Now That Scola's Out Of The Picture

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What changes are y'all making to your idea of next year's roster?

[Kori Ellis]

Scola was never on my projected roster, so no changes

I think the Spurs need to sign/trade Nazr for another big. And then pickup a backup PG with the rest of the MLE (assuming some of it is going to Javtokas). If a sign/trade doesn't work out, then continue to shop Barry/Oberto/whoever to try to find another big. Then fill out their roster with young athletes.

The Spurs just need tweaks, not an overhaul. But I think one more trade is coming and I definitely think another big man will be necessary. I don't like the idea of starting Javtokas or Bonner from the get-go.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Who do you have in mind?

[Kori Ellis]

For big men?

I honestly don't know who is realistic. Troy Murphy would be good but I think the Warriors are looking to trade him for an expiring contract. I think the Spurs might still have some interest in Ely (they have liked him in the past). CWilcox is worth looking at, but he is restricted and wants $10M/year. I hope the Spurs don't consider Radmanovic. Reggie Evans might fit the rebounding needs but he reportedly wants to go to NY. I'm not sure if the Spurs would look at Nene. It will probably end up being someone I would never guess.

For a point guard?

Speedy would be nice, but I think he'll get more money than the Spurs can afford.

[Doc Jerome]

Definately, one more trade is in order. Perhaps Scola's rights with another player for a long 3. Or maybe something unexpected, Nazr and Scola for a bonafide quality guy.

No? We can always hope.

[redskinfan]

I got it we trade Barry rights to Scola to Indiana for Foster and first round pick. What do you think. Maybe they throw in jasekevicious or how ever you spell it

[Darkwaters]

I got it we trade Barry rights to Scola to Indiana for Foster and first round pick. What do you think. Maybe they throw in jasekevicious or how ever you spell it

Saras would be a great pickup. Sarunas Jasikevicius is a quality PG for certain. Hes a bit more of a playmaker than Tony, which is what I think the Spurs need.

But, Indiana likes him after last season. Tinsley was hurt a lot and Saras ran their system.

[picnroll]

Sarunas must have been running their system from the bench.

[SPARKY]

I never had Scola in my offseason picture. I have wondered if not bringing him in is the correct call. We'll see.

The Spurs now have the draft rights to a polished scoring bigman on the trade block. That should get them something respectable back, perhaps a mid-teens pick in this year's draft.

[Russ]

How about Leon Powe? The mock drafts have him falling almost down to the Spurs' #59 position -- he looks like a great bargain there.

He might be able to guard Nowitski (unlike Scola) and also give the Spurs some offense down low -- a difficult combo to find.

Although he's had some knee problems, he's played great lately. I would have thought he'd be projected much higher in the drafts.

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/leonpowe.asp

[Bruno]

How about Leon Powe? The mock drafts have him falling almost down to the Spurs' #59 position -- he looks like a great bargain there.

Why not, but with a pick around 40th and I think we can get something better than the 40th pick with Scola.
We can get a pick around 40th for something like future second round pick(s). Teams like Utah or Minessota have 2 second round pick this year and can trade one of them.
You should consider too that we still have Bonner, Horry and either Duncan or a starting PF (via trade) at the PF spot.

The guy, I'd like to draft if we trade Scola's rights is Thabo Sefolosha. I haven't seem him play but his profile is quite interesting.

[FromWayDowntown]

What intrigues me is that the Spurs have actually created a means to make these tweaks without having to divide up the MLE to address several needs. The willingness to deal Scola gives them a chip that has to be somewhat intriguing to teams that are in a rebuilding mode and have some time to be patient.

The Spurs certainly seem to have at least 1 more trade coming, which will get one of the needs solved -- I guess the particular need that will be addressed by the trade will depend on what they can ship out. If you could put together a deal that involved trading Nazr and Scola's rights and even Barry, you could bring back a pretty significant salary (and, ostensibly, a pretty good player). That would still leave you with most (if not all) of the MLE to get one more piece and finish off what would seem to be a pretty solid summer.

Even if you can't package Nazr, you can likely get something decent for him and make another deal to ship out Scola's rights for still another piece.

[SPARKY]

What intrigues me is that the Spurs have actually created a means to make these tweaks without having to divide up the MLE to address several needs. The willingness to deal Scola gives them a chip that has to be somewhat intriguing to teams that are in a rebuilding mode and have some time to be patient.

The Spurs certainly seem to have at least 1 more trade coming, which will get one of the needs solved -- I guess the particular need that will be addressed by the trade will depend on what they can ship out. If you could put together a deal that involved trading Nazr and Scola's rights and even Barry, you could bring back a pretty significant salary (and, ostensibly, a pretty good player). That would still leave you with most (if not all) of the MLE to get one more piece and finish off what would seem to be a pretty solid summer.

Even if you can't package Nazr, you can likely get something decent for him and make another deal to ship out Scola's rights for still another piece.

They have a variety of means to make changes this offseason:

-LLE (seems slated for Javtokas)
-MLE
-Nazr
-Scola's rights
-Williams' expiring contract
-Barry
-Beno
-Oberto
-future picks (including the Hornets' 2009 2nd rounder)

With Radoslav's contract off the books, the Spurs are poised to make some noise via trade and/or free agency.

[gameFACE]

I never quite thought that Scola was what the Spurs needed. Robert Horry exposed what was needed and that's a versatile PF. Scola has no outside game. Hence, Bonner in addition to Oberto.

What about Qyntel Woods for SF? Yes he has some baggage (poor doggie's) but he's versatile.

I know some of the "Spurs as boy scouts" fans don't like the idea but the front office had interest in him before. Maybe he's reformed. Maybe he's a card carying Christian now.

[picnroll]

Wood's is my hope at long three. He's far better, more game ready than either JR Smith, Ariza, more verstaile than just about anyone else the Spurs can get. He had some stellar moments of play on the floor for the Knicks and I think in the right environment he could blow up.

[Slinkyman]

I would have no problem with Woods but i don't know if he's any good, but i'm sure if Pop wanted him he could just call LB and get his opinion of the kid.

As far as a starter, i think we need a big that's athletic, quick and can shoot. Someone that if teams double Tim he can hit the open jumper and at the same time get his own shot while Tim is on the bench.

[theroc5]

i say we do a sign and trade with nazr and throw in scolas draft rights for chandler and the bulls 16th pick...if we have to throw in barry then well we can do that to.
that way it fills the voice of a rebounder and we can draft an athletic sf aka bowens replacement

parker/beno/williams
manu/finely
bowen/16th pick/bonner
duncan/bonner/oberto
chandler/jav./bonner

we would still have some mle left over as well. i would love if our off season went something like this!

[gameFACE]

I would prefer the Spurs get a long 3 that already has NBA experience.

[Mr. Body]

I'm finally not seeing Scola as a Spur. It's taken a while, but I now accept the rift is too great for parties involved.

The problem the Spurs have is that their better assets at this point - Scola's rights, a S&T for Nazr - won't go to teams that already have surplus post presences to give back. Everything else is so damn expensive. I really have no idea how the Spurs make up for a shallow post corps.

However, I think Scola can be used to get the #16 from Chicago. The Bulls have so many wings and perimeter players that, if they know they can bring him over, they'd take a low-risk flyer on him. They've had good experience with Nocioni, of course, and they aren't as defensively based as we are - a talented inside scorer could be valuable to them. With the #16 the Spurs can pick up Thabo Sefolosha or even Ronnie Brewer, if he drops. Not bad parleying a late 2nd rounder for a near-lottery pick.

From the Spurs' perspective, this is fair value. Don't know if Chicago jumps for it, but there have to be similar trades out there.

I think SA can get their SF of the future out of this draft/offseason, but their posts look awfully thin.

[whottt]

FWDT and MB...

Don't forget that Barry pretty much has an expiring contract since the final year is a team option. They basically have @9 million in expiring contracts. More if you include Bonner's deal.

They've also got more than just two highly touted prospects in Europe...don't forget, we could still trade Mahnimi as well.

The Spurs have the pieces to pull off a pretty nice deal here.

But I am not to happy about this Scola news...it signifigantly reduces the Spurs chances of getting much back in trade for Scola exactly like it did with Giricek...remember we had to give Giricek away for basically nothing.

[ducks]

I heard rumors Javtokas got a 3 year deal
what I understand the lle can not have 3 year deal


who knows if that is true
I think he is getting paid lle money though

[Darkwaters]

The Spurs could probably wrestle the 10 pick away from Seattle. They apparently don't want to pay for a 1st round contract that has to be guaranteed. They want a future 1st round pick and a 2nd rounder this season in exchange for their #10. Word is that they're so strapped for cash they can't even afford to hire another assistant coach. Then you could either take Thabo or Brewer.

But do you want to pay the contract?

[Bruno]

Don't forget that Barry pretty much has an expiring contract since the final year is a team option.

Are you sure of that ?

[Bruno]

The Spurs could probably wrestle the 10 pick away from Seattle. They apparently don't want to pay for a 1st round contract that has to be guaranteed.

Sure, They will save money by paying $3-4M per year for Scola.

[Mr. Body]

Pay the contract? How much is the rate for a #10? Brewer would give a pretty amazing dimension to the Spurs. I can't imagine Seattle couldn't get a better deal somewhere for a pick that high. I can't imagine the Spurs would say No to Ronnie Brewer or Thabo Sefolosha - either one. (The question is, which is better?)

As whottt says, Scola's statements are troubling. I don't know whether the FO is leaving him and his agent high and dry, but the threats to sign a long extension with TAU can't sound good to prospective trade partners.