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Tony Parker can be a very valuable trading asset indeed.
Fix-A-Team: The San Antonio Spurs
Remember The Alamo? Its time to blow that thang up.
by Eddie Maisonet, III
SLAM
Note: When each second round Playoff team bows out, we will feature a “Fix-a-Team” post, which identifies the team’s key strengths and weaknesses. Where are the opportunities to take this team to the next level and who are the key threats to their ascension? For my business colleagues, you will recognize this as a SWOT analysis. Today, we review the San Antonio Spurs.
In what is turning into a pandemic like what they were slanging on ‘The Wire,’ the almighty sweep hit the San Antonio Spurs first. If you would’ve asked me which series is most likely to not be a sweep, I easily pick Suns/Spurs. We all know the background; the Spurs have OWNED the Suns this decade. They’ve beaten them every way imaginable, they out-hustled them, they out-coached them, they out-cheated them (looking at you Robert Horry), and to have the Spurs fall on their proverbial backside in such a fashion is unimaginable.
With that being said, the season is over. You’ve got to move on to next year. How can the Spurs be fixed? I have an idea or two.
STRENGTHS
The “Big Three” of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker have been as solid of a core as the Association has ever seen. The Spurs have arguably one of the top-three coaches in the League in Gregg Popovich, and they have young talent in George Hill and DeJuan Blair. That brings some optimism to San Antonio. And the biggest strength of this team is their chemistry. They’ve been playing together for so long that it’s ridiculous.
WEAKNESSES
The problem of the “Big Three” is that they’ve been playing for an extremely long time. It has been eight years now (Ginobili came into the League in ‘02-03), and they are not getting any younger. When the ‘10-11 season starts, Duncan will be 34, Ginobili will be 33, and Parker will be 28. Plus, you’ve got to wonder how much spark Popovich is bringing to the bench nowadays. Bigger problem? How about cap space? Yeah, they don’t have any whatsoever. That horrendous signing of Richard Jefferson has them locked up with a core seven of: Duncan, Manu, Parker, RJ, McDyess, Hill, and Blair. Those seven players combined make up $66 million in payroll. The proposed ‘10-11 cap? $56 million. Yikes.
OPPORTUNITIES
Here’s where Spurs General Manager RC Buford earns his paycheck, because he’s already $10 million over the cap for next season and only has seven players guaranteed for next season. His team is horrendously old and got out-worked by the Phoenix Suns (kudos to the Suns for pulling off one of the biggest surprises of the season, but it’s still the Suns!). With that said, I have a couple of ideas that could change the outlook of the franchise. Some insane, but could potentially happen:
1. Do a Sign-and-Trade deal with Tony Parker to Atlanta for Joe Johnson – Parker’s six-year/$66 million contract is up after the ‘10-11 season and with a league lacking in available free agent point guards, Parker would be a quality catch. This becomes more realistic with the emergence of George Hill this season. Joe Johnson could be a great long term fit in San Antonio, and with his career careening into the abyss in Atlanta his value could be lessened just a bit. Playing in San Antonio would have him playing for a contender, something Atlanta’s proven they’re not ready to be at all. Giving up Parker would seem insane, but for as good as Parker is, he has flaws as well. Move him and see if you can upgrade. Atlanta’s been in serious need for a PG for years now, as the basketball gods are making them pay for passing on CP3 and Deron years ago. Parker would be a SIGNIFICANT upgrade.
2. Do a Sign-and-Trade deal with Tony Parker to Toronto for Chris Bosh – Similar premise as Joe Johnson, the difference would be more relatable to when David Robinson’s career was tapering off and Duncan was able to be a lead dog, 10 years ago. Bosh is a born and raised Texan (Lincoln HS, stand up) and San Antonio might not be a bad look for him. I think San Antonio’s biggest flaw was that Timmy can’t do it by himself anymore and that there is no real frontline depth behind him. Toronto would love to upgrade at PG after the failed experiment, known as Jose Calderon. Plus, it’s the most international team in the League; TP might enjoy himself in the T-Dot.
3. Sign A Deal with the Devil to get the No. 1 Pick – Even the devil might not sign that deal. Doesn’t hurt to at least call New Jersey and inquire about the inevitable No. 1 pick for John Wall right?
THREATS
Within their own division, we can somewhat predict improvement from Houston (Yao Ming returning plus the magic that is Daryl Morey), Memphis (pending what happens with Rudy Gay), and New Orleans (CP3 returning). The West will still be loaded, and with the “Summer of 2010” looming some of the Western powers are looking to make drastic improvements to their team. San Antonio is facing the similar closing window that Boston, Dallas, and Denver are looking at. Your players are getting older, no immediate ways to improve the team while others around you are getting better by the minute.
CONCLUSION
You’re going to see one of two things happen with the Spurs this off-season. Either San Antonio will be steadfast with their team and make minor tweaks to their engine, (finding better glue guys, drafting wisely, importing some of their foreign talent) or they’re going to make a drastic change in their personnel. Bringing in Bosh in a sign-and-trade to Toronto would change the entire game in the Alamo and would scare the living daylights out of any team preparing to face them in ‘10-11.
On a personal note, it’s kind of sad to see Timmy in the state he’s in now. He’s still very good, and I think he’s got some years left in him but…he’s almost in David Robinson mode for this team. If I’m RC Buford, I find a way to put Bosh next to Duncan and try to make a run for a le for 2010 and beyond.
Its time to make one last stand at the Alamo.
Tony Parker can be a very valuable trading asset indeed.
Man, I remember when the Spurs signed RJ to that horrendous contract...oh wait.
Whoa. Never imagined a scenario where Bosh would be with the Spurs. I'm going to be thinking about this all summer now.
Either scenario - JOhnson or Bosh - leaves the Spurs with a huge hole at pg. I've said it several times before but here goes: Hill isn't ready for nor is he heir apparent to the starting PG position. He will be a SF and either start or come off the bench in the 6th man role. That will most likely happen when Manu retires though.
If Bosh comes then what to do with Splitter? TD, Bosh, Dice, Blair, Splitter - then that means that Bonner is gone and i don't have a problem with that. Too many bigs to keep on the roster. Splitter will need minutes and he isn't a rookie, either. So who's minutes get cut since there isn't enough to go around. All those players will demand minutes and there is only 96 in the 4 & 5 positions per game. Conservatively TD - 25 Bosh - 30 Dice - 20 Blair - 12 Splitter - 9. The first three take the majority of the minutes and Splitter would need more - much more. I'm willing to bet the FO most likely promised him at least 25 if not the starting 5 position. And he deserves those minutes unless he turns out to be a bust. The only way to stretch those minutes would be to use Blair or Bosh at the 3. Bosh might be able to handle it but I think Blair won't. He just isn't that mobile out on the perimeter.
If Johnson comes then the minutes among the bigs are fine and the Spurs get some offensive perimeter scoring. Still the point hasn't been addressed. Where is the PG? Temple? Jerrells? Manu? NO to all three. And Hill is out of the discussion IMHO.
Neither help since the glue to the team, a qualilty starting PG, isn't on the team.
The Spurs are in a quandry. How to add a qualilty 4/3 but still have leadership at the 1.
You're concerned about the age and health of the big 3 so you trade the youngest and healthiest of those 3? WTF? That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.
Manu should be considered more for trade bait than Parker at this point. , at this point, DUNCAN should be considered for trade bait befor Parker. But none of the big 3 are really the problem, except that they can't do it all themselves.
The future of the Spurs is here: Parker, Hill, Blair. That's it.
The aging superstars who still have 1-2 good years in them - but who CANNOT carry the team - are: Manu, Tim.
The Expendables and therefore Trade Bait are: Dice, Jefferson, Bonner, Mason, Mahinmi, Hairston, Bogans.
Wow, can you imagine this front line? I would say Dice gets closer to 15 min and Bosh closer to 35. And Splitter will be a rookie.
I think the argument in a TP/Bosh scenario is; is it better to have an elite PG or an elite big man? that's a tough one.
But I would probably lean towards Bosh over TP. I just think the chances are so minimal though.
people have to make up their minds... do we have to many pgs or too many bigs? if we get bosh and tiago in, does it mean we have too many bigs with duncan blair and dice? i dont think so.. look at LA
spurs just need a rough and tough athletic big....get rid of bonner,bogans,mason,and rj....add a shooter that can hit the 3 and drive to the hoop
neither was tony parker when the spurs won in 02-03.
how realistic is it that the spurs will get bosh? everybody's talking about it like there's a 50/50 chance. i mean, is this just speculation, has bosh said he'd like to return to texas? anything that can give a hopeful fan some, well, hope.
How about this deal:
Spurs give Parker RJ Blair draft pick
Spurs get CP3 Okafor Marvin Williams
Hornets give CP3 Okafor Peterson
Hornets get TP RJ
Hawks give Marvin Williams
Hawks get draft pick from spurs, Blair and Peterson
Spurs get a solid team: TD Okafor Williams Manu CP3
Hornets get a huge salary relief (Okafor+CP3)
Hawks get pick and some salary dump in Williams
Salaries passed RealGM trade checker
Probably spurs need to give up the right to splitter to make this work.
the writer never mentioned the draft, splitter or middle tier free agents, or the possibility of trading hill.
salaries work (i think) but i don't think the hornets would want to help out a fellow sw divisioner. if the spurs are to trade parker and maybe rj for that kind of a return, i bet it would come from an eastern conference team or a struggling west team (AL jefferson anyone?)
Certainly fills most needs that the Spurs have at this point (except another 3 point threat). My question is: why would the Hawks or Hornets do this?
For hornets: based on two facts
first they are in a big financial trouble, I think dump the salaries of cp3 and okafor helps them a lot.
2nd they are quite high on Collison, and so cp3 is not untouchable.
To make it work, i'd give them the right to splitter.
i would like to see spurs do an all out push for bosh. parker + blair/splitter through a sign and trade would be worth it. parker will be the best player of all the other big 3 next year but hill is a cheaper option. pick up a veteran point guard over the offseason and the spurs can get by at the PG position. the spurs need a superstar to remain a contender, otherwise they will just stay in mediocrity.
joe johnson doesn't seem as good as a fit. ginobili already occupies the SG position. and, at this point, spurs don't need more guards, they need a big who can be a first option to replace the aging duncan. duncan can then move to a more supporting role of defense, rebounding, and scoring when needed.
i just remembered jarrett jack is on the raptors. parker + blair/splitter + filler for bosh and jarrett jack. do it toronto. just do it.
Parker was light years ahead of Hill in 03. Hill's biggest liability is he can't create his own offense. He feeds off the scraps given to him by TD/Manu/TP.
For all of Parker's flaws in 03, he could take over games on his own. Hill has flashes, but he's no where near where Parker was.
Blow it up? This guy is an idiot. All the Spurs need is a better bench..plain and simple. I'm fine with the core of TD, Manu, TP, Hill, Blair, Dice, and RJ (unless the right deal comes along). maybe even Hairston and Temple can contribute some next year. Splitter coming over will help tremendously...now all the Spurs need is 2 wings who can play a little D and shoot the 3-ball..and we could be set.
just forget Bosh...it ain't happening PERIOD.
It's time to truly assess what this Spurs team needs to be playoff ready
Gregory Moore
For the third time in San Antonio Spurs history, the front office is looking at a sweep from the playoffs.
Do you negate what this team did this season in the playoffs
No.
They played the Dallas Mavericks tough and vanquished them pretty easily.
But that's not an excuse because a roster with some savvy playoff veterans shouldn't be swept; no matter what your seed is in the tournament.
Yet it's time to understand that the window of a championship run was over two seasons ago and it is time for many Spurs fans to realize that that the Tim Duncan era is in its waning stages.
Is it a hard pill to swallow?
Probably. But let's be realistic about this situation. Did you really think this team was capable of going far in the playoffs?
In all honesty? Yes. And that is what makes this series loss so painful.
Last season, about this time I was bold enough to go on a local radio station and say that if Greg Popovich didn't make the moves necessary to get out of the first round, that he needs to resign and just concentrate on front office duties.
I took a lot of flack for that and I still do but with this loss, maybe Spurs' fans can understand why I made that statement then.
Ask yourself this question: how can a Spurs team that could beat a #2 seeded team in the opening round NOT win one game in the semi finals of the conference tournament?
The answer lies very simply at both the coach and the players assembled.
Where was Roger Mason, Jr.
Where was Matt Bonner?
Ian Mahinmi?
George Temple?
Richard Jefferson?
How bad are you missing Michael Finley right about now?
This playoff series loss comes down to production and there are several players who need to be held accountable for their actions. Namely, Bonner, Jefferson and Mason, Jr.
Let's look at what their options are and what the Spurs may need to do to better facilitate a change that could at least bring about a better result than this 4-0 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
OUTSIDE SHOOTING IS PARAMOUNT
Mason, Jr. and Bonner are the guys who were supposed to bring outside shooting to this team. They were both sitting on a mile carton somewhere collecting a paycheck.
Both Bonner and Mason, Jr. are gone after this season and RC Buford should just let them walk. This is the business of winning games and the exit interviews for these guys should be frank and honest. Mason, Jr. saw just mop up minutes in both series and that should tell him something about his 'mental' state. Either you are going to be a tough hombre or not.
The same can be said for Bonner.
Both of these players didn't show anything of importance when it counts and the playoffs are where reputations are either made or broken.
Don't believe me?
Ask Goran Dragic or Roddy Beaubois if that's not true.
Mason, Jr. and Bonner need to really search their souls if they want to continue being in this league.
I'm also asking Popovich where was Malik Hairston in this picture?
Sometimes the most frustrating thing is to watch Pop make a subs ution and wonder what the he is doing.
Hairston has game and he is a game player.
More than George Temple and definitely more than Keith Boggins.
The kid doesn't mind squaring up and letting it fly. Plus he'll play the type of defense that makes you proud to watch a guy wanting to win.
But he was buried on the bench.
DEVELOP A TRUE CENTER FOR ONCE
Tim Duncan isn't a center and neither is Antonio McDyess.
They're power forwards and guys like them need a center that can bang and be productive on both sides of the court.
It worked with David Robinson in his waning years because he had Duncan but now its time for the Spurs to realize the opposite.
That means jettisoning the Mahinmi project.
Even if you are going to go with this two power forward line up, how about having a guy that can't hurt you on the defensive end and be a liability on the offensive end.
If the Spurs are fortunate to draft a center in this year's draft, they need not to bury him in the NBDL.
FUNDAMENTAL PLAYS THAT ARE JUST MONEY IN THE BANK
One off the biggest plays that gave the Spurs fits was the pick and roll that Steve Nash ran with so many players.
Jerred Dudley, Channing Frye, Amare Stoudamire.
All three are excellent at attacking the basket and doing so with confidence.
Where is that guy on the Spurs roster?
REALIZE THAT TEAMS ARE GETTING BETTER THAN THE SPURS' ROSTER
As I've said earlier, it is time to get this notion out of your minds that this is still a "championship' caliber team.
With three seasons after the last NBA le, the Western Conference has gotten stronger and the Spurs have only made modest improvements to their roster.
Granted some of those moves have netted some promising players for the future. Witness the outstanding play of George Hill and DuJuan Blair.
But that is not enough. Not that these acquisitions weren't a welcome addition but more is needed for this team be very compe ive ion the next season.
With the help of Tiago Splitter possibly coming that should help in the shooting department but free agent acquisitions and the draft is vital will be vital. This team will need to get 'younger' but still have some skilled players to help.
This will be of upmost importance for the front office as it is now well do ented what has recently transpired in the second round of the playoffs.
Young teams like the Suns, Oklahoma City and Portland in the West are just better than the Spurs are this year. If this is not addressed this summer, how the playoffs went this year could be a repeat performance for next season or worse; no playoffs at all.
Assessing this team after a tough playoff series loss has always been difficult because rarely have Greg Popovich teams performed this awful during the Duncan era.
But it is also time to face reality from a fan perspective and from a team perspective.
The Suns were the better team in this round and to deny that fact shows a very myopic view of what is wrong with this roster.
Buford and Popovich will address those needs as best they can but the players also need to 'man up' and look themselves in the mirror.
To be playoff contenders for next season, everyone needs to realize what's at stake, what is needed and be willing to accept the truth as it laid before them.
Good teams do that and definitely past Spurs teams have done that well.
Can this team do that once again before the window of opportunity on the Duncan era closes?
Only time will tell by next January.
Gregory Moore is a syndicated columnist and managing editor for a weekly web portal, the San Antonio Informer. His extensive sports journalism career has been centered around covering the San Antonio Spurs and the San Antonio Silver Stars but he has also been an NBA analyst for major radio networks including the Sporting News and Fox Sports Radio. A frequent guest on ESPN programming during the NBA season, Gregory has also written on many race related topics that involve African-American athletes and sports in the United States.
Trade manu instead of Parker.
That Gregory Moore article was first time I've ever heard a media type blast Pop for not playing or developing the youngins. Nice.
what is colison contract with the hornets? is he still on rookie contract or FA?
I think Joe Johnson would do well. Especially if they can keep Hill.
Rudy Fernadez has "Spurs" written all over him and his stock has gone way down.
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