Hindsight: Which Swingman You Want?

Ariza would have been my choice in hindsight, but I'm still happy with the RJ acquisition, especially for what we gave up..

Our offense is 4th in the NBA..RJ has contributed to that, but not enough that it would severely hurt the ranking if we had Ariza instead..the offense has been great this year since we have so many weapons, but the D has been just above average..

Ariza is one of the best 1 on 1 defenders in the NBA..he would give us our first long defender to start at the 3 in a while, and it would also allow Mason to start since we wouldn't need a defender at the 2..

Ariza has also proven to be arguably the best defender against Kobe this year, which would obviously help us if we meet them in the playoffs..

I like McDyess, I think he could be one of the best bench bigs in the NBA, but using the MLE on Ariza would have forced the FO into trading the rest of the expiring contracts for a big man and also would have probably been forced to give Ian a shot earlier too..

It's all in hindsight though..

I'm happy with RJ and I hope the FO can bring in the final piece.

we probably couldn't have ever gotten him, but I've always wanted Andre Iguodala

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Originally Posted by vander

we probably couldn't have ever gotten him, but I've always wanted Andre Iguodala

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Yep. Same here. Too bad any trade involving Iggy would have the team taking back Brand.

Ariza then RJ.

The same one I wanted since '03-04: Buckets. Ariza and Jefferson were (and are) my #2 and #3 of the list, and Carter and Marion are two I absolutely did not want.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

The same one I wanted since '03-04: Buckets. Ariza and Jefferson were (and are) my #2 and #3 of the list, and Carter and Marion are two I absolutely did not want.

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I'm basically the opposite of that with the same vote. I'm pretty sure I talked down the idea of bringing Jack back when the idea was floated. That said, the Jefferson trade caught me completely off guard (I thought the Spurs had gotten Al Jefferson), but if it had been possible to get Buckets for what the Spurs gave up, I'd have to say I'd be for it in hindsight.

Ariza would have been the most intriguing player in my opinion. Alright, he is not shooting the ball well for Houston right now, but he wouldn't have been asked to carry the offense like this in San Antonio. Defensively, he would have been much better than RJ, and I don't know if he would have felt the need to be a somewhat questionable guy characterwise here.

On the other hand, he left LA partly because he wanted to play a bigger role on a team, and he wouldn't have had that situation here.

I'm still quite pleased we got RJ, though. He certainly could step up his game in certain areas, but his 13 PPG and his shooting percentages aren't bad. I didn't think he would score more than 15 a game anyway on this team.

I would have been very happy with any of those guys outside of Marion and Artest either way..

I had to think pretty hard about this one. Jefferson and Jackson both bring a lot to the table. RJ is not going to make the mental mistakes Jackson makes, but I don't know of too many guys that express that will to win quite like SJax.

I ended up voting SJax primarily because he has that swagger than the Spurs seem to lack a little of this year. I also have seen SJax play Dirk tough on many occassions. The Mavs are the west team that I feel like the Spurs are going to have the most trouble matching up with in the post season. Even moreso than LA despite LA being the most talented of the two teams by far....and SJax is pretty good against LA, too.

It was really a toss-up in my book, and I think Jefferson has all the potential to be a great Spur...and is evolving into a better and better fit everyday. SJax showed me in '03 what he's made of...to me he's a proven commodity where Jefferson is still a work in progress at this point. That probably sealed my SJax vote.

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Originally Posted by quentin_compson

I'm still quite pleased we got RJ, though. He certainly could step up his game in certain areas, but his 13 PPG and his shooting percentages aren't bad. I didn't think he would score more than 15 a game anyway on this team.

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True. He's not getting the attempts to be able to score like he has in the past, and his defense really isn't that awful. What I'm really hoping he can do going forward is have more of an impact on the outcome of the game. I'm not sure that he's ever been a guy that picks his own spots like Manu does, which is why I voted for Jack.

I love SJ's game and give him all the props for his key part in delivering Spur Championship #2. With TA only 24 years old, he has so much promise. But in the end, with the way the Spurs TEAM is built in 2010 and the next couple of years, RJ will be the best choice come playoff time.

I am torn between RJ and SJax.

Picked SJax because he helped the Spurs win a title before.

RJ isn't bad either. I am hoping he will be a force for this team in the post season.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

The same one I wanted since '03-04: Buckets. Ariza and Jefferson were (and are) my #2 and #3 of the list, and Carter and Marion are two I absolutely did not want.

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Exactly the way I feel about it. Buckets! I wasn't completely opposed to Carter, but if it was gonna take Hill or Mase, which it was, I didn't want him. And in hindsight, I wouldn't want him period.

How we couldn't want Stephen Jackson was/is beyond me. What doesn't he do on a court? I'm admittedly alittle biased, lol (sig check), but I feel like his floor game is as good as Lebron's (doesn't mean I think he's as good as Lebron). He doesn't have that athleticism, power, and speed that make Lebron so special, but he's got a better outside shot, and he's more clutch. He's a smart player, all-around defender. He can handle Dirk better than most anybody in the league, and definitely better than anybody we've got. He wasn't an off-court problem last time, and I don't think it would have been any different this time around I think Larry Brown has already fallen in love with him, and Larry's a tough guy to please.

I liked what HarlemHeat said about Ariza. Some good stuff. Factoring in what he said about an Ariza signing w/ the MLE forcing a trade for a big. I think Ariza could have been really good for us. My downside to him is, how much could we trust Manu to stay healthy? I really wouldn't want Ariza having to step into a bigger scoring role like that for us if he were to go down. It would probably balance out with his defense and Mason stepping up offensively, but that weakens the bench production, and I don't know, I just don't trust it. With Manu healthy and performing tho, he's probably the best fit in that Bowen role. Although I would still want Jackson.

If we were talking about this a few weeks ago, I'd have a different take on Jefferson, but he's been coming on. The thing he's frustrated me with all year is just the effort. When he brings the effort, which he's been doing more, and especially when he attacks the basket aggresively, we instantly become a much better team. He's pretty efficient, doesn't really make alot of mistakes. I like the job he's doing right now, and I'm happy to have him. But...

I just don't think he has that "it" factor. He won't hurt you, but he won't save you. If I NEED a bucket, I know I can go to Jackson and feel good about it. I don't feel that way about RJ. And yea, I know we have 3 other go-to guys, but it's not like I'd rather have RJ doing anything on the court over Jackson. I'd rather have Jackson making an inbound pass, I'd rather have him handling the ball, rather have him on the defensive end, shooting free throws, setting screens.... Plus he just brings that fire, that "it", that passion, which is the thing RJ has lacked the most.


So I'm obviously going Buckets... it's tough to choose between RJ and Ariza for who I would take 2nd. RJ is the safer pick, Ariza has the big upside. Would be cool with any of the 3.

Jefferson brings a lot to the table but it seems like we're using a third of his skills. Jackson probably couldn't have been obtained but he just fits the Spurs better. He plays better D, can guard more types of players, is clutch, and has lots of enthusiasm for the game.

I'd love to see lineups like this in the closing minutes of a game.

Hill/Parker
Manu
Jax
Blair/Ratliff/Dice
Duncan

Come on, tied score, two minutes left in the game, do you want to see Jax or RJ there? No way I can honestly answer anything other than Jax.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

I had to think pretty hard about this one. Jefferson and Jackson both bring a lot to the table. RJ is not going to make the mental mistakes Jackson makes, but I don't know of too many guys that express that will to win quite like SJax.

I ended up voting SJax primarily because he has that swagger than the Spurs seem to lack a little of this year. I also have seen SJax play Dirk tough on many occassions. The Mavs are the west team that I feel like the Spurs are going to have the most trouble matching up with in the post season. Even moreso than LA despite LA being the most talented of the two teams by far....and SJax is pretty good against LA, too.

It was really a toss-up in my book, and I think Jefferson has all the potential to be a great Spur...and is evolving into a better and better fit everyday. SJax showed me in '03 what he's made of...to me he's a proven commodity where Jefferson is still a work in progress at this point. That probably sealed my SJax vote.

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Nice post. :tu

1. S Jax
2a. Ariza
2b. Jefferson
3. Carter
4. Marion
153. Artest

I voted for Jackson by accident, should have been Jefferson.

I'd take Ariza.

Wonder where all of the VC nutlickers are? Kinda hard to find now that he's breaking Orlando's offense like most of us said he'd do to the Spurs offense.

Still here..he hasn't "broken" Orlando's offense, he doesn't coach the team..

I'd have liked Ariza too, for the defensive skills, the young age, and the motivation against his former team.

Jefferson is a ghost right now.

Gerald Wallace!

The discussion gets too complex when you factor in salaries.

I'll just say I wish RJ were playing better.

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Originally Posted by Chieflion

Gerald Wallace!

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Nah, he has no three point shot.

I think Artest would have been a good fit because of his defensive intensity. However I think it would've probably been Rodman all over again, as Pop's coaching has lost a step and I don't think he has enough fire in the belly to properly handle Artest.

SJ would have been wonderful. RJ doesn't even look like he wants to be out there and is a bust so far.

There's still time for RJ to redeem his lost season, but at this point he seems primed for a playoff meltdown/no-show.

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Originally Posted by timaios

Trevor Ariza.

He's having a bad season with the Rockets because he thinks he needs to be the star on that team. With the Spurs he would be a top role player.
Great defender, great motivation against the Lakers, great 3pts shooter when he plays like a role player.

The Spurs would be a much better defense team with him.

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He also rebounds and was a key part if not half the reason la won the ship with countless clutch plays on offense and defense.