The Spurs Aren't Done Making Moves This Summer - What Comes Next?

I don't think it's obvious at all. There are currently five players who can supposedly play the point, so I don't know it the perceived weakness is all that glaring to Pop and the FO. I can easily see the Spurs rolling into the season with the 15 players now under contract and shuffling down the line if necessary.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

The Spurs are obviously planning another move. If there's a weakness in the roster right now I'd say it's at backup point. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs trade for a veteran point guard. A second move might be trying for a guy like Raja Bell.

A trade for SJax would shock me...thoroghly.

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Hill is the back up point guard.

They wouldn't be wise to use their trading pieces for a 4th string point guard ( Behind Parker/ Hill/ Manu), who would spend more time in a sport coat in anticipation of the Kiss me cam.

The wise thing they would do is to wait it out til the trade deadline and add a defensive starting caliber wing that can hit the 3 offensively. Or maybe even add a Camby like player if the injury bug hits our frontcourt. (or if the production in new bigs sours Blair/ Mahimni/ Haislip/ Ratliff).

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

The wise thing they would do is to wait it out til the trade deadline and add a defensive starting caliber wing that can hit the 3 offensively. Or maybe even add a Camby like player if the injury bug hits our frontcourt. (or if the production in new bigs sours Blair/ Mahimni/ Haislip/ Ratliff).

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The organization has been known to stand pat if things play out well. If we don't get anything in return for Bonner/Finely before the season starts, I doubt we will later.

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Originally Posted by Pounding the Rock

Mahinmi. Did anyone notice how the Spurs sat Blair for two games in the Summer League, but gave big minutes in every game to the guy who got injured during summer league play last year? That smelled fishy to me, but I didn't really understand why they would do that until now: the Spurs were showing Ian off.

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Wait, what?

Mahinmi was not hurt during Summer League 2008. He got hurt in a big man camp.

Maybe the article writer smells something fishy because he's eating Fred's Fish Fry, because it's not coming from anything factual in the article.

The easiest way for the Spurs to cut the roster to 14 is to cut either Williams or Hairston. Hairston is on a roll, but I think some still see Williams as the higher ceiling?

Jeez, don't trade Ian to Houston. If by chance he develops into a nice NBA big and Houston has a frontline of Scola and Mahinmi, I would be out on a ledge.

Trade Bonner to Milwaukee for Bowen.....once the grace period from Bowen's trade is up.

back to the topic. even if Ratliff doesn't play much, because either he is injured or neither from the group of Ian, Blair, Haislip and Bonner is injured, to carry 7 bigs doesn't make sense and can't be explained with kind of a waiting game. especially considering the only big that can be sent to d-league is Blair. (wow, what an irony if Blair played d-league.).
one will be traded, if not two. (who says the package can't be Bonner+Ian)
points why likely Bonner isn't the one: his trade value will be much higher at deadline, when some teams will desperately try to improve their position for the 2010 free agency. (the dealing at deadline will be even more frantic, because of the shrinking cap). Bonner is familiar with the team system, this will be a bonus considering he is the only big outside Tim with Spurs experience. (at deadline this could look different, McDyess will learn quick, let's see what Haislip can do). Bonners 3.2 million salary can bring back a decent player. (what Ian's contract can't). so, while I wouldn't rule out that Bonner could be traded this summer, if the right deal is on the table (like Bonner for Stevenson, or Bonner plus Finley for Foster), it does have much logic to keep him at least till deadline.
(or just let his contract expire, considering this might be the number that's needed for Splitter)

my guess for most likely trades:
Ian for a 2nd rounder and a TE.
Ian plus Finley for a defensive wing
Ian plus Mason for a defensive wing

Mountainballer, do you think the Spurs would consider trading Bonner ( + filler ) for a Foster/Collison type and leave us with no big who can hit the three, and only McDyess with a good midrange J? Both of these players are better than Bonner on paper, but their skill sets would more or less cover Dice/Blair, so they wouldn't represent as much value to the team as Bonner, IMO, because his skillset is much different and gives Pop more options.

I don't think Bonner is on the trading block, unless we're bringing back another big with range or at least a player who can play minutes at the 4 and spread the floor for Duncan, like Nocioni.And,of course, unless there's a no brainer offer on the table.

I would feel a lot more comfortable with Camby in the middle of the paint.

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Originally Posted by BG_Spurs_Fan

Mountainballer, do you think the Spurs would consider trading Bonner ( + filler ) for a Foster/Collison type and leave us with no big who can hit the three, and only McDyess with a good midrange J? Both of these players are better than Bonner on paper, but their skill sets would more or less cover Dice/Blair, so they wouldn't represent as much value to the team as Bonner, IMO, because his skillset is much different and gives Pop more options.

I don't think Bonner is on the trading block, unless we're bringing back another big with range or at least a player who can play minutes at the 4 and spread the floor for Duncan, like Nocioni.And,of course, unless there's a no brainer offer on the table.

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Marcus Haislip

as timaios said.
Haislip is a PF, who can (hopefully) hit the three. and McDyess has range.
a trade for Collison doesn't make much sense, when you have McDyess and Blair on the team. a trade for Foster would make a lot of sense, considering Foster's size and mobility and his ability to defend out to the perimeter. Foster would be a great defender against players like Gasol and Dirk.

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Originally Posted by timaios

Marcus Haislip

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Marcus Haislip has hit a total of 4 three pointers in his NBA career and last season in Europe has been a 35-37% from the euro 3 point line. I wouldn't consider him a reliable 3 point threat at all until proven otherwise.

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Originally Posted by BG_Spurs_Fan

Marcus Haislip has hit a total of 4 three pointers in his NBA career and last season in Europe has been a 35-37% from the euro 3 point line. I wouldn't consider him a reliable 3 point threat at all until proven otherwise.

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true. but what is the sense of a 3 point shooting PF, if he constantly totally fails in the play offs? Matt is the opposite of Horry in this regard. (in many others either of course)
it just doesn't make any difference, if Matt is on the roster or not next April. and Spurs shouldn't be that much dependent on their 3pt shooting next year anyhow.

Trading Mahinmi right now for crap makes very few sense.

Spurs have 7 bigmen but you have to look more closely at the situation. Spurs have 2 solid bigmen with McDyess and Duncan. Pop will likely be careful with Duncan's knees and McDyess is quite old. So both won't play heavy minutes.

The rest of the bigmen that will fight with Mahinmi are:
- DeJuan Blair: Very young (20 years old) and has no ACLs. It's possible that he isn't NBA ready or that he struggle staying healthy with a 100 games long season.
- Matt Bonner: Since the 3 point era, 904 players have played more than 100 minutes in the playoffs. Among these 904 players, only 15 have a worst playoff PER than Bonner.
- Marcus Haislip: Last time he played in NBA, it was quite a disaster. He has improved his game but it isn't sure at all that his new NBA try won't also be a disaster.
- Theo Ratliff: Old and had a lot of injuries. He could be done or had another injury.

That's a lot of question marks. The wise thing to do would be to let all these players fight for playing time during the training camp. Training camp will likely settle a hierarchy and it should be quite obvious who should be traded after it. Trading a 22 years old player, on a cheap contract and who could be Spurs best big from the bench next year for crap isn't a smart move.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

The wise thing to do would be to let all these players fight for playing time during the training camp. Training camp will likely settle a hierarchy and it should be quite obvious who should be traded after it.

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:tu Of course. I don't think the Spurs will make any more moves until after training camp. That will give them a much clearer picture not only what they have, both in terms of personnel and trade assets, but what they need, what other teams need, and who might be available. In other words, waiting until after training camp (or even partially through the season) allows them to make an intelligent move.

I totally agree. I thought the team was in pretty good shape and leagues better than last year before they picked up Ratliff. Since there are essentially 3 rookies playing in our big man rotation and Pop favors veterans, Ratliff was probably just insurance.
Come mid season we might see a trade, but hopefully it will not involve Ian if he shines during the first part of the season.
Trading for SJak sounds like a fantasy, by the way. Not affordable or necessary.

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Hill is the back up point guard.

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Maybe. I'm not convinced yet.

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Originally Posted by M4T

They wouldn't be wise to use their trading pieces for a 4th string point guard ( Behind Parker/ Hill/ Manu), who would spend more time in a sport coat in anticipation of the Kiss me cam.

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The Spurs are one bad landing from Parker away from having to depend on a second year two-guard, and their designated closer to handle the point duties.

If I'm "all in" like the Spurs are this year, and this is potentially our shot at title #5, I'm not trusting the season to George Hill to handle the quarterback duties should Parker go down.

They'll pick up a backup point...I'm sure of it. And with all the guys currently under contract, and the spending already way over the top, it will likely be through a trade.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Maybe. I'm not convinced yet.



The Spurs are one bad landing from Parker away from having to depend on a second year two-guard, and their designated closer to handle the point duties.

If I'm "all in" like the Spurs are this year, and this is potentially our shot at title #5, I'm not trusting the season to George Hill to handle the quarterback duties should Parker go down.

They'll pick up a backup point...I'm sure of it. And with all the guys currently under contract, and the spending already way over the top, it will likely be through a trade.

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You can't have an all-star team on the floor AND on the bench. Every team is "one bad landing" from having a ruined season. Every team would also like to have a super-amazing-incredible backup just in case that happens. It doesn't work that way though. And who cares if you're not convinced yet? Is it you who has to be convinced? Who are you anyway?

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Maybe. I'm not convinced yet.



The Spurs are one bad landing from Parker away from having to depend on a second year two-guard, and their designated closer to handle the point duties.

If I'm "all in" like the Spurs are this year, and this is potentially our shot at title #5, I'm not trusting the season to George Hill to handle the quarterback duties should Parker go down.

They'll pick up a backup point...I'm sure of it. And with all the guys currently under contract, and the spending already way over the top, it will likely be through a trade.

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If we are "all in" as you say, we also have to asume that the core players like Parker are staying healthy...if he goes down, than we dont stand a chance anyway and befor playing only with Hill and some SG's as our PG's, we could also pull a Orlando Magic and get another player in.

lets take another look at our rotation:

best-5:

Parker
Manu
Jefferson
Dyess
Duncan

the young players:
Hill/McClinton
Williams/Hairston
Hairston
Blair
Mahinmi

the rest:
Mason
Finley
Bonner
Ratliff

lets take a closer look at this last group, coz the first group is set and the second would only be traded as a trade sweetener (dont see Hairston or Blair beeing that):

Ratliff:
don't see us signing him just to trade him away...he is just what the frontcourt needed: a shotblocking presense for spot minutes...really liked that signing and he should stay...imagine: seriess against dallas...Barea is going to the basket and the sun darkens coz of Timmy and Theo waiting for him :)

Bonner:
two words: unique skillset. there should be games where he doesnt play at all and there should be games where he fits perfectly as a player who does the spacing so well...I'm not his biggest fan, but unless we get another 4 who can hit long range shots, I'm all for keeping him...only thing that hurts is his contract which is to high for his actual production...but its not as bad as with other players on other teams

Finley+Mason:
kind of the same skillset even while Mason has some PG skills as well. and thats the problem. why have two players on the roster, that give the same to the team? ok, with shooters you still have to go with the player who hits shots and so on, but its not like we have invinite roster spots and players like Manu and Jefferson have that ability + other stuff too!



that said I think either Finley or Mason will be traded (IF someone is traded)..I'd think Mason is the odd man, coz he is worth more than Finley.

mybe we add Ian (coz why should a team trade for one of them alone?) and see what we can get and what fits.

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needs and options:

a backup PG:
we dont need a backup PG, that we have to trade for...if we really need one, ask Jaque to play one more year! (actually I like that idea if we have room, but after all that means someone else would have to go to Austin which shoulnd be needed)

a defensive wing:
we are really lacking one...dont see us getting Battier, but Raja Bell might be an option, Thabo as well...not sure who fits that bill and is a spurs type player too.


WWJD?:

he would try to package either Mason or Finley with Ian and get Bell or Thabo...additionally bring back Bruce!

rotation:
Parker/Hill/ (McClinton)
Bell/Manu/ (Hairston) / (Williams)
Jefferson/Finley
Dyess/Blair/Haislip
Duncan/Ratliff/Bonner