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Who the flying shyt is that?
[Edit: Sorry, I guess a lot of people don't know him. He got discussed as a Euro FA last year, but he signed a big contract with CSKA Moscow. He's a 6'9" PF, and a damned good rebounder. More about him a few posts below.]
He parted ways with CSKA Moscow. (CSKA was overloaded in the frontcourt.) I saw him play with Maccabi, and he's a good defender and a damned good rebounder. In 08 he was on the All EuroLeague first team, and was fourth in the league in rebounds per game, and second in blocks per game.
I think he could be signed for the minimum, and he would be a of a value. He still doesn't solve the problem of a starting big, but he would be damned solid off the bench. For the price, he would be hard to beat.
Last edited by GSH; 07-07-2009 at 03:16 AM.
Who the flying shyt is that?
first off, how do you think he is available for the minimum? he got a big contract from Moscow (reportedly 1.7 million Euro = 2.3 million $ per) last year and if they dump him, there will be European teams that will offer him nice money. this is a player who didn't make the big bucks till last year and he's already 30. he has 2, maybe 3 more years to make some real money. so no, I can't see him sign for the minimum.
and we just signed Haislip. Morris AND Haislip? no way.
(but if I could chose, I likely would take Morris)
He's a 6'9", 230 lb. power foward who has been playing in the EuroLeague for the past several years. He's one of those guys who really improved overseas. Like I said, he is a very good rebounder, a good defender, and decent shot blocker. I just picked the first article I could find about him, which said this: He’s a smart, athletic, and fairly skilled power forward who rebounds extremely well, can hit a spot-up 3-pointer, and is a presence in the paint defensively—all things that are in very short supply when you are talking about long 6-9 guys with great intangibles.
I'm just saying... he could be a very good bargain right now. He's experienced, smart, and very solid/consistent. He could bring some very high quality minutes off the bench.
I could be wrong about the money. But he got screwed in Moscow last year, and didn't get minutes, so his numbers were all way off. And, yes, he's 30 years old. I also keep hearing how the economic crisis has hit the Euro teams as well, and the salaries aren't what they were. (Although I can't say that I've seen that much difference myself. But I don't watch closely enough.)
There's no "if" though. CSKA announced the cut. They just said that they exercised a clause in the contract, and that they were going a different direction. It doesn't put him in the best bargaining position. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I thought that if he's looking for a team, and has a chance too land with the Spurs...
But you're probably right. Some Euro team will step up with more than a minimum equivalent. If we hadn't just used the LLE, I'd still be thinking he might work out. He really would be a good fit for this team. [BTW - I was working as a consultant in Israel, and lived just outside of Tel Aviv. I watched him play a number of times, and I thought that season would land him a spot on an NBA team the next season. CSKA just made too good of an offer.]
Last edited by GSH; 07-07-2009 at 03:43 AM.
So what's your take on Haislip?
I haven't seen whether you like the move or what type of player you view him as?
I wonder if the Haislip meeting was in Europe or in San Antonio? Does anyone know? Pop was supposedly in Europe when the Haislip story broke, which is strange, it being an incredibly important free agent season... maybe he has another mission over there... has RC Buford been in San Antonio the past couple of days??
I said some of this on another thread, but... I watched him play in college. What can I say? Some nights he had it, and some nights he didn't. On his good nights, he looked like a grown man playing against boys. He got lost on defense at times. (And I mean LOST.) But when he was around the play, he defended pretty well, and he was a pretty good weak side shot-blocker.
I haven't seen him play since he went overseas. I understand that he has worked hard, and has become more consistent. The Unicaja fans really liked him, and many felt like the team will become much more boring without him. He's capable of a lot more offense than Pop will likely tolerate, which seems like a waste. I don't think he's a bad pickup, but I think he would have fit better on the Warriors.
That being said, I know he was hungry to get back to the NBA, and I really think that he is the kind of guy who will appreciate the opportunity. I'm hopeful that he will bear down on defense, and work really hard at it. With the right lineup on the floor, I think he can bring a lot to the team. But I think Morris is a more natural fit. And the team could definitely make room for both of them. Talent-wise, if not money-wise.
Well, 'Sheed was supposed to come in on Wed. but Pop was to believed to be out of town this week. So I'm guessing is still over there. (France?)
Pop, R.C., and just about every front office person was over there for the Final 4 but that's all that I remember.
Yeah, I've read what you've had to say.
Appreciate the knowledge.
I was just asking mountainballer because he gets to see a lot of the players overseas and brings a really good eye to this forum.
I'm just really interested/impressed that someone that was viewed as such a bust and underachiever, eventually found himself coveted by a team such as the Spurs.
He must have some pretty good character, toughness, and want-to, if he's been able to develop a game and thrive in a situation he clearly does not wish to be in.
Love the physical tools he possesses, I'm just a little skeptical, and maybe even a little amazed, that he's found himself a Spur..
Yeah, I've read what you've had to say.
Appreciate the knowledge.
I was just asking mountainballer because he gets to see a lot of the players overseas and brings a really good eye to this forum.
I'm just really interested/impressed that someone that was viewed as such a bust and underachiever, eventually found himself coveted by a team such as the Spurs.
He must have some pretty good character, toughness, and want-to, if he's been able to develop a game and thrive in a situation he clearly does not wish to be in.
Love the physical tools he possesses, I'm just a little skeptical, and maybe even a little amazed, that he's found himself a Spur..
I don't know if you remember that Milwaukee Bucks team that Haislip got drafted into, but it was about the worst possible situation for him at that point in his development. They were a loose, undisciplined, run and gun type of team. They were also inconsistent as , and had some of the most selfish players in the league, all under the same roof. On any given night (as long as the shots were falling), they could beat any team in the league. When the shots weren't falling, they were miserably bad. Their stars would go sit on the bench and sulk, and guys like Haislip would get thrown to the lions. (Joel Przybilla was on that team, too. It didn't do his career much good, either.)
If Haislip had gone to a team like the Spurs, his career might have looked totally different. I think he would have done brilliantly playing for Don Nelson. But neither the coach nor the players on that Bucks team were the type to mentor a young player. He needed another year of college, and that team was the farthest thing from it. I felt really sorry for him, especially when they started saying he was a "bust" before his rookie season was over.
But, for what it's worth, Terence Morris wasn't much right out of college, either. He made the most of his years in Europe, and I am hopeful that Haislip has done the same.
he has developed a lot since he arrived in Europe, but I agree with you about fit with the Spurs.
we know that Spurs do need an athletic and mobile PF (and Haislip hasn't lost anything in this department, he still is an impressive athlete, also by NBA standards), on the other hand, even if Pop knows about the need for such players in general, I'm not sure he can find a significant role for Haislip in his system. unless he believes Haislip can and will become a much better defender. on offense I have my doubts. Haislip is one of the players who can go hot and then fill the stat sheet when he gets 12 and more shots, mostly against weaker teams, but can anyone see him get even half as many shots with the Spurs? and even considering his meanwhile decent 3pt shot, he is far from becoming a specialist as an outside shooter big like Horry.
so I'm pretty skeptical about this signing, especially for the LLE.
but it seems as if Pop is confident he can turn him into a better defender. maybe a bit like Hakim Warrick, who is pretty decent on the perimeter and as long as he doesn't need to guard the strong PFs. Haislip would be a bit stronger, so he could do well.
He sucks. Next
Morris is a poor man's Haislip.
Other than the fact that they are nothing alike, that is incredibly insightful. It's sort of like saying you are Kill_Bill_Pana, with better grammar.
If you're looking at old college scouting reports, you're way off base. Morris and Anthony Parker both went to Europe and improved their games tremendously. Both are solid and dependable, night-in-night-out kind of guys. The Spurs damned well need players like that. Especially this year - they need some solid role players a lot more than projects. Hairston, for instance, has a lot of potential. These guys may not have any un-tapped upside potential, but the are ready to contribute right now.
Don't be so quick to discount a player, just because he played in Europe. If the money was right, Morris would be a very smart addition to this team. So would Anthony Parker, but people here have been flaming me for talking about him for the last several years, too.
Pass.
If we're taking a gamble on someone I'd rather go with Haislip.
Doesn't matter. Efes (Turkey) has already made him a deal. I don't know if it's signed yet, but I'm sure they will get it done quickly. They know what he brings to the team. He was only out of a job for a couple of days - that should probably tell you something.
Probably see an announcement on Anthony Parker soon, too. Unless he's just trying to stay here.
*cough* *cough* *co..."moron"...cough* *cough*
I'm an European and I follow European basketball very, very closely. I know pretty well who Terence Morris is, how he has played and I've seen him playing many times.
Do you want a couple of former NBA, now Europe based players NBA teams should be targeting? Terrell McIntyre; Romain Sato (a former Spurs, iirc); Ersan Ilyasova; Carlos Delfino, for example.
And why aren't they nothing alike? Morris is a better rebounder and defender with an equally versatile offensive game - but Haislip is more skilled by far. And there's a reason why Morris failed with Messina.
Didn't the spurs sign Haislip for that role?
A lot of time has passed since they days you saw him play in college.
You can't say you know more about him now than the rest of us.
I'll trust the spurs FO decision over your years of watching him in college.
I've read a lot of your posts, and I know that you really do know a lot about the European players. We can disagree, but I respect your knowledge. I got to watch Morris when I was working in Israel, but I'll admit that my first-hand knowledge of Haislip is dated. But even you said that Morris looks like a more logical fit for the Spurs. Doesn't that say that there are some significant differences? It's a moot point, since he's going to sign with Efes. But I kind of knee-jerked at calling him a "poor man's" Haislip. Amare Stoudamire is big, and gets paid a lot. But I don't think he would be worth as much to the Spurs as McDyess, just because he doesn't fit the system.
I think Haislip would flourish in Golden State, under Don Nelson. I think he would be great in Philadelphia. I think there will have to be some adjustments here (on both sides), to get the most out of his skill set. And I think Morris would have been a plug-in. And I think you know what I'm talking about. Morris and Anthony Parker are both guys that could have helped keep the second team steady, while the starters get their rest. I was hopeful we might one of them on the cheap.
Doesn't matter. Old news now.
Morris signed with Barcelona.
http://www.euroleague.net/euroleague...terence-morris
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