we know had free time.

So why is that a marginal washed up third string point guard gets the personal royal treatment from Pop, desperate and rushed overnight with the utmost urgency when the only thing at stake was a guy to handle some minutes for 2-4 regular season weeks while Parker healed . . .

And a 23 year old stud with the potential to be a 10 year starter and who could be a factor in whether the Spurs ever win another title again gets . . . phone calls? Texts maybe? A terse e-mail? A visit from an underling 3-4 weeks prior?

Even if they feel it's a lost cause, you still got to get on that plane and see him in person. At worst you get to sample some spanish wine.

Maybe it comes out later that Pop was in Spain, maybe everyone was in Spain. But as of right now . . . the difference in courtship remains stark.

[objective]

Splitter resigning isn't really his fault, but losing Scola is, as is signing Bonner. The pressure is on.

I think if he has another lackluster off-season it ought to be time to ask R.C. Buford to move along.

Another lackluster offseason and it won't matter if Buford is asked to move along or not, it will be too late to save.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

:lol

In retrospect, Spurs org, have kind of gotten full of themselves.. What the fuck was that?
They should have just let Damon Stoudamire get picked up by Boston or one of the other teams that wanted him more.
He would have given them his bad luck.

Pop should have had the foresight and just changed his mind before getting on the plane "feh, Stoudamire kinda sucks anyway" He would have saved some money refunding his airplane ticket.

[milkyway21]

look at the players picked after Splitter.
any other choices if only he didn't submit his name for the draft or we didn't pick him?

28 San Antonio Tiago Splitter 7-0 240 PF Brazil
29 Phoenix Alando Tucker 6-5 205 SF Wisconsin
30 Philadelphia* Petteri Koponen 6-4 194 PG Finland
(*from Dal via Den/GS; Traded to Portland)




ROUND 2 DRAFT RESULTS

1 (31) Seattle Carl Landry 6-7 248 PF Purdue
(Traded to Houston)
2 (32) Boston Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC
3 (33) San Antonio Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SF Arizona
4 (34) Dallas Nick Fazekas 6-11 225 PF Nevada
5 (35) Seattle* Glen Davis 6-9 290 PF LSU
(*Traded to Boston)
6 (36) Golden State* Jermareo Davidson6-11 230 PF Alabama
(*Traded to Charlotte)
7 (37) Portland Josh McRoberts 6-10 230 PF Duke
8 (38) Philadelphia* Kyrylo Fesenko 7-1 270 PF Ukraine
(*Traded to Utah)
9 (39) Miami* Stanko Barac 7-1 235 C Bosnia
(Traded to Indiana)
10 (40) LA Lakers Sun Yue 6-9 205 SF China
11 (41) Minnesota Chris Richard 6-9 252 C Florida
12 (42) Portland* Derrick Byars 6-7 220 SF Vanderbilt
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
13 (43) New Orleans Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa
14 (44) Orlando* Reyshawn Terry 6-8 222 SF North Carolina
(*Traded to Dallas)
15 (45) LA Clippers Jared Jordan 6-2 183 PG Marist
16 (46) Golden State Stephane Lasme 6-7 213 PF Massachusetts
17 (47) Washington Dominic McGuire 6-9 220 SF Fresno State
18 (48) LA Lakers Marc Gasol 7-0 265 C Spain:oops
19 (49) Chicago Aaron Gray 7-2 271 C Pittsburgh
20 (50) Dallas Renaldas Seibutis6-6 185 SG Lithuania
21 (51) Chicago JamesOn Curry 6-3 190 SG Oklahoma State
23 (53) Portland Demetris Nichols6-8 211 SF Syracuse
24 (54) Houston Brad Newley 6-7 201 SG Australia
25 (55) Utah* Herbert Hill 6-10 232 PF Providence
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
26 (56) Milwaukee Ramon Sessions 6-4 185 PG Nevada
27 (57) Detroit Sammy Mejia 6-7 218 SG DePaul
28 (58) San Antonio* Giorgos Printezis6-9 210 SF Greece
(*Traded to Toronto)
29 (59) Phoenix D. J. Strawberry6-5 199 SG Maryland
30 (60) Dallas* Milovan Rakovic 6-10 ? PF Serbia
(Traded to Orlando)

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Landry was after Splitter?!?

[milkyway21]

Landry was after Splitter?!?

yeah i think I remember Landry. He was that player who smiled with one missing teeth, right?

I think he's good. He can score. :cuss

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

why is he good? I have no clue about him :oops

He did well for Houston from what I saw. He's a leaper.

[milkyway21]

He did well for Houston from what I saw. He's a leaper.

exactly. I remember now.
:bang

[hsxvvd]

look at the players picked after Splitter.
any other choices if only he didn't submit his name for the draft or we didn't pick him?

28 San Antonio Tiago Splitter 7-0 240 PF Brazil
29 Phoenix Alando Tucker 6-5 205 SF Wisconsin
30 Philadelphia* Petteri Koponen 6-4 194 PG Finland
(*from Dal via Den/GS; Traded to Portland)




ROUND 2 DRAFT RESULTS

1 (31) Seattle Carl Landry 6-7 248 PF Purdue
(Traded to Houston)
2 (32) Boston Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC
3 (33) San Antonio Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SF Arizona
4 (34) Dallas Nick Fazekas 6-11 225 PF Nevada
5 (35) Seattle* Glen Davis 6-9 290 PF LSU
(*Traded to Boston)
6 (36) Golden State* Jermareo Davidson6-11 230 PF Alabama
(*Traded to Charlotte)
7 (37) Portland Josh McRoberts 6-10 230 PF Duke
8 (38) Philadelphia* Kyrylo Fesenko 7-1 270 PF Ukraine
(*Traded to Utah)
9 (39) Miami* Stanko Barac 7-1 235 C Bosnia
(Traded to Indiana)
10 (40) LA Lakers Sun Yue 6-9 205 SF China
11 (41) Minnesota Chris Richard 6-9 252 C Florida
12 (42) Portland* Derrick Byars 6-7 220 SF Vanderbilt
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
13 (43) New Orleans Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa
14 (44) Orlando* Reyshawn Terry 6-8 222 SF North Carolina
(*Traded to Dallas)
15 (45) LA Clippers Jared Jordan 6-2 183 PG Marist
16 (46) Golden State Stephane Lasme 6-7 213 PF Massachusetts
17 (47) Washington Dominic McGuire 6-9 220 SF Fresno State
18 (48) LA Lakers Marc Gasol 7-0 265 C Spain:oops
19 (49) Chicago Aaron Gray 7-2 271 C Pittsburgh
20 (50) Dallas Renaldas Seibutis6-6 185 SG Lithuania
21 (51) Chicago JamesOn Curry 6-3 190 SG Oklahoma State
23 (53) Portland Demetris Nichols6-8 211 SF Syracuse
24 (54) Houston Brad Newley 6-7 201 SG Australia
25 (55) Utah* Herbert Hill 6-10 232 PF Providence
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
26 (56) Milwaukee Ramon Sessions 6-4 185 PG Nevada
27 (57) Detroit Sammy Mejia 6-7 218 SG DePaul
28 (58) San Antonio* Giorgos Printezis6-9 210 SF Greece
(*Traded to Toronto)
29 (59) Phoenix D. J. Strawberry6-5 199 SG Maryland
30 (60) Dallas* Milovan Rakovic 6-10 ? PF Serbia
(Traded to Orlando)

Marc Gasol helped the Lakers land Pau, he was part of the trade.

[milkyway21]

CARL LANDRY'S -THE ROOKIE

Key Stats
GP MIN/G PPG REB/G AST/G FG %
42 16.9 8.1 4.9 0.5 61.6


Landry on All-Rookie second squad: The NBA's All-Rookie second team was announced Tuesday. Toronto's Jamario Moon, Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro, Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young, Detroit's Rodney Stuckey and Houston's Carl Landry were selected. Landry appeared in 42 games during his rookie season, but did not start any games. He shot a very impressive 61.6 percent from the field, but averaged taking just 5.2 shots per game.
(Updated 05/13/2008).

Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 6/6/08).

Fantasy Analysis
Landry's biggest contributions came in the second half of the season after Yao Ming went down with an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. But his efforts may have earned him a bigger role in 2008-09. He'll be a restricted free agent in the offseason, but the Rockets may look to keep him as a backup to Luis Scola. Chuck Hayes is also around to take some of the minutes at power forward, though, and the cluster limits Landry's Fantasy appeal.
(Updated 05/13/2008).

[temujin]

I find it quite hilarious that you, including many other people think that Splitter is some amazing player that would have possibly gotten the Spurs a championship just by his presence.

In 2007, I got in some argument with people on this board, including one that I care reading (Chump), on the fact that another Tau player would have been a hit in the NBA, predicting 10ppg and 5 rpg in the second half of the season.
I was wrong. It was 10 ppg and 5rpg THROUGHOUT the season.
I think, this Splitter kid is overall better.

Next, you're clueless to the fact that the Spurs could only offer him the rookie salary respective to where he was drafted, and nothing more, so you shouldn't be trying to make a point that he stayed for more money. If he really wanted to come to the NBA, he would have come now.

Not at all.
He can still come in 2 years time. It will just be so freaking evident that is so good, that he could still come any time.

No matter what, if he ever decided to come over, the Spurs (or whatever other team he could get traded to) could only offer a cheap rookie salary, so don't try to make a point that is impossible to be made. He would have never gotten more money over here if he had signed with us. So that shouldn't be an issue.

It is an issue. Money is always an issue.

It's the opportunity to play in the best league in the world, with one of the greatest franchises in the world, and with some of the best players in the world. If you can prove yourself against this talent and this league, then the money will come to you when the time is right.

Big deal. Oberto started for a championship team, best franchise etch etch and he is making $3.5M per year. Splitter will be making more, provided that he won't get an offer from CSKA or Pana, because he would make A LOT more.

and finally, you just compared Tiago to Damon Stoudamire. There's no comparison there, because first of all, they play completely different positions. Second of all, Damon is older than Tiago. Damon was just a guy to fill in as a 3rd PG, as an insurance policy. Are you trying to say that Splitter would have done a better job as a 3rd PG than Stoudamire? That's what I thought.

You got it wrong. Ojective got it right. Popovich flew to convince this irrelevant Stoudamire player. Maybe he flew to convince Splitter as well and we don't know. But if he didn't, he was wrong.

I blame Splitter for being greedy and not coming over to prove himself,

Maybe Tiago Splitter had personal reasons as well, which have been mentioned on this board. They are understable.

but I blame the Spurs' FO even more for drafting him. He had a contract already, the buyout was too big, and I guess RC doesn't think that players can negotiate new ones while they are sill playing for their teams. We need to stop drafting guys that won't come over. Period.

Right. Or make sure you do all you can to convince them to join your organization. From now on, it is clear that few good players will come to the Spurs just because they are the Spurs.

[temujin]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

As of right now there's no news item at all about Pop being in Spain to to personally court Tiago Splitter. The season has been over and the exit interviews completed for several days now, Pop could have been over there. RC might have the excuse that he had to attend the pre-draft camp and deal with workouts and such. Pop though as far as we know had free time.

So why is that a marginal washed up third string point guard gets the personal royal treatment from Pop, desperate and rushed overnight with the utmost urgency when the only thing at stake was a guy to handle some minutes for 2-4 regular season weeks while Parker healed . . .

And a 23 year old stud with the potential to be a 10 year starter and who could be a factor in whether the Spurs ever win another title again gets . . . phone calls? Texts maybe? A terse e-mail? A visit from an underling 3-4 weeks prior?

Even if they feel it's a lost cause, you still got to get on that plane and see him in person. At worst you get to sample some spanish wine.

Maybe it comes out later that Pop was in Spain, maybe everyone was in Spain. But as of right now . . . the difference in courtship remains stark.

:tu

[Anti.Hero]

Fuck you Tiamango.

[Pero]

Smart decision by Tiago.

[Harry Callahan]

Yeah, it's not like a situation where the Spurs picked Splitter against his will. He specifically was saying he had only one more year in Spain and then would pay his buyout and come to the NBA.

The NBA is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you are going to say something, it's wrong to go back on your word. There were some difficult circumstances but nothing that should have made Splitter go from "I just have to get through my last year" to signing a four year extension.

I blame RC for falling for it and I blame Splitter for not being honest ... or not thinking through his decision. Splitter basically took $3M out of the Spurs pockets by having a change of heart.

TimVP
Do the Spurs have penalties to their salary cap over the next two years even though Splitter did not sign here?

I don't get the calls to dump an essentially worthless asset (Splitters rights) in the next two years. I would hope the Spurs front office would be smart enough this time around to not burn bridges again. It only harms their own team. It would not surprise me that Splitter would want to come over in 2010 and play after pocketing a lot of money the next two years. The bottom line is, Splitter is still playing second tier professional basketball by staying in Europe. That is a fact and he knows it. A true competitor might get bored playing against a lot of guys that AREN'T NBA material.

It's too bad that this move really bites the Spurs in the butt for the next 2years for sure (no buyout till 2010?). The SAS's big three need help and they're not getting it.

This team has had the fewest #1 picks of any team in the NBA (4) since Duncan was drafted and they've all been in the 25-30 range. That will catch up to you. Those low picks moved the FO into the "lets hit a home run with foreign born guys" mode in the first place. This policy by the FO (at least in the 1st round) has been terminated for good as of yesterday, I suspect.

It's going to be difficult to improve this team over the next two years with no Splitter and no #1 in 2009. One significant injury to the big three and this team could easily end up in the lottery. I'm serious.

[Supergirl]

The Spurs should never, ever, draft players from Tau again. I wouldn't trust any of them ever again.

This sucks. 2 year deal, I thought, no big deal, he'll still be young. But a 4 year deal - he'll be washed up, and who knows who will be left from the Spurs by then?

What does the buyout look like for 2010?

[urunobili]

imagine what the conversation was like when he called his close friend Luis to ask him about the Spurs FO... :stirpot:

TAU ceramica should have been bought by holt not the freaking Toro's...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It never fails theres always someone who acts like a tough guy.


Read or scroll chump.

So you still haven't shown how you get to $20 million dollars by paying Scola $300K over Bonner, even when I rolled out the math.

Apology accepted.

[Bruno]

The Spurs should never, ever, draft players from Tau again. I wouldn't trust any of them ever again.

This sucks. 2 year deal, I thought, no big deal, he'll still be young. But a 4 year deal - he'll be washed up, and who knows who will be left from the Spurs by then?

What does the buyout look like for 2010?

It should be a quite small buyout given that he has also a buyout in 2010 for other European teams that is said to be way higher.
I guess it should be $500K, which is what NBA teams are allowed to give for a buyout.

[Marcus Bryant]

I've a hard time blaming Spurs FO this failure. It' all on Splitter.

Splitter asked NBA team to draft him last year, he made some interview with them before the draft and told that he can go in NBA in 2009. When you do that and if you respect a little NBA franchises, you come in NBA in 2009. Draft picks are an investment for NBA teams and if you ask them to invest on you, you had to stick to your words.

F*** you Splitter.

He wanted to be drafted to have a bargaining chip with Tau. Or maybe he just wanted options. It wasn't like he was drafted by the Clippers or Sonics.

Oh well, when you blow out that knee 5 years from now and you could've had $50 mil guaranteed left on a NBA contract, enjoy.

[MoSpur]

I just hope the Spurs FO learned somewhat of a lesson on drafting Euros. Good for Splitter. I can't fault him at all. Professional basketball is a business. He made a business decision. Time to move on

[kobyz]

Spahia, the head coach of Tau is resign!!!!

Spahia is working with the spurs and also coaching the spurs summer league, he is very good friend of Pop.
i have a feeling that there is a connection between the Splitter extension to the resign of Spahia, i think that he dont like what Tau was doing to the spurs and therefore he resign.

[SenorSpur]

This will be known as Buford's folly.

[Harry Callahan]

Spahia, the head coach of Tau is resign!!!!

Spahia is working with the spurs and also coaching the spurs summer league, he is very good friend of Pop.
i have a feeling that there is a connection between the Splitter extension to the resign of Spahia, i think that he dont like what Tau was doing to the spurs and therefore he resign.

He wants to work in the MAJOR leagues, I guess. Interesting.

[degenerate_gambler]

This will be known as Buford's folly.


Yeah but everyone looking to run Buford out of town on a rail after this Splitter deal shouldn't get their hopes up. I've always thought when Duncan goes, Pop goes...with RC not far behind.

[Mr. Body]

Yeah but everyone looking to run Buford out of town on a rail after this Splitter deal shouldn't get their hopes up. I've always thought when Duncan goes, Pop goes...with RC not far behind.

Good, I guess, cuz he'll be hastening the end for both of them.

[kobyz]

Spahia, the head coach of Tau is resign!!!!

Spahia is working with the spurs and also coaching the spurs summer league, he is very good friend of Pop.
i have a feeling that there is a connection between the Splitter extension to the resign of Spahia, i think that he dont like what Tau was doing to the spurs and therefore he resign.

the reason for the resignation defined as disagreement between Spahia and the management!!!!
it's make perfect sense - he resign because of the Splitter thing

[Budkin]

Damn man... now we've had to get this bad news twice! And now it's doubled! :pctoss

[Bruno]

the reason for the resignation defined as disagreement between Spahia and the management!!!!
it's make perfect sense - he resign because of the Splitter thing

Spahia has had problems for months with Tau's management and even some players.

[Mr. Body]

the reason for the resignation defined as disagreement between Spahia and the management!!!!
it's make perfect sense - he resign because of the Splitter thing

Can Spahija play the post?

[manufor3]

you suck Tiago

[Supergirl]

The reality is, in the case of Splitter, there were few other people in that draft the Spurs could have had who would have made any difference. It was worth a chance to see if Splitter would come over.

The Spurs have not had good draft picks since TD, and have done pretty well (Manu, Tony) with low draft picks. But that's the lot you pay for having won 4 championships.

Now that we know Splitter won't be coming over, we will have to focus on injecting more youth into our lineup other ways. The reality is, our biggest need isn't a big man, and Mahinmi is a definite with a serious upside.

What we need more than a big man at this point is an athletic swing man, someone who can be a scorer. We need a younger Michael Finley, really.

[temujin]

Spahia, the head coach of Tau is resign!!!!

Spahia is working with the spurs and also coaching the spurs summer league, he is very good friend of Pop.
i have a feeling that there is a connection between the Splitter extension to the resign of Spahia, i think that he dont like what Tau was doing to the spurs and therefore he resign.

Spahija failed to grab the big prize.
He had problems with Tau management (and even players).
Believe it or not, world basketball does not revolve ENTIRELY around S. Antonio.

[Slomo]

Spahia, the head coach of Tau is resign!!!!

Spahia is working with the spurs and also coaching the spurs summer league, he is very good friend of Pop.
i have a feeling that there is a connection between the Splitter extension to the resign of Spahia, i think that he dont like what Tau was doing to the spurs and therefore he resign.

I'm sorry but....

:lmao :lmao :lmao

[Slomo]

The Spurs should never, ever, draft players from Tau again. I wouldn't trust any of them ever again.

This sucks. 2 year deal, I thought, no big deal, he'll still be young. But a 4 year deal - he'll be washed up, and who knows who will be left from the Spurs by then?

What does the buyout look like for 2010?

You act as if Tau owes us something. Tau is a professional basketball club, who's goal is to put together the best possible team and win as much games, titles and trophies as possible. They will use all and everything that is at their disposal in order to achieve that goal.

Please show me where Tau promised the Spurs anything and then recanted.

If you think that the Spurs would have done anything differently if the roles were reversed then you don't understand that pro sport is a business before anything else.

I'm a little disappointed that the Spurs did not make a stronger, more public push for this guy when it became clear he hadn't signed the contract yet. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they had better information about this whole thing than we did.

Frankly the Euro teams are taking advantage of the strong Euro and the fact that the Euroleague is getting financially stronger. The rules are different than in the NBA, therefore there will always be cases where one side takes advantage of a local or current situation to get the upper hand.

There is only one real long term solution to this and that's the NBA's expansion to Europe. But to do so the NBA must stop doing a half assed job of it and start talking to the real basketball cities/nations in Europe. Every time Stern talks about putting the 1st NBA franchise in London people over here are dying from laughter. Blatantly ignoring European clubs with old basketball traditions and legacies is also not helping.

[tav1]

I would take Spahija as an assistant in San Antonio in a heart beat. He's one of the most accomplished coaches in Europe.

[temujin]

Frankly the Euro teams are taking advantage of the strong Euro and the fact that the Euroleague is getting financially stronger. The rules are different than in the NBA, therefore there will always be cases where one side takes advantage of a local or current situation to get the upper hand.

Which is excellent. Bring back the Euro talents where they belong. Where they have always been.


There is only one real long term solution to this and that's the NBA's expansion to Europe. But to do so the NBA must stop doing a half assed job of it and start talking to the real basketball cities/nations in Europe. Every time Stern talks about putting the 1st NBA franchise in London people over here are dying from laughter. Blatantly ignoring European clubs with old basketball traditions and legacies is also not helping.

Which is also very good, and should be kept that way.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Tiago's coach has more balls than him.
Fuck you Splitter. You are no more than dead to us now. Even if you do come back after your contract, you'll be nothing compared to what you are now. You screwed the Spurs over. You die now.

[Marcus Bryant]

Which is also very good, and should be kept that way.

Brazil is part of the EU now?

[temujin]

I would take Spahija as an assistant in San Antonio in a heart beat. He's one of the most accomplished coaches in Europe.

Correct.
Why should he be an assistant, even to Popovich?

Messina (CSKA) was offered an assistant job to Mike Mitchell?
MIKE freaking Mitchell?

Two years extension with CSKA.

[temujin]

Brazil is part of the EU now?

France is.

[Marcus Bryant]

France is.

So?

[temujin]

So?

Fuck Euros, fuck Splitter
equals
Let's bring back the Euros.
A small french kid, for example.

Whose salary is dangerously close to what a relatively unknown serbian will be making for playing for Pana next year.

[Marcus Bryant]

Fuck Euros, fuck Splitter
equals
Let's bring back the Euros.
A small french kid, for example.

Whose salary is dangerously close to what a relatively unknown serbian will be making for playing for Pana next year.

Did that Serbian receive a $60 mil guaranteed contract? Does he stand to receive an even larger guaranteed deal in 2011?

[Slomo]

Which is also very good, and should be kept that way.


I never said what you inserted in my quote, and if your reading comprehension was anything above 2nd grade you would have understood that my point was it cuts both ways.

You have an opinion state it, don't put words in my mouth by misquoting me. :flipoff

[Southwest Texas Fan]

It's your time Ian!!!

[temujin]

Did that Serbian receive a $60 mil guaranteed contract? Does he stand to receive an even larger guaranteed deal in 2011?

Did anybody ever dream of coming close to being offered such a thing (6 M EUROS) even two years ago?

As for the multi-years guaranteed contracts, I am totally against them, if you ask me. They lead to distortions such as Marburys and the likes.

[Marcus Bryant]

Did anybody ever dream of coming close to being offered such a thing (6 M EUROS) even two years ago?

As for the multi-years guaranteed contracts, I am totally against them, if you ask me. They lead to distortions such as Marburys and the likes.

It doesn't matter if you are for or against, as they are standard fare in the NBA. It also doesn't matter that much if a player in Europe gets a certain salary for a couple of seasons.

The main advantage the European leagues currently hold is that they can offer contracts greater than the NBA rookie scale for low 1st round picks.

[temujin]

I never said what you inserted in my quote, and if your reading comprehension was anything above 2nd grade you would have understood that my point was it cuts both ways.

You have an opinion state it, don't put words in my mouth by misquoting me. :flipoff

I did not misquote. I INSERTED my comment.
Keep you finger in your pocket.

[Ocotillo]

I would take Spahija as an assistant in San Antonio in a heart beat. He's one of the most accomplished coaches in Europe.


I know nothing about the guy but before you offer him a job, does he speak English?

[temujin]

It doesn't matter if you are for or against, as they are standard fare in the NBA. It also doesn't matter that much if a player in Europe gets a certain salary for a couple of seasons.

The main advantage the European leagues currently hold is that they can offer contracts greater than the NBA rookie scale for low 1st round picks.

For as long as four years, apparently...
So it does matter if a player gets a certain salary for four years in Europe.

[tav1]

I know nothing about the guy but before you offer him a job, does he speak English?

Most Euro coaches coach in English.

And yes, he does.

[Indazone]

One word

Trade

[jag]

I think it's humorous how so many posters think the Spurs are supposed to find multiple starters/rotation players/draft steals with nothing but a bunch of second round picks.

[Mr. Body]

I think it's humorous how so many posters think the Spurs are supposed to find multiple starters/rotation players/draft steals with nothing but a bunch of second round picks.

Supposed to = have to

I doubt many people actually expect them to pull rabbits out of a hat.

[loveforthegame]

This was a despressing thread to read through.

It pisses me off but I don't blame Splitter at all.

I hope the Spurs learned their lesson this time.

[jag]

I doubt many people actually expect them to pull rabbits out of a hat.

You must not have been reading this thread...much less your own posts.

Aggie thinks our FO should find a Gilbert Arenas or Boozer each year with our 2nd round picks.

[Harry Callahan]

You must not have been reading this thread...much less your own posts.

Aggie thinks our FO should find a Gilbert Arenas or Boozer each year with our 2nd round picks.

The Spurs hit paydirt several times with Ginobili, Parker, and (yes) Scola, but that was awhile back.

Let's hope for a more productive draft and FA period this time around.

[Mr. Body]

You must not have been reading this thread...much less your own posts.

Aggie thinks our FO should find a Gilbert Arenas or Boozer each year with our 2nd round picks.

Read all my posts. Celebrate my entire catalogue.

I've not said they can hit home runs. I've said they're pretty close to having to. The post saying the 30-40 picks are fairly close to the 20-30 picks is a reasonable analysis, not fancydancing.

I don't think anybody is in the mood for thinking Buford is capable of picking good players, especially in the 2nd round.

[Bruno]

It's official now :
http://www.baskonia.com/es/noticias_explicacion.asp?id_noticia=796

[Pero]

Oh well, when you blow out that knee 5 years from now and you could've had $50 mil guaranteed left on a NBA contract, enjoy.

Uh, that's pretty dumb. He might blow his knee next season and not get practically anything in comparison if he had signed with the Spurs.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The reality is, in the case of Splitter, there were few other people in that draft the Spurs could have had who would have made any difference. It was worth a chance to see if Splitter would come over.


Yeah, except for the fact Carl Landry was taken with the first pick of the second round last year. It sure would have sucked having him on our squad this season, let alone those to come...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

You must not have been reading this thread...much less your own posts.

Aggie thinks our FO should find a Gilbert Arenas or Boozer each year with our 2nd round picks.

You must have not been reading this thread... much less my posts.

We didn't have to find a Boozer or Arenas, we had Luis freakin' Scola and his draft rights sitting in our lap last summer, and the Spurs traded him away so Peter Holt could clear another 3-4 million profit.

And now the Spurs are fucked for the conceivable future in the low post next to Tim Duncan because of it.

You're right, the Spurs front office deserves no criticism at all. Stupid me.

It's amazing that I should accept mediocre draft results for the past six years without bitching about it, yet somehow drafting at largely the same positions in the last several drafts the Pistons have filled out their entire squad with rotation players.

Or howabout the Knicks? Let's see, with draft picks worse than ours, they have managed to draft:

Mardy Collins
David Lee
Trevor Ariza

in recent history.

The Spurs fell in love with the Euro draft and stash plan and never adapted to changing conditions, and it's bit them in the ass for two years running and now jeopardizes the Spurs winning another championship in the remainder of the Tim Duncan era.

Yet, they should obviously get a free pass for their pathetic draft results the last 7 years.

[jag]

You must have not been reading this thread... much less my posts.



I don't have to read your posts or this thread to find out anymore information about Scola. There's already a thread dedicated to bitching and moaning about his loss.

[Mr. Body]

Or howabout the Knicks? Let's see, with draft picks worse than ours, they have managed to draft:

Mardy Collins
David Lee
Trevor Ariza

in recent history.


They were also the first team to find Udoka. Also Nate Robinson was a late pick. I don't like the twerp but he's better than our twerps.

Sign Isiah as a draft associate. He hates Euros and white people, so just take his black people ideas.

[wildbill2u]

It's over. :depressed

Link in Spanish :
http://www.elcorreodigital.com/alava/20080606/deportes/tau/baskonia-apalabra-renovacion-splitter-20080606.html

He has a NBA opt out close in 2010.


Edit : official announcement :
http://www.baskonia.com/es/noticias_explicacion.asp?id_noticia=796

It's official. The NBA has a bidding war on its hands with the Euro leagues.
Who wants to bet that they don't start trying to outbid the NBA teams for talent in the first round of the draft.?

[Kori Ellis]

Spahia has had problems for months with Tau's management and even some players.

He had problems with Maccabi management and players too. Pretty much everybody hates him. He throws his players under the bus when they lose and takes all the credit when they win. He's an ass.

[Mr. Body]

It's official. The NBA has a bidding war on its hands with the Euro leagues.
Who wants to bet that they don't start trying to outbid the NBA teams for talent in the first round of the draft.?

Could. Top players in top markets will still make a killing here with endorsements, but if Memphis winds up drafting the wrong guy he might pull a Danny Ferry and go play for as much money abroad.

But still I don't see American kids going out in the world much. They still are after their groupies and big cars.

[Bruno]

He had problems with Maccabi management and players too. Pretty much everybody hates him. He throws his players under the bus when they lose and takes all the credit when they win. He's an ass.

I guess that Noel Felix isn't a fan of him after his year in Maccabi's doghouse. :)

[Kori Ellis]

I guess that Noel Felix isn't a fan of him after his year in Maccabi's doghouse. :)

Noel didn't mind him that much, but a lot of the top Maccabi players did.

[GSH]

The reality is, in the case of Splitter, there were few other people in that draft the Spurs could have had who would have made any difference. It was worth a chance to see if Splitter would come over.

The Spurs have not had good draft picks since TD, and have done pretty well (Manu, Tony) with low draft picks. But that's the lot you pay for having won 4 championships.

Now that we know Splitter won't be coming over, we will have to focus on injecting more youth into our lineup other ways. The reality is, our biggest need isn't a big man, and Mahinmi is a definite with a serious upside.

What we need more than a big man at this point is an athletic swing man, someone who can be a scorer. We need a younger Michael Finley, really.

Do you think that if the Spurs had drafted Carlos Boozer, someone else would have snatched Scola from them?

A younger Finley would score points. Now if they will just let us put a 6th man on the floor to play defense for him...

Sorry. Not directed at you. I just took another look at what the Spurs have done with the draft for the last 5 years. It's depressing.

[GSH]

But still I don't see American kids going out in the world much. They still are after their groupies and big cars.

You say that like it's a bad thing.:blah

[objective]

Or howabout the Knicks? Let's see, with draft picks worse than ours, they have managed to draft:

Mardy Collins
David Lee
Trevor Ariza

in recent history.

The Spurs fell in love with the Euro draft and stash plan and never adapted to changing conditions, and it's bit them in the ass for two years running and now jeopardizes the Spurs winning another championship in the remainder of the Tim Duncan era.

Yet, they should obviously get a free pass for their pathetic draft results the last 7 years.

It's not just the Knicks . . .

What about the LAKERS? They wouldn't be in the Finals without their bench, all of whom are late first round picks or second round picks!

Why do people act like the Spurs had no chance picking so late or could only draft homeruns like Boozer or Arenas?

Lakers actually had patience to develop the youth on their team, while they could have been signing vet after vet to try and ride Kobe and company to a ring.

Luke Walton. Second round pick
Sasha Vujacic. Late first round pick
Jordan Farmar. Late first round pick
Ronny Turiaf. Second round pick
Trevor Ariza. Second rounder of the Knicks taken after Viktor Sanikidze, the main asset they traded to get Ariza was Brian Cook another bottom-3rd of the 1st round pick

[angelbelow]

i wonder if splitter understands what he has done to us. he promises to come, now he signs for 4 years, we cant trade him as everyone knows hes not coming over, we are desperate for a big and i dont think we'll have enough money to use other than the mle and lle. that wont even for close to the luxury right?

[GSH]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere. I may have missed it. But didn't Splitter's comments read like it would have made a big difference if the Spurs had courted him a little more aggressively?

MADRID, June 6 (Reuters) - Spain shooting guard Rudy Fernandez said he was leaving local side DKV Joventut to join the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
"They have pushed hard for me to join them and have assured me I will be an important figure for them," Fernandez told a news conference.
"It wasn't an easy decision to take but it is the time for a new challenge after a fantastic year with Joventut."
The 23-year-old helped Joventut to last season's King's Cup and ULEB Cup -- Europe's second tier event behind the Euroleague -- and was voted into the ideal starting five for the Spanish ACB league for the 2007-8 campaign.
Fernandez was a member of the Spain team that won gold at the world championship in 2006 and silver in the European championship in 2007.
He joins up with fellow countryman Sergio Rodriguez at Portland, and becomes the fifth Spain international in the NBA along with Rodriguez, Pau Gasol, Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlos Navarro and Jose Manuel Calderon.
Fernandez will join up with Portland after the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

[objective]

Kevin Pritchard kept it real.

[Harry Callahan]

I think Vujacic and Farmer were drafted in years where SA had no first round choice and even if they did LA had a worse regular season record so the LA picks would have been before SA's.

The draft is designed to help the teams that don't win and SA has had the best record in the NBA over the last decade. They have not had adequate ammo to draft premium players at all.

Top notch NBA teams are not typically built with late first rounders and second rounders. SA was smart enough and fortunate enough to get All Star players for very little with TP and MG, but that was a long time ago now.

This roster must get get younger and (hopefully) better. We'll see. No more draft and stash should be the motto.

[Bartleby]

I think Vujacic and Farmer were drafted in years where SA had no first round choice and even if they did LA had a worse regular season record so the LA picks would have been before SA's.

I thought Sasha was drafted right before Beno, no?

In any case, the only way the Spurs could have drafted Bynum is if they had been a lottery team in 05. I'll settle for the ring instead.

[Harry Callahan]

I thought Sasha was drafted right before Beno, no?

In any case, the only way the Spurs could have drafted Bynum is if they had been a lottery team in 05. I'll settle for the ring instead.


yeah, you may be right because bynum was drafted in 05 and Farmar in 06.

Beno was drafted in the 28th spot I believe and Sasha a few picks before.

[Bruno]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere. I may have missed it. But didn't Splitter's comments read like it would have made a big difference if the Spurs had courted him a little more aggressively?


We don't really know what Spurs have done and/or said to Splitter.
I hope the E-N will have an article about that soon.

Splitter's turnaround is quite unreal. In less than one month he has gone from "playing in my NBA is the biggest dream of my life" with a report saying that he won't change his mind and that he was looking for a house in SA to signing an extension with Tau.
It is a so big change of mind that I wonder that all his words about the NBA were sincere. I'm really puzzled about what happened. I hope we will get some answers through the summer.

[MaNu4Tres]

I really believe Pop's stubborn side gets the best of him at times. For example, small ball and sticking with van exel in 06', and playing robert horry this year. I believe pop played hardball with Splitter when it came down to deciding between Spurs or Tau because like Bruno said it's quite unreal how Splitter changed his mind. Then again money talks.

[Harry Callahan]

The NBA rookie cap tied the Spurs hands period. The Spurs FO (GM or Pres) apparently got no chance to talk to the guy in person since the season just ended. Hard to say what happened.

Splitter got a bunch of money to stay put. Spurs could not compete monetarily and they should learn not to trust what these foreign prospects say going forward. Draft Euros in the second round, not the salary capped 1st.

[picnroll]

Splitter's turnaround is quite unreal. In less than one month he has gone from "playing in my NBA is the biggest dream of my life" with a report saying that he won't change his mind and that he was looking for a house in SA to signing an extension with Tau.
It is a so big change of mind that I wonder that all his words about the NBA were sincere. I'm really puzzled about what happened. I hope we will get some answers through the summer.

Splinter may or may not be smart but his agent is. The more he could convince Tau he was almost for sure heading to SA the more desperate/high their offer to keep him would be. I'd say Splinter played the Spurs or used the Spurs to play Tau into overpaying him for what he's really worth.

[leemajors]

So it goes.

[AFBlue]

Damn, I went to bed early last night and wasn't able to see this at work today....sucky news to come home to.

I'm not going to read through 15 pages to see if anyone has had this take, but does anyone else see it as a positive that he signed a 4yr deal with a potential opt out at 2 years?

Based on the original contract idea, Splitter would've made a decision in 2010 anyways, but at that time Tau would've been able to offer him millions more if he was worth it. As I understand it now, he can play for a couple years w/ Tau and then assess where he is, Tau is, and the Spurs are. Let's face it....Tiago wouldn't have played much at all this year with Oberto and most likely Thomas at the position. In 2010, my guess is that the Spurs will have a clear vacancy for Tiago to fill.

So he opted for more money and PT, let's not burn any bridges or kill him for it. Look forward to seeing Tiago in 2010...

[Bartleby]

Look forward to seeing Tiago in 2010...

when he can come off the bench for Ian.

[oligarchy]

Don't trade his rights, just let him rot there in case he ever does decide to play in the NBA.

[Harry Callahan]

Damn, I went to bed early last night and wasn't able to see this at work today....sucky news to come home to.

I'm not going to read through 15 pages to see if anyone has had this take, but does anyone else see it as a positive that he signed a 4yr deal with a potential opt out at 2 years?

Based on the original contract idea, Splitter would've made a decision in 2010 anyways, but at that time Tau would've been able to offer him millions more if he was worth it. As I understand it now, he can play for a couple years w/ Tau and then assess where he is, Tau is, and the Spurs are. Let's face it....Tiago wouldn't have played much at all this year with Oberto and most likely Thomas at the position. In 2010, my guess is that the Spurs will have a clear vacancy for Tiago to fill.

So he opted for more money and PT, let's not burn any bridges or kill him for it. Look forward to seeing Tiago in 2010...

I agree, his wallet will be much fatter in two years to allow him to make a long term basketball decision. Keeping a line of communication open will be a good idea for the Spurs.

If Splitter has some sense, he will have plenty of money from two seasons of big money. Maybe the Spurs can bring him over then.

BTW, hasn't this guy played pro ball for eight years now? He ought to be set for life with the new deal and could have the flexibility to start his NBA career in a couple of years being a lot more set financially (if that's what he wants).

He could still come over here and have a long and lucrative career in two years. DRob started in SA at 24 and played a long time.

If Splitter stays over there after 2010, then its a lost cause and a wasted pick.

[smeagol]

Nowadays, players have options.

NBA teams should be more carefull when drafting players from overseas.

[Pero]

I agree, his wallet will be much fatter in two years to allow him to make a long term basketball decision. Keeping a line of communication open will be a good idea for the Spurs.

If Splitter has some sense, he will have plenty of money from two seasons of big money. Maybe the Spurs can bring him over then.

BTW, hasn't this guy played pro ball for eight years now? He ought to be set for life with the new deal and could have the flexibility to start his NBA career in a couple of years being a lot more set financially (if that's what he wants).

He could still come over here and have a long and lucrative career in two years. DRob started in SA at 24 and played a long time.

If Splitter stays over there after 2010, then its a lost cause and a wasted pick.

Well, playing pro ball doesn't necessarily give you a big paycheck from the start. You start from peanuts.

[AFBlue]

I agree, his wallet will be much fatter in two years to allow him to make a long term basketball decision. Keeping a line of communication open will be a good idea for the Spurs.

If Splitter has some sense, he will have plenty of money from two seasons of big money. Maybe the Spurs can bring him over then.

BTW, hasn't this guy played pro ball for eight years now? He ought to be set for life with the new deal and could have the flexibility to start his NBA career in a couple of years being a lot more set financially (if that's what he wants).

He could still come over here and have a long and lucrative career in two years. DRob started in SA at 24 and played a long time.

If Splitter stays over there after 2010, then its a lost cause and a wasted pick.

He'd be what...25 or 26 if he came over prior to the 2010 season? Then the Spurs would have him under contract until he was at least 28 or so.

Spurs would be foolish to trade his rights or cut off communication at this point.

Having said that, I think the Spurs should plan as if he's never going to cross the pond. They should start by looking big in this draft...even if that means leveraging future picks to get multiple ones in this year's draft.

[Extra Stout]

I agree, his wallet will be much fatter in two years to allow him to make a long term basketball decision. Keeping a line of communication open will be a good idea for the Spurs.

If Splitter has some sense, he will have plenty of money from two seasons of big money. Maybe the Spurs can bring him over then.

BTW, hasn't this guy played pro ball for eight years now? He ought to be set for life with the new deal and could have the flexibility to start his NBA career in a couple of years being a lot more set financially (if that's what he wants).

He could still come over here and have a long and lucrative career in two years. DRob started in SA at 24 and played a long time.

If Splitter stays over there after 2010, then its a lost cause and a wasted pick.
The euro might be $2 or higher by 2010.

[AFBlue]

The euro might be $2 or higher by 2010.

Splitter might have accomplished all he wanted to accomplish in international play by then.

[The Truth #6]

I see no reason to use our first pick on a big man. We have Ian. We've invested time into him already. His potential is high. Who would we draft better than him with our first round draft pick. Unless we do a major trade who would we get who is that much better. Diop? That's a waste of time and money.

Just because he was good against us doesn't mean he's good against the rest of the league. How many times have we become enamored with players because Pop was impressed with how they played against us? Rasho? Bonner?

We need to give Ian a chance and if he's somehow horrible then we can pursue another big once that has been made clear. There's no reason to make the Tiago disaster worse by pursuing Diop and killing our chances of getting a more productive wing player.

[AFBlue]

I see no reason to use our first pick on a big man. We have Ian. We've invested time into him already. His potential is high. Who would we draft better than him with our first round draft pick. Unless we do a major trade who would we get who is that much better. Diop? That's a waste of time and money.

Just because he was good against us doesn't mean he's good against the rest of the league. How many times have we become enamored with players because Pop was impressed with how they played against us? Rasho? Bonner?

We need to give Ian a chance and if he's somehow horrible then we can pursue another big once that has been made clear. There's no reason to make the Tiago disaster worse by pursuing Diop and killing our chances of getting a more productive wing player.

Not that the Spurs have ever been completely forthright with their plans (They don't call him CIA Pop for nothing), but every indication is that the Spurs are looking to go to the Wing with their first pick.

Though I do think a "big" needs to be addressed at SOME point in the draft.

[1Parker1]

No article or information coming out from the Spurs camp or E-N news??? Damn, hopefully Ludden from Yahoo has some info :depressed

[Spurs Brazil]

Fuck Tiago. That was stupid. I hope the Spurs trade him.

I agree with Kori. Tiago never "promised" he was coming to the NBA this summer.

But in all his interviews, San Antonio, Spain and Brazil he said it was one year with Tau and then a Spurs player in 2009.

[exstatic]

Is there anything in the CBA that allows the team to waive his rights and his salary cap slot if he doesn't come over in 2-3 years after being drafted?

They could renounce his rights today if they wanted, and get him off the cap. I can see this happening NLT 2010 when they are trying to clear cap.

[Indazone]

He'd be what...25 or 26 if he came over prior to the 2010 season? Then the Spurs would have him under contract until he was at least 28 or so.

Spurs would be foolish to trade his rights or cut off communication at this point.

Having said that, I think the Spurs should plan as if he's never going to cross the pond. They should start by looking big in this draft...even if that means leveraging future picks to get multiple ones in this year's draft.

Exactly why Spurs should trade his right to the Rockets. That way they can get Roy Hibbert. Otherwise the Rockets will choose Roy Hibbert.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

But we don't want Roy Hibbert.

[exstatic]

When you tax something that increases every fucking day, then basically the tax is going up also. If your young dumb ass realized the reality of this kind've of shit, you might be able to survive at 30 years old in America.

Taxes need to go away and the bullshit like building shit for sports teams needs to stop.

same shit different day...

Dude, unless your short ass is renting a special midget car or renting hotel rooms to cheat, you ain't paying a fucking PENNY of that tax. STFU.

[Indazone]

But we don't want Roy Hibbert.

It's him or Robin Lopez that's are worth a crap at the level that both the Rockets and Spurs will be picking. Both playoff teams and the Rockets are just barely ahead of the Spurs in draft position.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

It's him or Robin Lopez that's are worth a crap at the level that both the Rockets and Spurs will be picking. Both playoff teams and the Rockets are just barely ahead of the Spurs in draft position.

And what if the Spurs are looking for a swingman in the first round?

[AFBlue]

Exactly why Spurs should trade his right to the Rockets. That way they can get Roy Hibbert. Otherwise the Rockets will choose Roy Hibbert.

It would be an intriguing proposition if the Rockets were picking more than ONE spot ahead of the Spurs in this draft. If they're available at #25, chances are they'll be there at #26.

[ChumpDumper]

The Rockets can take Hibbert -- then the Spurs can just sign whichever big man they subsequently let go.

The Spurs should still draft a swingman first. That really hasn't changed IMO.

[exstatic]

He had problems with Maccabi management and players too. Pretty much everybody hates him. He throws his players under the bus when they lose and takes all the credit when they win. He's an ass.

No wonder he's friends with Pop. He sounds exactly like a Euro Larry Brown.

[AFBlue]

The Rockets can take Hibbert -- then the Spurs can just sign whichever big man they subsequently let go.

The Spurs should still draft a swingman first. That really hasn't changed IMO.

And with the depth at PF/C in this draft, there's really no need to buy picks or trade up.

[ChumpDumper]

I can maybe see the Spurs taking Lopez if he is available, but it seems like picking a big man in the first round would at best get someone who would be around Ian's skill level without his experience in the system.

[Russ]

My hunch is that, in spite of the rookie salary cap and other impediments, if the Spurs had made clear and relentless commitment to getting Splitter, and conveyed that to him through their actions, things might have been different.

Unfortunately, I think the Spurs are now conveying (unintentionally) a certain arrogance to foreign players. The situation with Scola and the others since Manu have trumped the Spurs' initial sterling reputation with the overseas guys. This has been a great loss IMO.

[AFBlue]

I can maybe see the Spurs taking Lopez if he is available, but it seems like picking a big man in the first round would at best get someone who would be around Ian's skill level without his experience in the system.

Agreed. Lopez is at least ready to be on the court defensively if nothing else, and the offense is something he could develop with time.

I wouldn't be upset if he was the pick, but leveraging Tiago or other draft picks....not to sure about that one.

[ShoogarBear]

While I'm not sure that I would have picked the "1/8th the money, out of your comfort zone and away from your family" job; I'm sure that I wouldn't have asked my future employers to spend $3M to prepare my coming without being almost sure to go there.

I'm sure this has already been mentioned, but where/how did the Spurs already spend $3 million on Splitter?

[timvp]

I'm sure this has already been mentioned, but where/how did the Spurs already spend $3 million on Splitter?$3M is the going rate for a late first round pick. If Splitter hadn't said he was coming over from Tau after one year, the Spurs could have sold the pick and used the money elsewhere.

For example, use the $3M to pay Scola's buyout . . .

[ShoogarBear]

$3M is the going rate for a late first round pick. If Splitter hadn't said he was coming over from Tau after one year, the Spurs could have sold the pick and used the money elsewhere.

For example, use the $3M to pay Scola's buyout . . .

Doesn't that presume that the Spurs were not going to draft somebody else if they didn't draft Splitter?

[AFBlue]

$3M is the going rate for a late first round pick. If Splitter hadn't said he was coming over from Tau after one year, the Spurs could have sold the pick and used the money elsewhere.

For example, use the $3M to pay Scola's buyout . . .

i.e. opportunity cost

[timvp]

Doesn't that presume that the Spurs were not going to draft somebody else if they didn't draft Splitter?Yeah, it does presume that. However, Buford hinted at that after the draft.

Besides, I think it's pretty fair to assess $3M as the amount Splitter cost the Spurs. I don't think saying Splitter cost the Spurs nothing is accurate ... so might as well use the going rate of the asset the Spurs used to acquire his rights.

[clubalien]

look at the players picked after Splitter.
any other choices if only he didn't submit his name for the draft or we didn't pick him?

28 San Antonio Tiago Splitter 7-0 240 PF Brazil
29 Phoenix Alando Tucker 6-5 205 SF Wisconsin
30 Philadelphia* Petteri Koponen 6-4 194 PG Finland
(*from Dal via Den/GS; Traded to Portland)




ROUND 2 DRAFT RESULTS

1 (31) Seattle Carl Landry 6-7 248 PF Purdue
(Traded to Houston)
2 (32) Boston Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC
3 (33) San Antonio Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SF Arizona
4 (34) Dallas Nick Fazekas 6-11 225 PF Nevada
5 (35) Seattle* Glen Davis 6-9 290 PF LSU
(*Traded to Boston)
6 (36) Golden State* Jermareo Davidson6-11 230 PF Alabama
(*Traded to Charlotte)
7 (37) Portland Josh McRoberts 6-10 230 PF Duke
8 (38) Philadelphia* Kyrylo Fesenko 7-1 270 PF Ukraine
(*Traded to Utah)
9 (39) Miami* Stanko Barac 7-1 235 C Bosnia
(Traded to Indiana)
10 (40) LA Lakers Sun Yue 6-9 205 SF China
11 (41) Minnesota Chris Richard 6-9 252 C Florida
12 (42) Portland* Derrick Byars 6-7 220 SF Vanderbilt
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
13 (43) New Orleans Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa
14 (44) Orlando* Reyshawn Terry 6-8 222 SF North Carolina
(*Traded to Dallas)
15 (45) LA Clippers Jared Jordan 6-2 183 PG Marist
16 (46) Golden State Stephane Lasme 6-7 213 PF Massachusetts
17 (47) Washington Dominic McGuire 6-9 220 SF Fresno State
18 (48) LA Lakers Marc Gasol 7-0 265 C Spain:oops
19 (49) Chicago Aaron Gray 7-2 271 C Pittsburgh
20 (50) Dallas Renaldas Seibutis6-6 185 SG Lithuania
21 (51) Chicago JamesOn Curry 6-3 190 SG Oklahoma State
23 (53) Portland Demetris Nichols6-8 211 SF Syracuse
24 (54) Houston Brad Newley 6-7 201 SG Australia
25 (55) Utah* Herbert Hill 6-10 232 PF Providence
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
26 (56) Milwaukee Ramon Sessions 6-4 185 PG Nevada
27 (57) Detroit Sammy Mejia 6-7 218 SG DePaul
28 (58) San Antonio* Giorgos Printezis6-9 210 SF Greece
(*Traded to Toronto)
29 (59) Phoenix D. J. Strawberry6-5 199 SG Maryland
30 (60) Dallas* Milovan Rakovic 6-10 ? PF Serbia
(Traded to Orlando)
just to clarify your solution to drafting forieners is to draft a foriegner in gasal

[AFBlue]

I don't get it. If Tiago came to the NBA he wouldn't make as much the first 2, maybe 3 years, but after that he could have made maybe 5, 6 or 7 million a year.

Lets see if we can package him.

Based on his last couple interviews, I don't think you can say it was totally about the money.

I think he also wanted assurances that he would be given the opportunity to play...and given that the Spurs have Oberto under contract and are likely to bring back Thomas, you have to think he was right in his assessment that he wouldn't play much this year and maybe the next.

Plus, there was a loyalty to the team that brought him up and help mold him as a player. He had just won one championship, and has a legitimate shot at taking his team to the Euroleague title.

He's also fairly young and can point to other Euroleague stars coming over later in their careers and being successful.

I would advocate the opposite position from what you're preaching. His trade value at this point is shit, and it won't be worth anything until the Summer of '10 when he MAY come over. Best to hold onto his rights, keep tabs on him, and re-visit the idea of bringing him over in two years.

[picnroll]

In the last interview Splinter gave before signing he said he needed to meet with his agents and the Tau owner before for reaching a decision. He didn't say his family. He didn't say Spurs officials. He didn't say his priest. He said it was the guys who could negotiate a Tau deal. He even signed a deal with longer terms and apparently less opt out options than originally reported. It was about the money.

[dougp]

Based on his last couple interviews, I don't think you can say it was totally about the money.

I think he also wanted assurances that he would be given the opportunity to play...and given that the Spurs have Oberto under contract and are likely to bring back Thomas, you have to think he was right in his assessment that he wouldn't play much this year and maybe the next.

Plus, there was a loyalty to the team that brought him up and help mold him as a player. He had just won one championship, and has a legitimate shot at taking his team to the Euroleague title.

He's also fairly young and can point to other Euroleague stars coming over later in their careers and being successful.

I would advocate the opposite position from what you're preaching. His trade value at this point is shit, and it won't be worth anything until the Summer of '10 when he MAY come over. Best to hold onto his rights, keep tabs on him, and re-visit the idea of bringing him over in two years.

I vote we do sign him, and then package him off to a crappy team for a decent pick and make him suffer.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's him or Robin Lopez that's are worth a crap at the level that both the Rockets and Spurs will be picking. Both playoff teams and the Rockets are just barely ahead of the Spurs in draft position.

Hibbert has peaked as a player, it's why he went from lotto pick last year to bottom of the first this year.

Lopez sucks, he makes Rasho Nesterovic look like a hard ass.

[DannyB]

Ha ha! I'm laughing.

That was a nice waste of a pick. He'll never play for you now. Especially now that the Euro is dominant over the $. He'll never accept an NBA contract for less than he can make in Europe.

Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

[yavozerb]

Ha ha! I'm laughing.

That was a nice waste of a pick. He'll never play for you now. Especially now that the Euro is dominant over the $. He'll never accept an NBA contract for less than he can make in Europe.

Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

Thats funny cause I keep laughing as the suns get older and cannot even win the western conference :lol

[AFBlue]

In the last interview Splinter gave before signing he said he needed to meet with his agents and the Tau owner before for reaching a decision. He didn't say his family. He didn't say Spurs officials. He didn't say his priest. He said it was the guys who could negotiate a Tau deal. He even signed a deal with longer terms and apparently less opt out options than originally reported. It was about the money.

In the last interview Splitter gave he talked about Pop's unwillingness to play rookies and that it would factor into his decision.

And his contract has an opt-out clause at the two year point...just when his other would be expiring.

He got a commitment for more guaranteed dollars with the option after two years to forgo some of that guaranteed money for a shot at the NBA. That doesn't make his decision all about the money....it just makes him smart.

[Big P]

Ha ha! I'm laughing.

That was a nice waste of a pick. He'll never play for you now. Especially now that the Euro is dominant over the $. He'll never accept an NBA contract for less than he can make in Europe.

Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

I know, it sucks...the biggest downside to winning championships is the crappy draft position, but what do you care, you are a suns fan & we all know they couldn't even spell championship, let alone win ANYTHING that matters....oh and how did that Atlanta pick work out for ya'll? I mean it's defintily a Top 10 pick right? Oh its not?, then it must at least be a lotto pick right? Oh its not? Wow.. phoenix got boned...again...Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

[Budkin]

Ha ha! I'm laughing.

That was a nice waste of a pick. He'll never play for you now. Especially now that the Euro is dominant over the $. He'll never accept an NBA contract for less than he can make in Europe.

Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

Your team is the suns. Very Funny. I laugh and gloat.

[picnroll]

In the last interview Splitter gave he talked about Pop's unwillingness to play rookies and that it would factor into his decision.

And his contract has an opt-out clause at the two year point...just when his other would be expiring.

He got a commitment for more guaranteed dollars with the option after two years to forgo some of that guaranteed money for a shot at the NBA. That doesn't make his decision all about the money....it just makes him smart.

Did Splitter ever indicate that he'd even talked to Pop or any Spurs official about what exactly his role might be, whether it was he or the Spurs that reached out to define the possibilities? Or did he just make a press statement about what he thought it might be? Maybe lip service to justify going back on previous statements about coming to the NBA so he look like he had a tiny bit of integrity.

There were some indications the original deal had a buy out after year, one for what the NBA was allowed to pay, $500 K, and no buy out at all after year two.

He wanted one input and that was to see what he could do to leverage a little more $.

[AFBlue]

Did Splitter ever indicate that he'd even talked to Pop or any Spurs official about what exactly his role might be, whether it was he or the Spurs that reached out to define the possibilities? Or did he just make a press statement about what he thought it might be? Maybe lip service to justify going back on previous statements about coming to the NBA so he look like he had a tiny bit of integrity.

There were some indications the original deal had a buy out after year one of what the NBA was allowed to pay, $500 K, and no buy out at all after year two.

He wanted one input and that was to see what he could do to leverage a little more $.little bit better

Didn't sound to me like it was anything official he was told by the Spurs organization. Then again, I don't think the details of a two-year deal were ever official either.

Maybe it's blind optimism, but I choose to believe that Splitter may still choose to come to the NBA (hopefully Spurs) in two years when he has the chance to opt out....that he will choose to forgo some of the money and instead opt for a chance at playing as a key member of a championship-calibur team. I can say almost for certain that there will be no Oberto or Thomas standing in his way then...

[DannyB]

I know, it sucks...the biggest downside to winning championships is the crappy draft position, but what do you care, you are a suns fan & we all know they couldn't even spell championship, let alone win ANYTHING that matters....oh and how did that Atlanta pick work out for ya'll? I mean it's defintily a Top 10 pick right? Oh its not?, then it must at least be a lotto pick right? Oh its not? Wow.. phoenix got boned...again...Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

"Blah blah blah"... that's all I ever hear from Spurs fans ... just nonsense and noise ...

[DannyB]

Your team is the suns. Very Funny. I laugh and gloat.

"Blah blah blah *empty trash talk* blah blah blah"


Is that what you said? I guess so ... nevermind ... your team is done too ... especially now that "The Great White Hope" Splitter has spurned the Spurs for the next four years .... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

[AFBlue]

"Blah blah blah"... that's all I ever hear from Spurs fans ... just nonsense and noise ...

That's all you hear? Must suck. Don't know about you, but if that's all I heard I'd try to avoid places (like this one) where Spurs fans congregate. You do realize the site is called SpursTalk don't you?

[A.H 21-50]

"Blah blah blah *empty trash talk* blah blah blah"


Is that what you said? I guess so ... nevermind ... your team is done too ... especially now that "The Great White Hope" Splitter has spurned the Spurs for the next four years .... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

how old are you ? it's not responsable to be there
if you want to talk about basket you're welcome but if you're here for nothing .......
i know it's difficult not winning any title or something else so be classy ;)

[Russ]

Maybe it's blind optimism, but I choose to believe that Splitter may still choose to come to the NBA (hopefully Spurs) in two years when he has the chance to opt out....that he will choose to forgo some of the money and instead opt for a chance at playing as a key member of a championship-calibur team. I can say almost for certain that there will be no Oberto or Thomas standing in his way then...

Yep. :)

[midnightpulp]

That's all you hear? Must suck. Don't know about you, but if that's all I heard I'd try to avoid places (like this one) where Spurs fans congregate. You do realize the site is called SpursTalk don't you?

Sons fans are funny. Their disgruntled nature has devolved into pure, refined hate. He's here because he thinks aggravating Spurs fans gives him some type of moral victory, when in reality, he comes off like something of a village idiot, whose ramblings are scorned, mocked, and humored. If I could meet Danny B face to face, I'd definitely give him a dollar, a pat on the head, and shake my head in pity as I walk away while he tells the story of the Suns' 07 season to a lamp post.

[DannyB]

how old are you ? it's not responsable to be there
if you want to talk about basket you're welcome but if you're here for nothing .......
i know it's difficult not winning any title or something else so be classy ;)

I;m older than you, fool, but that probably doesn't mean much. You're still a dumb Spurs fan, so I guess age and wisdom don't count for much anyway..

[DannyB]

Sons fans are funny. Their disgruntled nature has devolved into pure, refined hate. He's here because he thinks aggravating Spurs fans gives him some type of moral victory, when in reality, he comes off like something of a village idiot, whose ramblings are pitied, mocked, and humored. If I could meet Danny B face to face, I'd definitely give him a dollar, a pat on the head, and tell him to keep his nose clean.

You go ahead and keep telling yourself you've got it all figured out, ok? I would hate to burst your bubble on reality and let you in on the fact that every fan of NBA basketball hates you and your shitbag Spurs ... that would be too harsh for you to handle probably. It's not even about *my* team ... it's about how the Spurs have ruined basketball for everyone. Fuck the Spurs.

[midnightpulp]

I;m older than you, fool, but that probably doesn't mean much. You're still a dumb Spurs fan, so I guess age and wisdom don't count for much anyway..

Writing a hate manifesto is not the equivalent of being wise.

Back to your shack, troll.

[DannyB]

Writing a hate manifesto is not the equivalent of being wise.

Back to your shack, troll.

Yeah, you're right. Also, writing a "Dumbass Manifesto is not the equivalent of being wise either. Just food for thought, dumbass.

[midnightpulp]

You go ahead and keep telling yourself you've got it all figured out, ok? I would hate to burst your bubble on reality and let you in on the fact that every fan of NBA basketball hates you and your shitbag Spurs ... that would be too harsh for you to handle probably. It's not even about *my* team ... it's about how the Spurs have ruined basketball for everyone. Fuck the Spurs.

They've especially ruined it for you, haven't they? Prior to the playoffs, I can see you getting all excited, your little face glowing with optimism, telling yourself, "This is our year, baby! Shaq-daddy gonna bring it home!" This feeling especially peaked in the last minute during game 1 of this year's first round. You were high-fiving the air (since you obviously have no friends), excitement filling your whole body to the point of convulsions, then: Finley...for 3!

You knew the inevitble was coming, but you still managed to fight off submission, hopeful your Sons would pull it out. Being the cruel masochists they are, the Sons went up 3 with seconds left, and you were sure of victory. Then, Ginobili drives and passes to a wide open Tim Duncan. No way he hits that 3, you told yourself. We get this game, the series is ours.

Swish.

How did that feel? I bet your internal organs felt like they collapsed. Tears streamed from your eyes. Your soul went pitch black. You screamed "Why?" to the heavens and got no answer but deafening silence. 40 years of failure, crystallized in this singular moment, symbolic in defining the Suns' pathetic legacy.

And what do you do? Deflect your hate for the franchise you root for, a franchise who has rewarded your devotion with jack shit, onto a classy, RESPECTED, winning franchise in the San Antonio Spurs. It's natural, but it can also be destructive to the psyche, and I have little recourse but to advise you to get some fuckin help.

Seriously.

[DannyB]

They've especially ruined it for you, haven't they? Prior to the playoffs, I can see you getting all excited, your little face glowing with optimism, telling yourself, "This is our year, baby! Shaq-daddy gonna bring it home!" This feeling especially peaked in the last minute during game 1 of this year's first round. You were high-fiving the air (since you obviously have no friends), excitement filling your whole body to the point of convulsions, then: Finley...for 3!

You knew the inevitble was coming, but you still managed to fight off submission, hopeful your Sons would pull it out. Being the cruel masochists they are, the Sons went up 3 with seconds left, and you were sure of victory. Then, Ginobili drives and passes to a wide open Tim Duncan. No way he hits that 3, you told yourself. We get this game, the series is ours.

Swish.

How did that feel? I bet your internal organs felt like they collapsed. Tears streamed from your eyes. Your soul went pitch black. You screamed "Why?" to the heavens and got no answer but deafening silence. 40 years of failure, crystallized in this singular moment, symbolic in defining the Suns' pathetic legacy.

And what do you do? Deflect your hate for the franchise you root for, a franchise who has rewarded your devotion with jack shit, onto a classy, RESPECTED, winning franchise in the San Antonio Spurs. It's natural, but it can also be destructive to the psyche, and I have little recourse but to advise you to get some fuckin help.

Seriously.

Obviously, you're free to imagine whatever bullshit you want ... don't let me be the one to stop you from all your fantasizing bullshit. Go ahead and enjoy that shit while you can ...

[DaDakota]

Shocking that a player would follow the money, I guess the Euros have learned from the Americans so well.

DD

[SPURSGOAT]

They've especially ruined it for you, haven't they? Prior to the playoffs, I can see you getting all excited, your little face glowing with optimism, telling yourself, "This is our year, baby! Shaq-daddy gonna bring it home!" This feeling especially peaked in the last minute during game 1 of this year's first round. You were high-fiving the air (since you obviously have no friends), excitement filling your whole body to the point of convulsions, then: Finley...for 3!

You knew the inevitble was coming, but you still managed to fight off submission, hopeful your Sons would pull it out. Being the cruel masochists they are, the Sons went up 3 with seconds left, and you were sure of victory. Then, Ginobili drives and passes to a wide open Tim Duncan. No way he hits that 3, you told yourself. We get this game, the series is ours.

Swish.

How did that feel? I bet your internal organs felt like they collapsed. Tears streamed from your eyes. Your soul went pitch black. You screamed "Why?" to the heavens and got no answer but deafening silence. 40 years of failure, crystallized in this singular moment, symbolic in defining the Suns' pathetic legacy.

And what do you do? Deflect your hate for the franchise you root for, a franchise who has rewarded your devotion with jack shit, onto a classy, RESPECTED, winning franchise in the San Antonio Spurs. It's natural, but it can also be destructive to the psyche, and I have little recourse but to advise you to get some fuckin help.

Seriously.

:lol:lol

[Spurtacus]

My daily FU to Splitter.


FU, Tiago.

[itzsoweezee]

it should be crystal clear now that the spurs front office genius is sitting in seattle. ie, buford is a fucking joke.

[ynh]

Can't say I'm shocked.. there was a reason why he pulled out of the last couple drafts at the last moment.. if I remember right (might be wrong) we couldn't pull out this time and that's why he was drafted.. I mean honestly if there wasn't a big question about him you wouldn't of gotten him at the pick you did. I was actually rooting for the pistons to get him... glad now that we went with Afflalo.

[Cansal]

HI EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WEEK!!!!!!!!! FINALLY WE WIN THE ACB FINAL :toast:toast:toast AND STILL VITORIA HAS A HANGOVER :king:king BESIDES TODAY WE KNOW THAT TIAGO IS GOING TO STAYS AT HOME WITH US FOR 2 YEARSSSSSSS AND ALL TAU´S SUPPORTERS ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE HE IS OUR RISING STAR. IT HAS BEEN AND INCREDIBLE SEASON AND I HOPE NEXT SEASON WE WILL MAKE AND EXTRAORDINARY TEAM THAT BRING´S US ALL THE TITLES. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT I´M SURE THAT SPLITTER´S FUTURE IS IN NBA SHORTLY BECOUSE HE´S A FIGHTER AND IT´S HIS DREAM BELIVE IT. AND FOR ME IT´S A PITY THAT A LOT OF SPUR´S SUPPORTERS ARE CRITIZICE TO HIM BECOUSE IF A FEW YEARS YOU ARE GOIN TO ADORE HIM LIKE A PERSON LIKE A PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KidCongo]

HI EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WEEK!!!!!!!!! FINALLY WE WIN THE ACB FINAL :toast:toast:toast AND STILL VITORIA HAS A HANGOVER :king:king BESIDES TODAY WE KNOW THAT TIAGO IS GOING TO STAYS AT HOME WITH US FOR 2 YEARSSSSSSS AND ALL TAU´S SUPPORTERS ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE HE IS OUR RISING STAR. IT HAS BEEN AND INCREDIBLE SEASON AND I HOPE NEXT SEASON WE WILL MAKE AND EXTRAORDINARY TEAM THAT BRING´S US ALL THE TITLES. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT I´M SURE THAT SPLITTER´S FUTURE IS IN NBA SHORTLY BECOUSE HE´S A FIGHTER AND IT´S HIS DREAM BELIVE IT. AND FOR ME IT´S A PITY THAT A LOT OF SPUR´S SUPPORTERS ARE CRITIZICE TO HIM BECOUSE IF A FEW YEARS YOU ARE GOIN TO ADORE HIM LIKE A PERSON LIKE A PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GoOOOOOOO TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUU

[Kobayagi]

HI EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WEEK!!!!!!!!! FINALLY WE WIN THE ACB FINAL :toast:toast:toast AND STILL VITORIA HAS A HANGOVER :king:king BESIDES TODAY WE KNOW THAT TIAGO IS GOING TO STAYS AT HOME WITH US FOR 2 YEARSSSSSSS AND ALL TAU´S SUPPORTERS ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE HE IS OUR RISING STAR. IT HAS BEEN AND INCREDIBLE SEASON AND I HOPE NEXT SEASON WE WILL MAKE AND EXTRAORDINARY TEAM THAT BRING´S US ALL THE TITLES. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT I´M SURE THAT SPLITTER´S FUTURE IS IN NBA SHORTLY BECOUSE HE´S A FIGHTER AND IT´S HIS DREAM BELIVE IT. AND FOR ME IT´S A PITY THAT A LOT OF SPUR´S SUPPORTERS ARE CRITIZICE TO HIM BECOUSE IF A FEW YEARS YOU ARE GOIN TO ADORE HIM LIKE A PERSON LIKE A PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LONG LIVE THE CAPS LOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111 11

[Harry Callahan]

My hunch is that, in spite of the rookie salary cap and other impediments, if the Spurs had made clear and relentless commitment to getting Splitter, and conveyed that to him through their actions, things might have been different.

Unfortunately, I think the Spurs are now conveying (unintentionally) a certain arrogance to foreign players. The situation with Scola and the others since Manu have trumped the Spurs' initial sterling reputation with the overseas guys. This has been a great loss IMO.

I don't buy your hunch. None of us were in on the conversations with the Spurs, Splitter and Scola to observe this arrogance. Scola indicated RC and Pop wanting him to work on rebounding and defense during his days with Tau as a way to get better before coming over (he went one out of two). The overseas agent for Scola said some stupid stuff. Obviously there was bad blood between the Spurs and Scola, but that was a two way street given the limitations of the neverending (and bad) contract Scola signed with Tau years ago.

The financial difference between what Splitter received and what the spurs could offer (which was capped due to the 1st round status) was very large. Money and not some kind of phantom arrogance was the issue.

Isn't Oberto an overseas guy? He likes it here.
Isn't Mahimi an overseas guy? He is here and will play next year.
Wasn't Rasho an overseas guy? I think he liked playing here and Pop treated him pretty well here overall with money and did not dwell on the things he could not do.

Beno was a knucklehead who couldn't handle being a backup player. Pop was incredibly patient with this guy and could not sacrifice championship plans to make Beno feel better with plenty of unearned playing time.

This blanket statement simply doesn't hold water.

[Harry Callahan]

$3M is the going rate for a late first round pick. If Splitter hadn't said he was coming over from Tau after one year, the Spurs could have sold the pick and used the money elsewhere.

For example, use the $3M to pay Scola's buyout . . .

And also used the high second pick on Splitter.

[Harry Callahan]

Based on his last couple interviews, I don't think you can say it was totally about the money.

I think he also wanted assurances that he would be given the opportunity to play...and given that the Spurs have Oberto under contract and are likely to bring back Thomas, you have to think he was right in his assessment that he wouldn't play much this year and maybe the next.

Plus, there was a loyalty to the team that brought him up and help mold him as a player. He had just won one championship, and has a legitimate shot at taking his team to the Euroleague title.

He's also fairly young and can point to other Euroleague stars coming over later in their careers and being successful.

I would advocate the opposite position from what you're preaching. His trade value at this point is shit, and it won't be worth anything until the Summer of '10 when he MAY come over. Best to hold onto his rights, keep tabs on him, and re-visit the idea of bringing him over in two years.

PT is right.

People keep coming in here and saying trade his rights. That is totally stupid at this point. I just don't get it. The guy is 23 years old. He will eventually get tired of playing against inferior talent as his bank account grows dramatically in the next few years.

If you want to trade something that currently has little or no value what do you get? Little or no value. Getting mad and just renouncing his rights is silly.

We now have to play the waiting game all over again. Its sucks but it is what it is.

[Harry Callahan]

Ha ha! I'm laughing.

That was a nice waste of a pick. He'll never play for you now. Especially now that the Euro is dominant over the $. He'll never accept an NBA contract for less than he can make in Europe.

Very funny. I laugh and gloat.

Don't gloat so much turd boy. Take a look at the recent phoenix draft history of selling #1 picks for nothing where you know a player is never coming for that asset. Just money for Sarver's wallet.

Your window has officially closed and slammed shut for the next decade or so - enjoy watching shaq and nash roll around in wheelchairs the next few years.

The Spurs have collected a bunch of LOBs in the last decade (three times at the expense of the suns along the way).

I understand the jealousy and envy you are displaying with the massive underachieving failure of your suns. Don't let it get to you.

:flag:

[Harry Callahan]

You go ahead and keep telling yourself you've got it all figured out, ok? I would hate to burst your bubble on reality and let you in on the fact that every fan of NBA basketball hates you and your shitbag Spurs ... that would be too harsh for you to handle probably. It's not even about *my* team ... it's about how the Spurs have ruined basketball for everyone. Fuck the Spurs.


Calm down and go take your meds. You seem to need them right now.

[Balance]

http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/32889/180/item

I guess he didn't know last year that TAU would offer him a extension.

So now he had two options:

1 - pay the buyout, go to NBA and MAYBE earn a lot of money
or
2 - stay in TAU, earn a lot of money (guaranteed) and then go to the NBA and maybe earn a lot more money

Obviously he still wants to go to the NBA, otherwise he wouldn't get the NBA opt out clause in his contract (apparently for free?).

[picnroll]

[Obviously he still wants to go to the NBA, otherwise he wouldn't get the NBA opt out clause in his contract (apparently for free?).
Or use the opt out to leverage a re-negotiation for a longer term, higher paying contract with Tau.

[Balance]

Or use the opt out to leverage a re-negotiation for a longer term, higher paying contract with Tau.

well, maybe...
if so, smart kid , huh? :lol

[exstatic]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.

[picnroll]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.

Dayam, you're right. That Scola trade never quits biting in the ass.

[Marcus Bryant]

Thanks Peter.

[AFBlue]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.

:depressed

[T Park]

:lol

yeah lets keep bitching and moaning over that.

That is sooooo constructive.

[AFBlue]

:lol

yeah lets keep bitching and moaning over that.

That is sooooo constructive.

C'mon T Park, it's all a part of the grieving process.

This too shall pass...:lol

[T Park]

I guess.

I just don't see the point of beating the dead horse, thats now gone, because it got beaten so many times.

[Bruno]

All these stories are proofs that people are right when they call Spurs a class act organization.

Spurs could have given promises a NBA team can't hold like guaranteed playing time to Splitter but I guess they have been straight up and have said "you will get the time you deserve".
Spurs could have led Scola rot in Spain but they have decided to give him a chance even if it meant trading him to a rival in a less than optimal trade.
Spurs could have tried to keep member of their staff at all cost but when they get better opportunities elsewhere like Presti or PJ got last summer, Spurs let them go without asking for a compensation and Pop says nice things about them.

As a fan, I'm proud to be a fan of a team with that kind of attitude.

[Balance]

I think the Spurs will wait at least the end of the pre-Olympics games. Since the brazilian players in the NBA won't be playing (Nene and Varejao already announced it, Leandro Barbosa is expected to do the same), Splitter and the rest of the team will have to perform a miracle to get classified to the Olympics.
If Splitter makes to the Olympics, he might be able to show his value. That could indicate to the Spurs to keep his rights, or it could make his rights valuable to trade.

(Scola did an amazing job in the american pre-Olympics...)

[remingtonbo2001]

All these stories are proofs that people are right when they call Spurs a calls act organization.

Spurs could have given promises a NAB team can't hold like guarantedd playing time to Splitter but I guess they have been straight up and have said "you will get the time you deserve".
Spurs could have led Scola rot in Spain but they have decided to give him a chance even if it meant trading him to a rival in a less than optimal trade.
Spurs could have tried to keep member of their staff at all cost but when they get better opportunities elsewhere like Presti or PJ got last summer, Spurs let them go without asking for a compensation and Pop says nice things about them.

As a fan, I'm proud to be a fan of a team with that kind of attitude.

+1

Summed up very nicely, Bruno.

[urunobili]

I think the Spurs will wait at least the end of the pre-Olympics games. Since the brazilian players in the NBA won't be playing (Nene and Varejao already announced it, Leandro Barbosa is expected to do the same), Splitter and the rest of the team will have to perform a miracle to get classified to the Olympics.
If Splitter makes to the Olympics, he might be able to show his value. That could indicate to the Spurs to keep his rights, or it could make his rights valuable to trade.

(Scola did an amazing job in the american pre-Olympics...)

he was already a Rocket then and that made the Spurs look like complete Idiots... get your facts together... :wakeup

[Balance]

he was already a Rocket then and that made the Spurs look like complete Idiots... get your facts together... :wakeup

But that's exactly what I meant. :rolleyes
Do you think Spurs want that to happen again?

[Pero]

All these stories are proofs that people are right when they call Spurs a calls act organization.

Spurs could have given promises a NAB team can't hold like guarantedd playing time to Splitter but I guess they have been straight up and have said "you will get the time you deserve".

:lol

[oligarchy]

All these stories are proofs that people are right when they call Spurs a calls act organization.

Spurs could have given promises a NAB team can't hold like guarantedd playing time to Splitter but I guess they have been straight up and have said "you will get the time you deserve".
Spurs could have led Scola rot in Spain but they have decided to give him a chance even if it meant trading him to a rival in a less than optimal trade.
Spurs could have tried to keep member of their staff at all cost but when they get better opportunities elsewhere like Presti or PJ got last summer, Spurs let them go without asking for a compensation and Pop says nice things about them.

As a fan, I'm proud to be a fan of a team with that kind of attitude.

How can they not guarantee playing time? The Bucks did it with Yi. It's the only reason he averaged 20 minutes. The difference is that Spurs WON'T give that guarantee.

[Bruno]

:lol

F*** my keyboard, Splitter and Pero. :)

[Bruno]

How can they not guarantee playing time? The Bucks did it with Yi. It's the only reason he averaged 20 minutes. The difference is that Spurs WON'T give that guarantee.

And what happen if Splitter sucks ass ?
Do you think a NBA team that isn't in tanking mode will give 20 or 25 mpg to a crappy player ?

[Pero]

F*** my keyboard, Splitter and Pero. :)

:lol

[oligarchy]

And what happen if Splitter sucks ass ?
Do you think a NBA team that isn't in tanking mode will give 20 or 25 mpg to a crappy player ?

That wasn't the point of the post. You said that NBA teams can't guarantee minutes. They can, but they don't. Exactly for that reason.

That's exactly the problem with drafting foreign players that are starters and make a decent contract. Why do they want to come to the NBA and sit on the bench for less money?

It's just stupid for people bitch about someone not wanting to come over. It's also becoming stupid to draft foreign players that are under contract, regardless if they say they are going to come over.

I think it's time to look at rules and possibly change them for foreign players in the draft that are professionals already.

[kobyz]

Splitter situation is different, the spurs was not mean to choose him but he fall down in the draft and the spurs could not gave up of the option to take a great player.
i still think it was the right decision, we will enjoy this player but in the future whan he will be ready to come to the NBA.

[oligarchy]

Not sure what you mean by couldn't pass him by. There's a reason all those other teams chose to NOT pick him.

[CaptainLate]

RC's biggest offense isn't the Splitter fiasco. Yet is does serve as an indictment to this "All-Euro-only, draft-n-stash" philosophy that has all but left the cupboard bare of young talent. With the possible exception of Ian in 2005, the Spurs have absolutely NOTHING to show for their five out of their last six drafts since drafting Tony Parker in 2001.

I wonder if the rest of the NBA community will continue kissing RC's ass for finding Parker and Ginobili. What have you done for us lately, RC? I'm going to blame Pop too because he had laid the ground work for this philosophy. OF course, he compounded matter with his "sign the next old guy for the veteran's minimum" strategy.

Don't let cheap Mr. Holt off the hook. He's as much to blame for the FO philosophy as anyone. How many foreign draft picks have we chose that may never come over?

Figure that the "NBA community" is now laughing at how the Spurs drafts are coming back to bite them in the ass. Forget about next year and EVER repeating. With Splitter now gone, we may have seen the last opportunity of winning a title in the Duncan-Ginobli era. When TParker's turn comes up, it could well be the last big contract he gets. So don't be surprised to see TParker take the money and run elsewhere.

Well, it was a good nine years while it lasted. :lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:

...and at least I have the Cowboys for the next 5 or so yrs.

[oligarchy]

Don't let cheap Mr. Holt off the hook. He's as much to blame for the FO philosophy as anyone. How many foreign draft picks have we chose that may never come over?

Figure that the "NBA community" is now laughing at how the Spurs drafts are coming back to bite them in the ass. Forget about next year and EVER repeating. With Splitter now gone, we may have seen the last opportunity of winning a title in the Duncan-Ginobli era. When TParker's turn comes up, it could well be the last big contract he gets. So don't be surprised to see TParker take the money and run elsewhere.

Well, it was a good nine years while it lasted. :lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:

Holt's so cheap because he doesn't want to pay luxury tax. What a retard, he should understand this is the biggest market in the NBA. I mean, why can't he be like James Dolan in New York. Spend, spend, spend.

[CaptainLate]

This will be known as Buford's folly.

:lol

Buford's Folly: Hastening the downfall of a dynasty, via the aging process, by implementing a philosophy of signing old veteran players while drafting young foreign players that will never play for your team.

[timvp]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.Hadn't thought about it that way but you are exactly right :pctoss

In addition to the money, Splitter talked about how he now had the spotlight and was the leader of the team, which made him want to stay even more. Those were two things he got after the Scola trade.

:lmao So the Scola trade cost the Spurs Scola and Splitter at the very least. The Spurs lost in the playoffs this year because they couldn't score. Scola's main skill is scoring. I don't want to connect those dots.

I called it the worst trade in franchise history at the time. I think it's turning out even worse than that.

[ElNono]

Hadn't thought about it that way but you are exactly right :pctoss

In addition to the money, Splitter talked about how he now had the spotlight and was the leader of the team, which made him want to stay even more. Those were two things he got after the Scola trade.

:lmao So the Scola trade cost the Spurs Scola and Splitter at the very least. The Spurs lost in the playoffs this year because they couldn't score. Scola's main skill is scoring. I don't want to connect those dots.

I called it the worst trade in franchise history at the time. I think it's turning out even worse than that.

Don't you DARE suggesting our Front Office screwed up...
According to some other posters, the FO can do no wrong...

[Slomo]

:lol

Hey don't knock it. Without the NAB I would never have the opportunity to see NBA games live. :p:

[Balance]

I called it the worst trade in franchise history at the time. I think it's turning out even worse than that.

Maybe at that time it was, but Memphis outmatch that.
Pau Gasol's trade is much worse. At least Houston didn't make to the finnals..

[Mr. Body]

Hadn't thought about it that way but you are exactly right :pctoss

In addition to the money, Splitter talked about how he now had the spotlight and was the leader of the team, which made him want to stay even more. Those were two things he got after the Scola trade.

:lmao So the Scola trade cost the Spurs Scola and Splitter at the very least. The Spurs lost in the playoffs this year because they couldn't score. Scola's main skill is scoring. I don't want to connect those dots.

I called it the worst trade in franchise history at the time. I think it's turning out even worse than that.

Well, add to it the impact on Houston's roster; watch them be healthy next year and make a serious run... or knock the Spurs out.

Plus I'm sure we'll sign Spanoulis and he'll be every bit as disastrous as NVE and Stoudamire were.

[rAm]

Maybe at that time it was, but Memphis outmatch that.
Pau Gasol's trade is much worse. At least Houston didn't make to the finnals..

With Yao there, who knows?

[Mr. Body]

With Yao there, who knows?

With health and a solid draft pick Houston could be really tough next year.

[SenorSpur]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.

That is some enormous irony - and a brilliant point, I might add. :toast

The downstream impacts of the Scola/Splitter events keep getting worse.

And some of you wondered why some of us have been so critical of the FO, for marrying themselves to a single-threaded drafting philosophy, which yielded only 1 rookie in the last 5 years and has now apparently backfired in ways we couldn't imagine. What's in the talent cupboard now?

[timvp]

I just saw that Nene and Varejao won't play for Brazil this summer when Brazil tries to qualify for the Olympics. I guess we'll really see what Splitter is made out of in those games as it will basically just be him and Barbosa.

[Balance]

I just saw that Nene and Varejao won't play for Brazil this summer when Brazil tries to qualify for the Olympics. I guess we'll really see what Splitter is made out of in those games as it will basically just be him and Barbosa.

I think it's basically Splitter...

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM832030-7824-LEANDRINHO+PODE+FICAR+FORA+DO+PREOLIMPICO,00.html

[NewJerSpur]

[QUOTE=Mr. Body;2584494]Well, add to it the impact on Houston's roster; watch them be healthy next year and make a serious run... or knock the Spurs out.QUOTE]

Meaning no disrespect to the followers of our divisional rival, Rocket fans have been saying this for some time now and it's still yet to happen. T. Mac won't be around forever.

[Reckless28]

since the spurs own the austin toros can't they just pluck guys from there?

[GSH]

The enormous irony is the Spurs fucked themselves over. If they had played hardball with Scola, and he re-signed with Tau, Splitter falls right in our laps. By helping Scola make the NBA, we ensured that Splitter will probably never be a Spur. Tau was only going to pay one of them, and we made sure that it wasn't Scola by giving him the path to the NBA.

I wish I hadn't read that. Because I can't disagree with it, and it's too damned depressing. I think they saw themselves as being benevolent to a relatively untapped talent pool. And I think we have all been surprised at how quickly the other leagues have arisen as serious competitors for talent. But I can't deny that they didn't play hardball with Scola, and now it's cost them twice.

When they got Tony and Manu, they were the geniuses of the league, and media darlings. But when you're trying to pick up franchise players at 26 and lower in the draft, you're really fighting the odds. And people fighting the odds are how all those huge casinos get built. You may get by with it in the short run, but not the long run.

[ChumpDumper]

since the spurs own the austin toros can't they just pluck guys from there?Not much to pluck right now. Most of the guys left could use at least another season here. I'm curious to see how Jamar Smith looks -- I'm assuming the Toros just signed him late this season to keep his rights for next season. I never actually saw him at a game.

[Russ]

since the spurs own the austin toros can't they just pluck guys from there?

The Spurs need to forget about the D league and buy a Euro team (although it would be exponentially more expensive).

The D league is so bad that it is impossible to evaluate (or develop) talent playing at such a level.

The Sicilian Spurs. :flag:

Go for it Holt!

[Marcus Bryant]

Maybe he needs to open up a CAT dealership in Vittoria, Spain.

[Russ]

Maybe he needs to open up a CAT dealership in Vittoria, Spain.

Europe is the future. The Spurs have blown the initial advange they once had there due to a series of bad breaks and missteps. They need a bold new initiative to reclaim momentum. :lol

[T Park]

Plus I'm sure we'll sign Spanoulis and he'll be every bit as disastrous as NVE and Stoudamire were.


How was Stoudamire "disastrous" ???

[Kermit]

How was Stoudamire "disastrous" ???

He failed to impart his precious tips on passing intoxication exams to Demarr.

[Indazone]

[QUOTE=Mr. Body;2584494]Well, add to it the impact on Houston's roster; watch them be healthy next year and make a serious run... or knock the Spurs out.QUOTE]

Meaning no disrespect to the followers of our divisional rival, Rocket fans have been saying this for some time now and it's still yet to happen. T. Mac won't be around forever.

Yes we Rocketfans are also tired of the first round exits and our franchises marketing slogans of "Be Part of Something Big", It's Time, Rockets prepare for a special season, blah blah blah".

Yao said it best. "Less talking more playing. Our results will speak for itself on the court."

That's all I'm gonna take to the bank. Nothing else to say. At the end of the day is who is the last team standing. I'm sure all the Rockets players, fans, and administrative staff now feels the same way. Just shut up and play.

[ElNono]

I think with a healthy Yao and a Scola and Landry with a year under their belts, the Rockets are looking really good to move past the first round next year. Landry was a surprise. Scola I knew a little better and I knew the first year is always hard for rookies. But I think once they're comfortable, that's a team with a great potential. I can't think TMac ever had such a good team around him before.

[T Park]

Yao can't stay healthy, so that point is moot.

[exstatic]

Yao was fine until they upped his minutes to what you would expect from a franchise player. In his first three years, he played 82, 82, and 80 games, and 29, 32, and 30 minutes. In his last three years, he's played 57, 48, and 55 games at 34,34, and 37 minutes. Maybe he can only go 30 minutes over the NBA season without breaking down. It sucks for Houston that he had a stress fracture, because those frequently aren't singular events.

[clubalien]

Holt's so cheap because he doesn't want to pay luxury tax. What a retard, he should understand this is the biggest market in the NBA. I mean, why can't he be like James Dolan in New York. Spend, spend, spend.

to make money you have to spend money.
It is caLLED INVESTING.
30K in lux tax returns into thousands for extra playoff tickets. well it does if you had a smart gm

[Marcus Bryant]

Clearly if the Spurs had clubalien running things they would finally win a championship.

[oligarchy]

to make money you have to spend money.
It is caLLED INVESTING.
30K in lux tax returns into thousands for extra playoff tickets. well it does if you had a smart gm

Yeah. That dumb ass GM. You should apply for the job, because you obviously know what the hell you are talking about.

Here's a little fun while waiting to start your new job:
http://spapps.go.com/hsb4/landing/

[fotan2]

extended to 4 years ,huh . He fucked Spurs again.

[Spurs Brazil]

I just saw that Nene and Varejao won't play for Brazil this summer when Brazil tries to qualify for the Olympics. I guess we'll really see what Splitter is made out of in those games as it will basically just be him and Barbosa.

Yes, Nene and Anderson are out and Leandro is more than 50% out too

[Spurs Brazil]

New Interview

http://olimpiadas.uol.com.br/ultimas/2008/06/16/ult5584u2140.jhtm


Splitter prefere ser referência na Espanha a jogar de graça na NBAFernando Narazaki
Em São Paulo
Ele tinha a oportunidade de atuar ao lado de Tim Duncan a partir do segundo semestre, mas abdicou de ter um dos melhores "professores" de sua posição para seguir no basquete espanhol. A escolha do pivô Tiago Splitter pode parecer estranha, mas o brasileiro garante ter motivos de sobra para seguir no TAU Ceramica em vez de se transferir para o San Antonio Spurs, franquia que o escolheu no draft da NBA de 2007.


Splitter comemorou título da Liga ACB e preferiu ficar no TAU por mais quatro anos
SELEÇÃO VIRA TRAMPOLIM
LEIA MAIS SOBRE BASQUETE
"Estou muito bem lá no TAU. Lá estou como uma referência, conheço todos e estou muito bem ambientado", afirma o jovem de 23 anos, que preferiu renovar seu contrato por quatro anos com o time espanhol, com opção de transferência para a NBA em duas temporadas.

Splitter tornou-se um dos jogadores mais importantes do TAU em 2007/2008 e virou o centro das atenções na fase final da Euroliga, quando o time caiu nas semifinais. Na final da Liga ACB, o pivô brasileiro brilhou, marcando mais de dez pontos nas três partidas contra o Barcelona e pôde celebrar o título da competição.

Já na NBA, o atleta sabia que seria apenas um coajuvante em busca de espaço na equipe que tem Tim Duncan, Fabricio Oberto, Robert Horry, Kurt Thomas e Matt Bonner para a posição. "Todos sabem que lá eles jogam em torno do Duncan e do (armador) Tony Parker. Teria de buscar meu espaço. Cheguei a pensar muito, mas agora que decidi não quero mais ficar imaginando", diz.

Outro fator que pesou para a escolha foi o lado financeiro. Splitter não confirma, mas especula-se que o TAU teria aumentado em quatro vezes os seus rendimentos e não abriu mão do pagamento da multa rescisória, caso o brasileiro optasse pela transferência para os Spurs. "Eu teria de pagar a multa e isso faria com que eu jogasse praticamente de graça no primeiro ano. O TAU me ofereceu uma segurança e eu aceitei", aponta.

Com a situação definida, o pivô agora só quer saber de ajudar o Brasil a conseguir a vaga para as Olimpíadas de Pequim. Ele é o maior destaque da equipe comandada por Moncho Monsalve que precisa ficar entre os três primeiros do Pré-Olímpico da Grécia, que será realizado entre 14 e 20 de julho.

Para o técnico espanhol, aliás, a opção de Splitter mostra uma realidade do basquete mundial. "Tenho dúvidas se a NBA é tão boa assim", afirma Moncho, que destaca a força obtida pelas ligas européias nos últimos anos. "Espanha, Itália, França e Alemanha têm ligas fortes e de muito potencial", analisa.

He basically said he prefered to stay in Spain because he’s the main focus there. He said in San Antonio everything would be around TP and TD.

Also said the money was important because if he came to the NBA he’d play the 1st year for free because of the buyout.

When I back home I'll translete everything

[Mr. Body]

New Interview

http://olimpiadas.uol.com.br/ultimas/2008/06/16/ult5584u2140.jhtm



He basically said he prefered to stay in Spain because he’s the main focus there. He said in San Antonio everything would be around TP and TD.

Also said the money was important because if he came to the NBA he’d play the 1st year for free because of the buyout.

When I back home I'll translete everything


Money first. Focus thing second (or third, with money also second). Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but that's what it is.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What a fucking vag.
Let his ass rot away in TAU.

[Spurs Brazil]

What a fucking vag.
Let his ass rot away in TAU.

I was disappointed and I’m even more after read this BS. What he thought, he would come to San Antonio and be the main player. :bang

[A.H 21-50]

I was disappointed and I’m even more after read this BS. What he thought, he would come to San Antonio and be the main player. :bang

really i don't understand this guy
he wants to come here to be the star
it's easy for him in tau , he played with them for years and he choose the facility over the nba

so money first and second the fear of not having succes in sas wich is a big concern mentally for a player

i thought splitter was a fighter but maybe i was wrong but i understand he needs money for his sister's illness .......

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I was disappointed and I’m even more after read this BS. What he thought, he would come to San Antonio and be the main player. :bang

And that isn't going to change when he has the NBA opt-out clause in 2 years. So it's pretty safe to say he's never coming over.

[picnroll]

Who cares. Maybe Spurs can get lucky and trade his rights for a box of Krispy Kremes. Go after another big man with some balls.

[Borosai]

I love Krispy Kreme.

[Sway]

Trade him for a draft pick. In two years (when he is eligible to come over) he should be the equivalent of a top 5 pick. It shouldn’t be that hard to find a team willing to take a chance(on him coming over) for that type of upside. Especially when you take the Scola situation into account and how quickly the Rockets were able to do something (bring Scola over) the Spurs couldn’t do for years.