ESPN.com: Spurs talking S&T with Portland, Rasho for Abdur-Rahim

Something to think about...

SAR is 6'9" 245 lbs.
Nazr is 6'10" 250 lbs.

Yet the impression is that SAR is slight because he's been a 4 his entire career whereas Nazr is much bigger because he's been a 5.

Marcus, weren't you one of the folks begging Holt Cat to open the coffers and keep both Nazr and Rasho?

I want them both. Barring that - I want to know what Nazr can do before trading Rasho away, particularly when Nazr's contract, extension or FA, is in the air. Why on earth you would let him hold the Spurs wallet holders by the balls for a position we're ok in is beyond me. You don't trade Rasho till Nazr's locked up and you shouldn't lock up Nazr until you know whether or not his defense will come up to par after training camp.

Is it just because you want this guy so badly? Why do you want him so badly?

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Originally Posted by easjer

Marcus, weren't you one of the folks begging Holt Cat to open the coffers and keep both Nazr and Rasho?

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Yes. Now something more attractive has come along.

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I want them both. Barring that - I want to know what Nazr can do before trading Rasho away, particularly when Nazr's contract, extension or FA, is in the air. Why on earth you would let him hold the Spurs wallet holders by the balls for a position we're ok in is beyond me. You don't trade Rasho till Nazr's locked up and you shouldn't lock up Nazr until you know whether or not his defense will come up to par after training camp.

Is it just because you want this guy so badly? Why do you want him so badly?

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I want this team to focus more on better bball decisions at this point. I definitely do not want as some do to see them milk a team with TD for all it's worth and not maximize his prime playing years.

Yes, that's a fan's perspective and, well, I'm a fan in this role.

No I see, just curiousity - not animosity or accusations. Thanks.

Here's a way to think about it, if the Spurs bring in both SAR and Scola and Scola is as good as all of the hype and eventually beats out SAR then you have a guy with somewhat of a marquee name to deal down the road.

SAR isn't even 30 yet.

i haven't seen anyone bring it up, but haven't lots of people complained that duncan is really a center instead of a power forward? any chance the front office is just looking to make that a reality by making him the starting center, nazr off the bench and then whoever coming in third (dikembe? any chance they could get him after this SAR thing, should it happen?) and have SAR at power forward followed by horry?

For those of you who like to think far in advance, here are all the centers (in addition Nazr) with contracts expiring after this next season.

Predrag Drobnjak
Jason Collier
Melvin Ely
Antonio Davis
DeSagana Diop
Shawn Bradley
Francisco Elson
Nene
Ben Wallace
Vin Baker
Yao Ming
Scot Pollard
Chris Wilcox
Vlade Divac
Lorenzen Wright
Alonzo Mourning
Michael Olowokandi
Jackson Vroman
Tony Battie
Kelvin Cato
Amare Stoudemire
Joel Przybilla
Loren Woods
Jarron Collins

I don't think the spurs would ever officially make Tim a Center. It would make it much harder for him to be voted in to the All Star game. Unfortunately the Chinese vote is a little larger than the SA and Virgin Island vote.

Thant being said I like the trade. It gets us a great player. I also firmly believe that if it does happen then Pop and his crew have talked through everything we have times 10. They will be prepared and will have a plan to addreess the needs that will arise from any offseason transactions.

personally i wouldnt want duncan listed as center cuz he isnt, cuz cmon on he 6 11
,plus he wouldnt be the starting center at asg, even though duncan is light years ahead of Yao

most of those big name guys will sign back with their teams. theres too much of an advantage to sign your own players (who are worth it)

Duncan not a center?

To close out most playoff games, the Spurs went with a lineup of Duncan, Horry, Bowen, Ginobili, Parker.

Who's the center in that lineup? Horry?

There's a reason Duncan is listed as a F/C.

The spurs better capitalize on this shit because NJ and other teams are gonna try to convince him that they can win a championship which i think they cant but he needs to open his eyes and see this is a good thing for him. I just hope he wins a championship here and does not go back to ATL, fuckin pussy (Stephen Jackson). Because all the nba players do. They wanna go play for the Hawks.

This is definitely a time for the Spurs to be opportunistic. Rasho isn't bad for a big but he definitely has his limitations in this league. The league is moving away from him.

Also, again, if Rasho or Nazr was coming off the bench then TD would be forced to play more backup 4 and I can guarantee you that is more demanding than playing backup 5 on the defensive end in this league.

I think the trade sounds good. However, I believe the Spurs would have too many at the four spot. I say the Spurs should do it only if they throw in Theo Ratliff. Theo Ratlif is a true center and would be a great backup for Nazr. Theo Ratliff is the type of player Pop likes. Ratlif hits the glass hard and is a great shot blocker. Not only that, Ratliff will be a free agent next year. I think it makes sense for both teams. I seriously doubt that Ratliff would want to play another season in Portland. If they don't trade him, he will walk away from Portland and Portland wouldn't get anything for him next year.

What's the cliche I'm looking for...hmmm...

'You don't look a gift horse in the mouth'?

That seems to fit this scenario.

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Originally Posted by Extra Stout

Duncan not a center?

To close out most playoff games, the Spurs went with a lineup of Duncan, Horry, Bowen, Ginobili, Parker.

Who's the center in that lineup? Horry?

There's a reason Duncan is listed as a F/C.

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NO, I agree Duncan plays a lot of center but because of Political reasons he will always be listed as a Forward.

com´ on people.. :rolleyes rasho will stay where he is.. get real: he will be back next season, -and start next duncan every single season game.

I don't know. I sort of think "Beware Greeks bearing gifts" comes to mind.

But maybe that's just because you mentioned a horse and I was talking to someone about the Ilyad and the Odyssey not 10 minutes ago. . .

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Originally Posted by spurjur

I think the trade sounds good. However, I believe the Spurs would have too many at the four spot. I say the Spurs should do it only if they throw in Theo Ratliff. Theo Ratlif is a true center and would be a great backup for Nazr. Theo Ratliff is the type of player Pop likes. Ratlif hits the glass hard and is a great shot blocker. Not only that, Ratliff will be a free agent next year. I think it makes sense for both teams. I seriously doubt that Ratliff would want to play another season in Portland. If they don't trade him, he will walk away from Portland and Portland wouldn't get anything for him next year.

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And how exactly do you propose that working cap wise???

The Spurs don't need Theo. Just get SAR.

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Originally Posted by Shawn Michaels

true, but this lineup would be just NAAAAASSSSSSSTTTTTYYYYYYY

Parker
Bowen
Gino
Scola
Duncan

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This one is nastier:

1 Parker
2 Ginobili
3 Bowen
4 Abdur-Rahim
5 Duncan

Again, what is wrong with this deal?

21 Time Duncan FC 6-11 260
2 Nazr Mohammad C 6-10 250

how is duncan not a center, regardless of political reasons, when he outweighs and is taller than our starting center? and i'm not so sure any one in the front office would care about the all star game (pop has already said he hates coaching the thing, and i didn't think tim got a bonus everytime he made it, but who knows) and there is no saying that duncan couldn't come off the bench for that game (might even be better, not logging too many minutes in a meaningless game). all of which is moot since nada has happened, but would moving duncan to center be all that implausible?

People talk about center presence in the middle when the best interior defense doesn't have one on their rotation... (Detroit Pistons) :rolleyes