Buck Harvey: Driving with Bruce — the road detours
Buck Harvey
San Antonio Express-News
Good for Bruce Bowen. In a business where potential is too often rewarded, Bowen earned the contract extension the Spurs gave him last week.
He's worked for what he has, and what he did to Steve Nash and LeBron James in the playoffs suggests he still has it. Those around San Antonio don't mind, either; he gets out into the community more than the other Spurs combined.
But the extra millions heading his way also signal a franchise detour. When the Spurs signed Bowen past this season, they officially did away with the possibility that they would restock next summer. The Spurs, with this move, have made it clear they will keep driving with this group.
Even with a steep cliff ahead.
There were signs last season Bowen wanted an extension. There were also signs the Spurs were hesitating. When the Spurs slumped in the winter, Bowen was among those who looked his age.
The Spurs then saw their payroll as a godsend. In the summer of 2008 they were to have only three significant contracts on their books, and those three guys were worth keeping. Adding a fourth, a young free agent, gave the Spurs hope.
Then a few things went the Spurs' way. One, they melded while suffering no injuries. Two, the Mavericks melted and simply suffered. Jerry Stackhouse wasn't wrong in his opinion this week; the Mavericks' choke made the Spurs' "road" easier.
Phoenix had to be dealt with, naturally, and there are no guarantees the Mavericks would have beaten the Spurs had they gotten past Golden State. Still, this is also unmistakable: Had the Mavericks remained the team that won the division by nine games, the Spurs would have rethought everything.
Eliminated by the same team for the second consecutive season, wouldn't Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford have wanted to retool? Wouldn't they have bought out Robert Horry, brought in Luis Scola, traded Brent Barry and seen 2008 as a time to renew?
Also, would they have wanted to extend Bowen past this season?
But that's what winning does. It causes other franchises to copy the champions (hence the rush for Spurs-like veterans in Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston and Grant Hill). And it causes the Spurs to see themselves differently.
Old? They weren't after all. The Spurs instead had something to keep together, to cherish, to wring out until every drop of championship sweat had evaporated.
So they kept Horry, re-signed Matt Bonner and Fab Oberto, then extended Bowen. Next summer the Spurs might have enough room for another $3 million annual salary, but that's about it.
Given who would have been available next summer, maybe the decision makes sense. The Spurs couldn't have afforded a max contract no matter, so they might have been paying for someone whose greatest attraction, unlike Bowen, was potential.
They know what this group can do. Given similar health — and Tony Parker's ascent — would anyone bet against the Spurs in a seven-game series next spring?
Bowen will be in the middle of it. He's been part of the core of the past three championships and now, secure in his position, he will be happier. Who knows? He might even be open to grooming his successor.
As for the cap room the Spurs had created and lost: It was always about payroll flexibility, and it's this flexibility that allowed the Spurs to keep this group intact.
Still, these players are aging together, and that means they will come apart together. This is where the steep-cliff angle comes into play. One day they will be contenders, and in the span of a 24-second clock they will be weighing their lottery possibilities.
And had the Spurs lost last spring? They would have wanted to see if Bowen's decline happened this year. They would have been colder and less prone to sentiment, and they would have left themselves more room.
Here's what changed.
Among other things, Bowen proved his worth against Nash and James.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.3372773.html
Apology accepted from those posters who told me The 2008 Plan never existed. If the Spurs wouldn't have been so dominant in their championship run last year, the Spurs would be in the middle of The 2008 Plan right now.
Luckily, the Spurs are now on a new course.
Yeah, the 2010 plan. Harvey is a tool sometimes. The retool was postponed a whopping 2 years. T,T,&M aren't going off a cliff in 2 years. They just need to put players around them, which they seem to be able to do with regularity. While they won't have caproom next summer, they should have roster spots, the MCE, and the LLE.
The only real cliff is Tim's retirement, and frankly, it won't matter who they have under contract then.
I'm just glad the Spurs have detoured off the idea of using the summer of 2008 to retool. It was a dumb idea that has never really worked in the Spurs favor.
There's much less risk and a very similar reward going to the route of picking up solid role players here and there like Udoka and Bonner ... instead of clearing the cap and going for the homerun.
Maybe in 3 -5 years time (when Duncan is retired or seriously on the downslope), injuries will befall our star player/s and we will end up with a losing record, get the no. 1 pick in the lottery and pick another superstar in the making.
There are always next year plans
...as well as drafting your own. The Spurs must have some kind of confidence in Mahinmi and Splitter.
A little sidenote, but I still don't understand why the Spurs re-signed Bonner and are intent on keeping him around....
Never mind...just saw this article:
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79276
Yeah, Bruce deserved some cake. I only hope he continues to work on his offense.
Because with TD in the post you want a 4 man who can give him some space by drawing an interior defender away from the paint.
Since the Spurs are pretty much tapped out minus $3 million or so for next few years, maybe they'll use Barry or Beno in a trade near the deadliine this year for a player with a 2-3 year contract that could help them, for example a decent backup PG or long 3.
One would hope so. But I see the Spurs just letting their contracts expire.
What's the point? Barry's contract comes off the books after this season and I thought Beno's does too.
You read my mind.
Depends a little on where the Spurs think the salary cap and luxury tax thresholds might be in the next couple of years.
As for Bruce, he's certainly earned a thank you type of contract from the Spurs. Also, his defensive ability is still at a high level and I think whatever he's lost due to aging is made up with improved technique or craftiness, as it were. With Udoka coming on board you shouldn't need Bowen to play 30 minutes a night at a high level, but rather around 20. All in all, it's not a bad move to keep what you know works on your team and groom another to ultimately take over that role.
Because mid-season they can address a need and improve the chances of a le in '08. Otherwise if they fill the space at the end of the season they haven't added talent for the '08 le run. Beno could get them a player with about a $2 million dollar contract.
They lost talent for the '08 le run over $ so I'm not sure why it will be any different going forward.
none of you ing es who want barry gone can ever cheer when he hits a three for us this year. I dont want to hear one ing word from a single one of you. ing hypocrites.
If i thought most of these idiots even considered payrolls when wanting a player gone I would not have a problem.
But on the other hand I also think he's been worth every penny. we've won two champinoships in the three years he's been here and his contributions to the first are undeniable, yet are grossly overlooked on this forum. What you say is true Chump, but if we hadn't made the offer we did to Barry in '04 he might have gone somewhere else... or stayed in Seattle because he was adored there.
Um...no....the apologizing needs to be done by you and Mr. Bryant.
The Spurs were set up to blow things up this summer as well....if need be.
Which was the point of my thread.
They were never painted into a corner, they were never locked into anything, they always had options...and you and Bryant refused to acknowledge that.
The one sin they commited...which was a sin commited by 90% of the posters on this board...
Was overestimating the value of Scola.
Incidentally...
People underestimate the impact of the Udoka signing and what it gives them flexibility to do....
And one thing we are all guilty of...and perhaps the Spurs as well, overestimating the weaknesses on this team...
It turns out...that long/big SF problem wasn't the huge obstacle we all thought it would be...at least against teams not named the Mavs....
As evidenced by Bruce putting his foot up the ass of the best SF in the league...
How does that tie into Udoka?
We can now stick Bruce on Dirk because we have Udoka to put on the smaller players and Josh.
And one final thing that changed...
Thanks to Nelly? We know exactly how to beat the Mavs now, and we know exactly how to stop Dirk.
In summary...
Spurs FO > Marcus Bryant and timvp
In fact...timvp and MB aren't even at jock strap carrying status for the FO.
whottt still hasn't kicked his crystal meth habit, I see.
If you guys want to engage in a dialogue about the Spurs FO being idiots when it comes to retiring jersies, I'm all ears...
Other than that...I'll trust the FO over MB and timvp.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
