http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...i.3564510.html
Web Posted: 07/10/2007 10:57 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LAS VEGAS — Ian Mahinmi sat on the end of the Spurs' bench, watching the team's summer-league game go on without him. By late afternoon he would be on a flight back to San Antonio, another day of physical therapy ahead of him.
As the Spurs' 2005 first-round draft pick, Mahinmi had hoped to use this summer to show team officials he was ready to transition to the NBA. While a chest injury he suffered during mini-camp two weeks ago likely will prevent him from playing in a single summer-league game, his goal hasn't changed.
"That's a tough issue, but summer league is not everything," Mahinmi said. "I still have the rest of the summer to work out. It's not the end of the world."
Spurs officials said they have yet to decide whether to sign Mahinmi for next season. The coaches were encouraged by how he played during his brief time in camp before he tore a muscle in his chest while going up for a dunk.
"Before that," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said, "we were starting to look for opportunities to get him in the program."
Buford hasn't ruled out signing Mahinmi. The Spurs have 14 players under contract — not including second-round draft pick Marcus Williams — but have looked at ways to thin their roster, including exploring trading center Jackie Butler.
Butler committed 15 fouls in the Spurs' first two summer-league games, but has since played noticeably better. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the Spurs' victory over Boston on Monday and 16 points and seven boards in Tuesday's 90-80 victory over Golden State.
James White, whose defense was inconsistent in the first three summer-league games, will need to improve his play if he wants to avoid being cut before Aug. 1 — the date he picks up a $100,000 guarantee. After facing Minnesota today, the Spurs will fly to Salt Lake City to play five games in the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Mahinmi, who doesn't turn 21 until November, might join the team in Utah, but he isn't expected to play even though he said he feels good. He tore his right pectoralis minor, a muscle that helps stabilize the scapula, and strained the latissimus dorsi muscle.
"That was really frustrating because I was doing great," Mahinmi said. "I went up, and I feel something in my chest. It was like, 'Oh, I need to get this checked.' It really hurt me."
Mahinmi is expected to heal without problem, and the Spurs are hopeful he will be healthy enough to participate in the skills camp of longtime NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich later this summer. Whether that gives them enough of opportunity to evaluate Mahinmi remains to be seen.
The Spurs know this much: Mahinmi's body has improved. The 6-foot-11 French forward spent the past season in Pau, France, working with a strength coach, and he now looks thicker and stronger. When Mahinmi played in the Rocky Mountain Revue a year ago, he had trouble rebounding and establishing post position and was frequently in foul trouble.
"Last year when I think of what I did in the summer league and what I did in my season, I feel like I grew up a lot," Mahinmi said. "I feel like I'm ready to play this kind of game. I feel really comfortable in my game right now."
That said, Mahinmi is still raw. He's extremely athletic and his instincts have improved, but he's not fundamentally sound enough yet to be an everyday contributor. If the Spurs do sign him, he could spend much of the season playing in Austin in the NBA's developmental league.
Mahinmi signed with Pau-Orthez last season with the hope that he would develop quicker playing in the Euroleague. But he didn't get many minutes and said he didn't settle into a rhythm until the second half of the season. In 33 games in the French League, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. In 18 Euroleague games, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds.
"I know I have a lot of work to do," Mahinmi said, "and hopefully I can do that here (in the NBA)."
Done deals: Matt Bonner (three years, $9 million) and Jacque Vaughn (two years, $2.5 million) are expected to sign their new contracts today after the league lifts its free-agent moratorium. Because of the time it will take to get Fabricio Oberto's contract to Argentina, the Spurs don't expect to re-sign their starting center until later in the week.
Staff addition: The Spurs are close to hiring former Indiana assistant Chad Forcier to join Gregg Popovich's coaching staff.
Forcier, who spent the past four seasons on the staff of former Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, will focus on player development. Brett Brown, the Spurs' current director of player development, is expected to move to the bench to help fill the void created by the departure of P.J. Carlesimo, who left the team last week to become Seattle's head coach.
Brown will join Mike Budenholzer and Don Newman as the Spurs' bench coaches. Chip Engelland, who has helped Tony Parker, among others, improve his shooting, also will remain on staff.
While Carlesimo was considered the lead assistant, Popovich usually doesn't rank his coaches, instead preferring to use a communal system. If Popovich decides to designate a lead, Budenholzer is expected to assume the role, given the 11 seasons he's spent on the Spurs' staff.
Trade winds: The Spurs continue to talk to a handful of teams, including Chicago, about trading the rights to Luis Scola, but have to yet to find an offer they like. NBA executives expect the Spurs to eventually trade Scola this summer rather than risk having him sign a long-term contract in Spain.
Last edited by timvp; 07-10-2007 at 11:38 PM.
I guess that PJ being the guy who took over when Pop was ejected and the fact that Newman and Budenholzer had to do the postgame radio while PJ always did the pre-game radio was pure coincidence.While Carlesimo was considered the lead assistant, Popovich usually doesn't rank his coaches, instead preferring to use a communal system
Staff addition: The Spurs are close to hiring former Indiana assistant Chad Forcier to join Gregg Popovich's coaching staff.
Are people ready to believe this yet?...have looked at ways to thin their roster, including exploring trading center Jackie Butler.
They don't have all summer.NBA executives expect the Spurs to eventually trade Scola this summer rather than risk having him sign a long-term contract in Spain.
no
why not just cut elson?
cut white and bring him in Viktor Sanikidze
he would be cheaper then white and has more potential
I would trade white and beno for that trade exception actually
there is more to basketball then dunking
and keep butler another year
I wouldn't mind that one bit and also trade beno for trade exemption. I would also like to trade barry, but wouldn't be upset if he played his contract out. If dowdell or another young pg is not signed I say bring them in for #3 pg.Damn, I think I am way over on tax issue again!!Oh well, let the spurs FO worry about it.
If it comes to keeping either Butler or White then I definitely keep Butler. But it's foolish to move White simply for money reasons. His salary is about as small as it can get. The only obvious payroll saving move of those two is Butler...and I don't think he needs to go anywhere.
I wonder if he'd be mad if the Spurs tell him they can't bring him over this year. It sounds like it's either NBA or bust for Mahinmi right now. There doesn't seem to be a second option.As the Spurs' 2005 first-round draft pick, Mahinmi had hoped to use this summer to show team officials he was ready to transition to the NBA. While a chest injury he suffered during mini-camp two weeks ago likely will prevent him from playing in a single summer-league game, his goal hasn't changed.
Buford hasn't ruled out signing Mahinmi. The Spurs have 14 players under contract — not including second-round draft pick Marcus Williams — but have looked at ways to thin their roster, including exploring trading center Jackie Butler.I'm sure Butler isn't the only player the Spurs have "explored" trading. Although Ludden never hesitates to throw Butler under the bus. Butler must have kicked his dog or something.
That must have been painful for Ludden to admit.Butler committed 15 fouls in the Spurs' first two summer-league games, but has since played noticeably better. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the Spurs' victory over Boston on Monday and 16 points and seven boards in Tuesday's 90-80 victory over Golden State.
Yeah, White has been decent in summer league but he really does need to play better. If he stays at this level, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Spurs cut him. Personally, I'd keep him ... but I'd understand.James White, whose defense was inconsistent in the first three summer-league games, will need to improve his play if he wants to avoid being cut before Aug. 1 — the date he picks up a $100,000 guarantee.
With numbers like that, no wonder the Spurs want to make room for him.Mahinmi signed with Pau-Orthez last season with the hope that he would develop quicker playing in the Euroleague. But he didn't get many minutes and said he didn't settle into a rhythm until the second half of the season. In 33 games in the French League, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. In 18 Euroleague games, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds.
Staff addition: The Spurs are close to hiring former Indiana assistant Chad Forcier to join Gregg Popovich's coaching staff.
Ploto approves. Especially the legs.
Well, the Spurs better hurry up then because Scola only has until the 15th to try to buyout his contract. And it better be for more than a second round pick or a scrub like Duhon.NBA executives expect the Spurs to eventually trade Scola this summer rather than risk having him sign a long-term contract in Spain.
And a whole article with Ludden in Las Vegas and no mention of Sanikidze at all?
I just like what I see of Viktor if white has to get cut to get him on the team so be it
I have asked before about first round picks forcing the issue...I wonder if he'd be mad if the Spurs tell him they can't bring him over this year. It sounds like it's either NBA or bust for Mahinmi right now. There doesn't seem to be a second option.
I can't imagine Ludden has the strength to throw Butler under the bus, but then I've never seen Ludden. He might be Andre the Giant with a pen.
The Mahinmi stuff is interesting. An entire article about him, simply because he's in limbo right now and they seem like they need to stick him on the team just so he goes somewhere. It'd be a crying shame to dump White simply to make room for him, and it looks like there's a real possibility the Spurs completely threw away their #33 pick, because Marcus Williams may not make the team, either.
Is there any chance that we can get Marcus Williams to spend a year in Europe and play out there? Then come over after one season abroad and play with the team?
I know players like Guillermo Diaz have been drafted and then subsequently sent to Europe. It would make sense for a guy like Williams that is obviously lacking polish while the Spurs are also lacking roster spots.
I ran this through my super secret CIAPop decoder machine and it sounds like they are floating a story about the greatness of Ian (I mean come on - talking about cutting and/or trading two guys to make room for him?) to see if they can get some bites from somewhere around the league and a decent trade offer.
Also, a not so subtle kick in the pants to Flight White to get his together or he's out of here.
No mention of Sanikidze? We're trying to make room to bring him in now
I wouldn't be surprised if this was just a filler story with some quotes from the last few days put it in, may have been written a couple of days ago. It's not explicit that Ludden himself was there in Vegas, and the quotes are unspecific as well with regards to a date, they could have even been taken from before the summer league to have for an easy article during the offseason.And a whole article with Ludden in Las Vegas and no mention of Sanikidze at all?
It did seem like potboiler prose: slam on Butler, that White has played 'inconsistent defense'; it seems partly borrowed from February.
I'm tellin' ya...
Ludden is your averaging looking almost 40 year old white guy.
mahinmi over butler?? that makes perfect sense
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