McDonald: Summer League Recap 2: Averting The Blair Freakout

Summer League Recap 2: Averting the Blair Freakout
By Jeff McDonald

A game after rookie DeJuan Blair showcased his rebounding freakishness in his summer-league debut, the Spurs opted to sit him in Tuesday's 78-76 victory over Denver. The official rationale: The Spurs already know what Blair can do. They wanted to see more from other bigs, like Ian Mahinmi and James Gist.

The Spurs also wanted to see how Blair's knees — which are famously without ACLs — responded to his first summer league game before playing him in his second. Blair logged a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in Sunday's win over New Orleans.

"We were going to sit him tonight anyway, so we figured why push it?" Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "We wanted to rotate some guys."

Buford said he did not know if Blair would play Thursday against Oklahoma City.

Rumors abound that Blair, a second-round pick out of Pittsburgh, was held for contractual reasons. As in, he doesn't have one, and doesn't want to risk injury until he does.

Unlike with first-round picks, Blair's contractual terms are not locked in by the league's collective bargaining agreement. As such, he is allowed to negotiate any asking price he wants.

Blair, for his part, says he doesn't expect his contract to be an issue going forward.

"I'm going to be a Spur," Blair said. "They picked me. I'm just negotiating my contract right now. I plan on being a Spur for a long time."

Other thoughts from Game 2 ...

• A big-time bounce-back from Ian Mahinmi. After a rather rough summer-league debut against New Orleans, Mahinmi logged 12 points and 16 rebounds against Denver, and was active on both ends of the court. Now, about those 10 (10!) fouls ...

• A second solid outing from both George Hill and Malik Hairston. Hairston led the team with 17 points, and continued to flash the improved, all-around offensive game that gives him a chance to make the Spurs' regular roster. Hill, meanwhile, finished with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting. More impressive for Hill, for the second-straight game, he had the ball in his hands down the stretch of a close game and handled the pressure well.

• Ty Lawson, Denver's speedy rookie, finished 0-for-7 from the field. Credit for that also goes to Hill, who was most often assigned to guard him.

• A second-straight unimpressive outing from Jack McClinton, the Spurs' other second-round pick. He was 0-for-2 again, still looking for his first summer-league field goal. McClinton was limited to just 10 minutes of action Tuesday, as the Spurs flanked Hill and Hairston with Romel Beck down the stretch.

does that mean there's no limit to what Blair can ask for?

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"We were going to sit him tonight anyway, so we figured why push it?" Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "We wanted to rotate some guys."


Buford said he did not know if Blair would play Thursday against Oklahoma City.

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:lol RC has mastered the CIA Pop speak.

Blair himself says the contract is a (slight) issue. It's in his quote.

hill>lawson

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Originally Posted by Mr. Body

Blair himself says the contract is a (slight) issue. It's in his quote.

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He's definitely aware of it but he sounds very confident it will get done. Here's hoping he is a Spur for a long time.

Of course the contract is an issue..the guy was hyped here in SA for good reason, and he gets a double-double in his first SL game..he obviously realizes he has long-term injury concerns, which was the only reason we even got a chance to draft him, so he needs some $ for his family..

he's clearly lottery talent if he stays healthy..I'm sure this deal will get done..both sides seem optimistic..the positive is that it isn't a big $ deal or anything, so I'm sure it won't be a serious issue..

There's no concern with Blair other than the injury, and I don't even think that will be a concern for at least another few years..he clearly works hard, and he clearly wants to prove everyone wrong..

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Originally Posted by loveforthegame

He's definitely aware of it but he sounds very confident it will get done. Here's hoping he is a Spur for a long time.

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Oh, I'm very confident they'll get it done, too. But his quote flatly contradicts what McDonald is trying to say came out of Buford's mouth.

1. Blair's contract is reportedly part of the reason why he sat out. Not 100% of the reason.

2. The Spurs agree with him sitting out right now. It was partly their idea.

3. It sounds like the contract should be completed sooner rather than later. And even if it doesn't get completed within the next week, I'm told he may still suit up anyways.

4. Two years with some sort of option for a third is supposedly the contract being hammered out.

Nothing to see here, really. Move along.

Would love to see him crack some more Summer League skulls. The best reason given is that they wanted to see how his knees reacted to a game played.

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Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain

Just to expand a bit, all gut feeling and no sources, I think the Spurs might have wanted to sit DeJuan tonight possibly to lower his contract price. Who in the entire summer league (other than the Spurs) has an NBA level front court? The Clippers maybe? So if DeJuans agent says something along the lines of we proved our worth in summer league pay us 'X' amount of dollars then the Spurs might end up over paying.

Makes me wish we had traded up for pick number 30. I'm sure Eyenga would have been there at 37.

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That makes no sense at all. Holding Blair out of a meaningless summer league game isn't going to lower his contract price.

TBH, I'd rather see him not play in SL, other than maybe 1 other game..there's no point in risking injury, and I'd rather see Ian and Gist get more of a shot, especially Gist, since he's done nothing so far..

He's already played 1 game, and he was clearly dominating everybody around him..one more game should be enough IMO..

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Originally Posted by timvp

4. Two years with some sort of option for a third is supposedly the contract being hammered out.

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A player option for the third year would make sense. That way, Blair has some security for the third year if he gets injured.

If he plays well and stays healthy he can sign a bigger deal after only two years.

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Originally Posted by timvp

1. Blair's contract is reportedly part of the reason why he sat out. Not 100% of the reason.

2. The Spurs agree with him sitting out right now. It was partly their idea.

3. It sounds like the contract should be completed sooner rather than later. And even if it doesn't get completed within the next week, I'm told he may still suit up anyways.

4. Two years with some sort of option for a third is supposedly the contract being hammered out.

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if if it the 3 year
it can only be the rest of the mle and not a penny more for a third year

his agent has not much more leverage

McDonald is naive, RC has him fooled. It's all about the contract, the agent is trying to get Blair paid.

Blair will not sit out against Thabeet.

A man like that will want to take on his arch nemesis.

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Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain

What happens if Blair has a 20-20 game before his contract works out? Don't you think that would boost up Blair's price a bit in his agent's mind?

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What happens if Blair has a string of 4 point, 4 rebound games? Would his agent ask for less?

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Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain

What happens if Blair has a 20-20 game before his contract works out? Don't you think that would boost up Blair's price a bit in his agent's mind?

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You got super-ass paranoid all of a sudden.

Blair sits out after big debut
Jeff McDonald

LAS VEGAS — Spurs majority owner Peter Holt took a two-hour plane flight here Monday afternoon, ostensibly for the purpose of attending the NBA Board of Governors meeting.

He came, however, with an ulterior motive.

“I wanted to see DeJuan Blair play,” Holt said from the bleachers at the Cox Pavilion on Tuesday.

It turns out Holt will have to wait to see his prized rookie in action. Blair did not play in Tuesday's 78-76 summer-league victory over Denver, the only game Holt would be in town to see.

The official reason given for Blair's rest: Having already seen what Blair can do with a standout double-double performance in his summer league debut Sunday, the Spurs wanted to give a longer look to other big men, such as Ian Mahinmi and James Gist.

The Spurs also wanted to see how Blair's knees responded to his first summer league game, before he played a second.

Blair came to summer league without a contract, not rare for a rookie.

After showcasing his wares two nights earlier, Blair had more to lose Tuesday than gain. Any injury in Las Vegas could cost him money.

As such, he watched Tuesday's game from the Spurs' bench, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound cheerleader. Blair said he doesn't expect his contract to be an issue going forward.

“I'm going to be a Spur,” Blair said. “They picked me. I'm just negotiating my contract right now. I plan on being a Spur for a long time.”

If the object of holding Blair out was to see more from the Spurs' other big men, Mahinmi, for one, obliged.

In somewhat of a summertime statement game, Mahinmi finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds in 29 minutes, though he was also whistled for 10 fouls (there are no disqualifications in summer league). Mahinmi was much more active than in Sunday's victory over New Orleans, in which he went 1 for 3 from the field and was, for the most part, a non-factor.

“That's the Ian we need to see,” Spurs assistant Don Newman said.

Malik Hairston led the Spurs' entry with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

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Originally Posted by SonOfAGun

Blair will not sit out against Thabeet.

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Maybe Thabeet sits out in order to avoid another body slam.

How much a year are we likely talking? 1.5-2mil?

Do you think McDonald knows the password to the video feed?

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Originally Posted by timvp

Two years with some sort of option for a third is supposedly the contract being hammered out.

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Interesting.

Reports said that Spurs needed to sweeten McDyess contract with a third year partially guaranteed while in fact it was more Spurs wanting to keep some MLE for Blair.

A 3 years contract starting at $4.5M with a third year 50% guaranteed s quite the same than a 2 years full MLE contract.

It was JIMO. The password.

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Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle

How much a year are we likely talking? 1.5-2mil?

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Less. $600K-$1M per depending on the number of years.

I would say the first year about $800K with a maximum increase, and a team option for years 3 and 4. When you consider picks 25-30 get about this amount, then i think its fair to give that to Blair.

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Originally Posted by mystargtr34

I would say the first year about $800K with a maximum increase, and a team option for years 3 and 4. When you consider picks 25-30 get about this amount, then i think its fair to give that to Blair.

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agreed.

I hate when this stuff goes on because its like you have to pick sides. You wanna see Blair play, but he can't because of a contract issue. You're thinking okay Blair prove you're worth a contract. You can't do that after just one game. Then you're also probably thinking c'mon R.C and Pop just give the money. He's obviously worth it.

I wish it could've been taken care of before Summer League, but oh well.

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Originally Posted by Buddy Holly

It was JIMO. The password.

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:lmao

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Originally Posted by peskypesky

does that mean there's no limit to what Blair can ask for?

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I think so.

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Originally Posted by timvp

1. Blair's contract is reportedly part of the reason why he sat out. Not 100% of the reason.

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OK, I give. It's only 99% of the reason.

I don't think the issue is the actual contract amount, rather hammering out the insurance provision in the contract. In other words, who is on the hook (team/player) and for how much in the event his knees do give out.