Rumor: Malik Hairston to Montepaschi? (Confirmed)

There's a couple of good reasons for Hairston leaving the team:

(1) Drafting SG James Anderson -> Less playing time.
(2) Signing of SG Gary Neal -> Less playing time.
(3) Playing behind Keith Bogans in the previous season.
(4) Gee -> Same kind of player.

What is clear hear is that the Spurs prefers a Gary Neal type player over a Hairston type player at SG. Remember, Neal was signed AFTER the Spurs decided not to play Hairston in SL. Looks like Spurs were more than willing to let Hairston go even without a Neal signing. Which tells me that it could either be (1) or (4) with (1) be the most likely.

Now open question, does the Spurs have Hairston's rights now that he signed in Europe? If he improves and returns to the NBA, does the Spurs have his rights like the Hawks' had Childress' rights?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

I'm surprised ... mostly by the timing. I was never overly high on Hairston but I'm surprised he wasn't given one final legit chance to contribute. This obviously had to have been in motion for a while. A run in training camp, or at least summer league, seemed fair.

---

With this news, isn't it odd that the Spurs didn't get one last look at Hairston in summer league? The fact that Hairston DIDN'T participate in SL seemed to signal, at least to me, that his future was secure. Oops!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SenorSpur

With this news, isn't it odd that the Spurs didn't get one last look at Hairston in summer league? The fact that Hairston DIDN'T participate in SL seemed to signal, at least to me, that his future was secure. Oops!

---

It's likely he had the deal in motion to play in Europe prior to Summer League. He may have used it as a bargaining chip, however apparently the Spurs didn't bite.

Doubt anyone will miss him. Best of luck to him.

Pretty damn shocking.

Good luck Malik.

Must have felt like a kick in the nads when a complete stranger comes from Europe and gets signed to a 3 year contract, while you've been busting your ass off for two seasons, done everything asked of you, and being told you're the odd player out.

I'm glad Malik could find this situation in Italy. Hopefully he does well over there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SenorSpur

With this news, isn't it odd that the Spurs didn't get one last look at Hairston in summer league? The fact that Hairston DIDN'T participate in SL seemed to signal, at least to me, that his future was secure. Oops!

---

They left him out to put in Neal at the last minute... So I guess they already knew something was brewing there...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AFBlue

Dude, he's giving you a fairly weak logic-based argument and you're getting emotional. Look at the sample size...you really think that 2 players in each category over three years is really enough to establish a trend? And what about Gee...you can't compare him to Temple b/c he's never played a minute with the big club.

The thing that doesn't make sense to me is why the Spurs make this move now, prior to training camp where they could've legitimately seen if Hairston or Gee was better for the ballclub. This tells me one of two things...

1) Spurs just didn't feel that Hairston was worth the guaranteed money he was owed and cut him.

2) Hairston requested to be released so that he could sign with another team for more money and opportunity to play.

---

probably option 2... since I don't believe Hairston had any guaranteed money at all. He must have thought going overseas was a better option than possibly being cut in training camp and missing out on a paycheck.

I can't imagine this being the FO's choice, but only being accomodating to Hairston's wishes

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

Must have felt like a kick in the nads when a complete stranger comes from Europe and gets signed to a 3 year contract, while you've been busting your ass off for two seasons, done everything asked of you, and being told you're the odd player out.

I'm glad Malik could find this situation in Italy. Hopefully he does well over there.

---

As was mentioned, it's pretty clear now that he wasn't kept from the SL team because his job was secure. It likely happened so that there was less danger of him upstaging Gee or Temple, so this move has been coming for a while. I noticed that Phila hasn't included Hairston in a single post since summer league. Wonder if he knew this all along.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

Must have felt like a kick in the nads when a complete stranger comes from Europe and gets signed to a 3 year contract, while you've been busting your ass off for two seasons, done everything asked of you, and being told you're the odd player out.

I'm glad Malik could find this situation in Italy. Hopefully he does well over there.

---

I think he was the other way, Malik had a deal in Europe as a bargaining chip prior to SL, Spurs didn't bite, he moves on.

Neal signing came after.

Other alternative scenario was that Spurs actually encouraged Malik to ship out the Europe like they did Gist.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ceperez

I think he was the other way, Malik had a deal in Europe as a bargaining chip prior to SL, Spurs didn't bite, he moves on.

Neal signing came after.

Other alternative scenario was that Spurs actually encouraged Malik to ship out the Europe like they did Gist.

---

Yeah, the first part of that actually makes the most sense. If the Spurs were going to hitch their wagon to three point attempts in favor of defense, then they may have hurried him out the door as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

Yeah, the first part of that actually makes the most sense. If the Spurs were going to hitch their wagon to three point attempts in favor of defense, then they may have hurried him out the door as well.

---

Recall that Neal signing was after SL.

The James Anderson signing was likely what triggered Hairston to look for some greener pastures.

So I don't think it was a choice between 3 point shooting versus defense.

Of course, it's clear that Neal's ability was more valued than Hairston. Why sign him for 3 years and give Hairston scraps?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Solid D

I disagree. I don't believe it to be a massive hole. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Garrett Temple's ability to play 3 positions and play defense on the perimeter had eroded some of Malik Hairston's opportunities for minutes. James Anderson plays the wing, so it's no more a hole than it was last year. Do the Spurs need a long, athletic, shooting, defender at the 3-4? Absolutely! Is there one out there...not without a price in $ and players there's not.

---

And last year, as we saw with the poor play from Bogans and RJ, the hole at the SF spot proved to be rather large. I am not saying there is a great fit out there, but that does not change the fact there is a problem; it adds to it. The improvement will likely have to come via trade. Spurs do not have one above average perimeter defender.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

As was mentioned, it's pretty clear now that he wasn't kept from the SL team because his job was secure. It likely happened so that there was less danger of him upstaging Gee or Temple, so this move has been coming for a while. I noticed that Phila hasn't included Hairston in a single post since summer league. Wonder if he knew this all along.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ceperez

I think he was the other way, Malik had a deal in Europe as a bargaining chip prior to SL, Spurs didn't bite, he moves on.

Neal signing came after.

Other alternative scenario was that Spurs actually encouraged Malik to ship out the Europe like they did Gist.

---

Regardless of what came first, Malik was the guy that put two seasons in the system, to get an opportunity for the same kind of deal Neal received after one SL showing. I would fairly pissed, Italian deal or not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ceperez

Recall that Neal signing was after SL.

The James Anderson signing was likely what triggered Hairston to look for some greener pastures.

So I don't think it was a choice between 3 point shooting versus defense.

Of course, it's clear that Neal's ability was more valued than Hairston. Why sign him for 3 years and give Hairston scraps?

---

If Anderson was going to affect Hairston's decision then that ball started rolling on draft night. The Spurs weren't going to draft Anderson and then not sign him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DPG21920

And last year, as we saw with the poor play from Bogans and RJ, the hole at the SF spot proved to be rather large. I am not saying there is a great fit out there, but that does not change the fact there is a problem; it adds to it. The improvement will likely have to come via trade. Spurs do not have one above average perimeter defender.

---

If the spurs strictly wanted just an above average perimeter defender then Bogans would have been re-signed or Hairston would be playing more. The fact is the spurs will live with an average defender at the 3 as long as he can provide some help on the offensive end.

I don't think the Spurs are necessarily trying to hang their hat on outscoring teams with threes instead of defense like some of you are implying or saying outright. I liked Malik, but there is some serious overrating of his defense. He was solid but nothing that great.

I'm not too surprised by the move because of the luxury tax situation. Out of the four non guarnteeds the Spurs were going to need to get rid of 2 at least. I never expected one of those to be Temple because he showed the most out of any of the 4 last year and I never expected Jerrells to stick. That meant likely choosing between Hariston and Gee and it looks like things are lining up for Gee.

Spurs/FIBA News: San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana
link

USA - San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana

SIENA (Lega A) - The NBA has been plucking some of the finest talent from Europe for more than a decade with the San Antonio Spurs among the clubs to benefit.

Now the most cosmopolitan team in the league, which has Frenchman Tony Parker, Argentinian Emanuel Ginobili and Slovenians Rasho Nesterovic and Beno Udrih in the squad, has approached Italian champions Montepaschi Siena about moving forward together in partnership.

"The San Antonio Spurs have contacted the Biancoverde club to consider a collaboration in the future," said a statement on the Siena website,
menssanabasket.it.

"In the past few days, a letter signed by Sam Presti, director of player personnel at San Antonio Spurs, arrived at the club in which, apart from complimenting our team, says they have considered the idea that both clubs undertake a common path to reach different strategies, but all linked to basketball of the highest level.

"Mens Sana Basket has welcomed the proposal and has already opened the relevant channels to reach as soon as possible a collaboration with the
Spurs."


Manu : hey we have this guy Hairston who is good but still needs some work, no more D-League elgibility, can you help us?
Siena : sure, want to do the retain rights thing?
R.C. : absolutely. see you in two years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

Regardless of what came first, Malik was the guy that put two seasons in the system, to get an opportunity for the same kind of deal Neal received after one SL showing. I would fairly pissed, Italian deal or not.

---

Yup. But this is the NBA, it's either you got talent or you do not.

According to DraftExpress, Sienna recently gave Bo McCalebb a $1.5 million deal. With that in mind, it's very possible Hairston will be making quite a bit more than the NBA minimum this season ... so can't shed too many tears for him.

It'd be interesting to know if the Spurs let Hairston go, if Hairston left to get the guaranteed money or if it was a mutual decision. If Hairston wanted to get guaranteed money, he had to act quickly because the Euro money was going fast and the cash well isn't as deep this year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

Must have felt like a kick in the nads when a complete stranger comes from Europe and gets signed to a 3 year contract, while you've been busting your ass off for two seasons, done everything asked of you, and being told you're the odd player out.

I'm glad Malik could find this situation in Italy. Hopefully he does well over there.

---

I wish Malik the best but the NBA is a business.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by longtimelurker

Spurs/FIBA News: San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana
link

USA - San Antonio joins forces with mens Sana

SIENA (Lega A) - The NBA has been plucking some of the finest talent from Europe for more than a decade with the San Antonio Spurs among the clubs to benefit.

Now the most cosmopolitan team in the league, which has Frenchman Tony Parker, Argentinian Emanuel Ginobili and Slovenians Rasho Nesterovic and Beno Udrih in the squad, has approached Italian champions Montepaschi Siena about moving forward together in partnership.

"The San Antonio Spurs have contacted the Biancoverde club to consider a collaboration in the future," said a statement on the Siena website,
menssanabasket.it.

"In the past few days, a letter signed by Sam Presti, director of player personnel at San Antonio Spurs, arrived at the club in which, apart from complimenting our team, says they have considered the idea that both clubs undertake a common path to reach different strategies, but all linked to basketball of the highest level.

"Mens Sana Basket has welcomed the proposal and has already opened the relevant channels to reach as soon as possible a collaboration with the
Spurs."


Manu : hey we have this guy Hairston who is good but still needs some work, no more D-League elgibility, can you help us?
Siena : sure, want to do the retain rights thing?
R.C. : absolutely. see you in two years.

---

Good find. Why couldn't they stash Mahinmi over there too?

As things stand today, with all of the unknowns, if it was between Neal & Malik I feel the spurs made the wrong choice. There are a lot of question marks around both players, but Malik's defense and rebounding were needed just as much if not more than Neal's shooting IMO.

But I feel Neal does not have the tools to defend at the Nba level, but Malik has shown the ability to shoot, at least on the DL level. I feel Malik had a better chance at being a decent shooter (plus he can finish at the rim) than Neal has at being a good defender. If both skill sets are valued, I feel Malik had the higher ceiling.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

According to DraftExpress, Sienna recently gave Bo McCalebb a $1.5 million deal. With that in mind, it's very possible Hairston will be making quite a bit more than the NBA minimum this season ... so can't shed too many tears for him.

It'd be interesting to know if the Spurs let Hairston go, if Hairston left to get the guaranteed money or if it was a mutual decision. If Hairston wanted to get guaranteed money, he had to act quickly because the Euro money was going fast and the cash well isn't as deep this year.

---

After being on the roster so much last year you have to think the Spurs had at least a hand this year as most would expect Malik to get a legit shot to make the roster again. I didn't think he was amazing last year but he should he was an NBA player.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

I don't think the Spurs are necessarily trying to hang their hat on outscoring teams with threes instead of defense like some of you are implying or saying outright. I liked Malik, but there is some serious overrating of his defense. He was solid but nothing that great.

I'm not too surprised by the move because of the luxury tax situation. Out of the four non guarnteeds the Spurs were going to need to get rid of 2 at least. I never expected one of those to be Temple because he showed the most out of any of the 4 last year and I never expected Jerrells to stick. That meant likely choosing between Hariston and Gee and it looks like things are lining up for Gee.

---

Gee has one more year of D-league eligibility so they can waste a roster spot on him for one more season before letting him go. It appears to come down to who you can have on the roster and not give minutes to.