Monroe: Spurs enter wait-and-see mode

Spurs enter wait-and-see mode
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....12887de4.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer

With big men Robert Horry and Fabricio Oberto securely in the fold, the Spurs figure to exercise patience before making any additional free-agent moves.

That includes waiting to make a decision about restricted free agent Devin Brown. The Spurs likely will see if Brown signs an offer sheet from another club, after which they would have seven days to decide if they wanted to match it.

General manager R.C. Buford also would like to wait to see which players, if any, become available after Aug. 15, when NBA teams can exercise a one-time "amnesty" waiver clause in the league's new collective bargaining agreement.

"We continue to follow the free-agent market with Devin, and then react accordingly, because we do need to cover that position," Buford said. "And there are a couple of other positions on the team. But I think that patience may be our best virtue right now."

Brown's agent, Darrick Powell, said several teams have shown interest in the 6-foot-5 swingman who grew up in San Antonio and played at UTSA.

"Devin is going to take a couple of trips (to visit other NBA teams) next week," Powell said. "Things are looking good, but the hole card is in the Spurs' hand, and we understand that."

With Thursday's signings, the Spurs' player payroll has grown past $57 million, with at least three players who must be added. The NBA's luxury-tax threshold is $61.7 million, meaning it will be difficult for the team to avoid becoming a taxpayer for the first time since the plan was imposed in 2001.

Powell said Brown, who has played for the Spurs the past two seasons, prefers to stay in San Antonio but not at a small salary. Brown made the NBA minimum the past two seasons, $695,000 last season.

The Spurs have tendered Brown a qualifying offer, around $900,000, in order to retain their right of first refusal on any offer sheet he signs.

"Devin will not play for $1 million," Powell said. "He's more than a $1 million player. It's a tough situation."

The herniated disc that put Brown on the injured list late in the season and limited his playoff playing time has complicated his marketability, but Powell insisted Brown is in "great shape, and we have sent doctors' reports to several teams that show that his back is fine."

The Spurs informed free-agent forward Linton Johnson III they are not exercising the option to bring him back next season.

Too bad for LJIII. . Do you think its a bluff, and Devin would come back at a home town rate?

Chuck Miketinac on KABB Maximum Sports said tonight that Devin starts visiting next Monday and that the Sonics have become one of the teams interested in Devin.

Everyday it's sounding less and less likely that Devin will be a Spur next season.

Too bad.

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"Devin will not play for $1 million," Powell said. "He's more than a $1 million player. It's a tough situation."

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If SJAX was a $1million player in Atlanta, Devin can't be worth that much more. Bruce is only making $3, so Devin IMO is between $1-$3. Spurs shouldn't pay more than $1.5 with a team option in the third year.

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"Devin will not play for $1 million," Powell said. "He's more than a $1 million player. It's a tough situation."

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Of course his agent is going to say that. It's his agent's job to try and get as much money for Devin as possible.

Devin could make big dollars somewhere else, but so could half the Spurs roster. I'm sure he understands this as well as anyone. It comes down to whether he wants rings, or dollar signs.

He knows that this city adores him, probably more than any other city ever will unless he manages to make a big, big star out of himself. The reception he received at the 'Dome Rally said that well enough.

If he wants to be just another player making good money on another team, I'm sure that option will be available to him. If he wants to play for a team he loves, and for a city that loves him, then maybe he'll realize that a million dollars is still a pretty damn good paycheck in San Antonio, especially when you consider the perks and benefits of the job.

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Devin could make big dollars somewhere else,

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I'm not sure you're right about that.

...okay, relatively bigger dollars than he would/will be making here.

I wish Devin the best. I don't think this team's a good fit for him, although I'd love him to be back.

I think if he really has a clean bill of health, Devin will sign an offer sheet with someone else. I doubt it will be big money, but I can't see him being under a $1 million player either. If it's not too much, say $2 million or less, why wouldn't anyone expect the Spurs to match?

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Originally Posted by BronxCowboy

I think if he really has a clean bill of health, Devin will sign an offer sheet with someone else. I doubt it will be big money, but I can't see him being under a $1 million player either. If it's not too much, say $2 million or less, why wouldn't anyone expect the Spurs to match?

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I think he deserves 2 yr 1.5 mil per contract and spurs should give him imo.

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Originally Posted by BronxCowboy

I think if he really has a clean bill of health, Devin will sign an offer sheet with someone else. I doubt it will be big money, but I can't see him being under a $1 million player either. If it's not too much, say $2 million or less, why wouldn't anyone expect the Spurs to match?

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It all comes down to whether what's available on the market, apart from Brown.
If 1.5 or 2 million gets you Maurice Evans and another player, then who knows?
Personally, I'd love to see Brown back in a Spurs uniform, and I'm sure both the Spurs and Devin would, too. But it's business. Brown has to look out for his interests, and the Spurs have to look out for theirs.

Prior to Devin's injury, he was an easy 4-5 million player - healthy, hardworking, phenomenally athletic, good defender, coachable, good and improving shooter.

I'm not sure how his injury should/will affect his marketability - esp since a herniated disc is an awfullly serious, chronic sounding injury for such a young player. But a desperate team like the Sonics, could snap him up for his pre-injury value...

"awfullly serious, chronic sounding injury"

All the docs say the herniated disc is episodic, not chronic.

I think his best deal is to sign with a team, for one year, and probably for not very much, where he will get some good PT that would show whether his back will hold up.

If the back holds up, then a new contract for 06, at the level of his healthy abilities.

He has had a herniated disc only one time, but he said he has previously had back spasms in previous seasons. I think that if he has a back spasm episode in 05/06, his salary could be seriously affected indefinitely. He's not so good that teams would risk paying him fully when other, healthy swingmen are available.

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Originally Posted by boutons

"awfullly serious, chronic sounding injury"

He has had a herniated disc only one time, but he said he has previously had back spasms in previous seasons. I think that if he has a back spasm episode in 05/06, his salary could be seriously affected indefinitely. He's not so good that teams would risk paying him fully when other, healthy swingmen are available.

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But a herniated disc in your 20's? THe only other player I know of who's had that injury was D-Rob, and he was pushing 40, and had played ball as a starting C for almost two decades. Devin doesn't have to play the more physically grueling C position, and he's only been playing a couple years. It seems to me, if I were a general manager, I'd be hesitant. Because even if it's episodic, wouldn't his back be weakened by the injury?

And speaking of worrisome injuries, what's with all these young athletes having heart conditions? (Eddy Curry, Ronny Turiaf, there was someone else, too...)

I know Devin would hate it but I really think he needs another short contract before the real pay day. As stated previously it is too risky to drop dollars on a player with a previous back injury less than 6 months after its occurance.

IMO he should get a 1 year contract for up to 2mil per year. Sort of like a probation. If he has no problems then offer him a contract with both years/dollars if thats where the franchise sees themselves headed.

Problem is I don't know that they do. Even without the back injury I doubt the Spurs would have broke the bank for him. 6'5 guards are a dime a dossen.

Spurs are being a little cheap, I think.

I would guess that some team will offer at least the LLE. Are there any with cap space that would offer more?

All any team has to do is make Devin's contract incentive-based on how many games he plays a year.

While I like Devin, that back injury did raise some questions. And I don't mean with regards to whether the injury would reoccur. Prior to the disc problem, he was proving to be a great spark off the bench and looked like he was really going to have a breakout season. As of right now, there is no telling what kind of post-season he would've had, or will have. If we knew for sure that he could pick up where he left off before the injury, I would be all for giving him the money and bringing him back, which may still happen anyway. However, I can't blame the Spurs FO for sitting back and exploring all of the options.

What worries me is that Devin may be visiting teams that the Spurs played last year in the playoffs, such as Denver or Seattle. I think if we let him go to one of our rivals, it will be a mistake. If he signs with somebody in the East, more power to him, but I just don't think letting him go to one of our rivals will be a smart thing to do.

He lives in in texas, so which team can he choose if he only wants to stay at home, probaly rockets/nuggets/mavs

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

Prior to Devin's injury, he was an easy 4-5 million player - healthy, hardworking, phenomenally athletic, good defender, coachable, good and improving shooter.

I'm not sure how his injury should/will affect his marketability - esp since a herniated disc is an awfullly serious, chronic sounding injury for such a young player. But a desperate team like the Sonics, could snap him up for his pre-injury value...

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I don't think D-Brown was ever a 4-5 million dollar player. He is not a starter, but is a good role player. I don't see anyone giving him 2M.

It wouldn't suprise me to see him in a Denver Nuggets Uniform next year.

Y'all are crazy. Devin's worth 1.5 milion, 2 at the most.

I don't blame his agent for posturing, that's what agents do.

At first glance I would tend to agree with LJ - looks like Rasho is gonzo. But on the other hand they could be trumpeting out the rhetoric that Nazr is going to start to get more for him and keep Rasho (assuming they've come to the conclusion Nazr is going to be asking for serious jack next year and can't get an extension done with him this summer).

this is crap

We're going to end the season with one unnessary argentinian center, one less all around solid role playing guard, one less veteran cold blooded scorer, and one no name suck-ass to add to the IR

this is what happens when you have no money

spurs always had some cap room in hte past and made the summer more intersting

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Originally Posted by ducks

spurs always had some cap room in hte past and made the summer more intersting

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The signing of Oberto was interesting (so was the re-signing of Big Shot Rob).

I don't think the Spurs are done. As many pointed out, Rasho could be gone before the end of the summer, Devin could be re-signed. Hell, we could take on M. Finley!

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

But a herniated disc in your 20's? THe only other player I know of who's had that injury was D-Rob, and he was pushing 40, and had played ball as a starting C for almost two decades.

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first off David has a floating particle in his spine that sometimes would cause numbness in his legs. He first hurt his back in 96 when he was 31 and had only been playing pro ball for 7 seasons

Losing DBrown, especially over a contract in the $2 to 3 mil range, would be a rather significant mistake. In the end, I suspect the Spurs will match most offers for him, barring a 3+ year long offer for the full MLE.