Basketball: Spurs' Udrih, Vaughn unlikely to be healthy for opener
Web Posted: 10/24/2007 10:55 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Spurs got one point guard back when Tony Parker returned to action a week ago. The prognosis is still cloudy for Parker's two most prominent backups.
Jacque Vaughn (strained calf) and Beno Udrih (fractured finger) each missed his fifth preseason game Tuesday at Miami.
Both were injured early in training camp and have not practiced since.
For Udrih, the layoff has been most painful.
Last year, Udrih missed most of camp with a balky hamstring. Hoping to make amends, he arrived in San Antonio two weeks early this year, with plans to take extra time to prepare his body for the rigors of two-a-days.
Three days into practice, he broke the index finger on his shooting hand while reaching in for a steal.
"I think somebody has something against me," Udrih said with a sad laugh. "I'm cursed."
Udrih still has a cast on his left hand. It isn't scheduled to come off until a week from today — by then the Spurs already will have played two regular-season games.
Vaughn is also in danger of missing Tuesday's opener against Portland and possibly more.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he is hopeful Vaughn could return at some point next week, but the Spurs are hesitant to rush him.
"This is something where, if he hurts it again, he might be out a month," Popovich said. "It's early enough that we get to make sure he's healed."
Spurs waive pair: The Spurs waived Keith Langford and Kris Lang on Wednesday, trimming their roster to 16. They will have to make one more cut before the league's Oct. 29 roster deadline.
The final spot is likely to come down to a pair of rookies — second-round pick Marcus Williams or free agent Darius Washington.
Age vs. experience: As he has in practically every NBA city for the past few years — and as he probably will again tonight in Orlando — Popovich fielded questions from the media in Miami about what it's like to coach the oldest team in the league.
By now, he's gotten pretty adroit with his answers.
"It's like if you're an older team, and you win, you're an experienced, well-oiled, veteran machine, Popovich said. "And if you lose, then you're just old."
"It's gotten kind of comical," he added.
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I hope this wasn't posted already.
Last edited by some_user86; 10-25-2007 at 01:07 AM.
With the news that neither Udrih or Vaughn will be ready by the time the season begins, doesn't it seem more likely that Washington maybe kept over Williams? I sure hope soThe final spot is likely to come down to a pair of rookies — second-round pick Marcus Williams or free agent Darius Washington.
Seems that way. But they might just trust Barry/Manu to backup Tony for a couple games.With the news that neither Udrih or Vaughn will be ready by the time the season begins, doesn't it seem more likely that Washington maybe kept over Williams? I sure hope so
It's interesting that the Spurs are leaking out information saying that Vaughn might miss games into the season. That would help the FO save face if they decide to keep Washington over Williams. They can point to the need for a backup point guard to start the season. It'd also keep Williams' stock low in case the Spurs/Toros want to pick him in the NBDL draft.
I still expect Washington to get axed ... but it's looking more and more like it'll be a difficult decision for the Spurs.
Can't conceive of the Spurs going into the season with one PG. Not just the wear and tear it places on Parker that they're trying to go easy on but practices and the added work for May and Barry.
Vaughn's injury may prove invaluable in preventing a Buford ego driven bad choice.
Bingo- give that man a prize!
And then watch how quickly Vaughn heals.
So the Spurs may very well cost themselves a talent because they are unwilling to admit one of two mistakes (Udrih & Williams). Grand.
Ugh, just take the in hit and axe Udrih ... Washington and Williams are both better than him, Holt just needs to deal with the few extra million on the LT.
Washington is the new RUDY!
I see no use for Williams..we know that Beno is difficult to trade & the Spurs will not eat his contract, so what makes the most sense to me would be to cut Williams & keep Washington.
Holt wouldn't take the it until the expiration of the Feb trade deadline. I imagine some team would be desparate enough to pickup Udrih before then.
If you really buy into the face-saving notion, the fact that this story is placed immediately above a tidbit noting that the final cut is likely to be between Washington and Williams -- something most people would know -- one could surmise that the Spurs were already seriously considering whether to keep Washington, but now are giving themselves publicly-noticed reasons for making that decision.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...ls_and_jordan/
I wasn't sure where to put this and a new thread seemed unnecessary. The Knicks waived Nichols today. I know a lot of people wanted him over Williams.
If Spurs want to keep Washington and if they still have a slight hope that Williams become one day a good nba player, they should waive or trade Beno.
If Spurs want to keep Washington and if they think that Williams will be a bust for sure, they should waive him but it will too mean either their scounting job on him as been horrible or that they are doing a big mistake by waiving him.
No offense to JV because he was serviceable last year, but I don't like him in the role of primary backup PG.
Waive Williams dump Beno somehow and sign Nichols and keep Washington. Nichols could be that swingman of the future the Spurs will need.
I hope RUDY makes it, but dumping Williams would put the spotlight on what a piss poor job RC has done the past few years.
Technically, he's the new James White.
I understand Williams has been BAD, but I don't think the Spurs anticipated him coming in right away and contributing either. When they drafted him, I think they looked at his defensive ability and made a commitment to work with him on improving his offensive game. I just can't see him being waived after such a short time.
If Vaughn and Beno were going to be out for a considerably long time (well into the regular season), I think Washington would have a chance or a move would have been made to acquire another PG. But the Spurs can get by easily with running Manu as the backup PG and giving more minutes to Barry in the backcourt as well. Again, we're not talking long-term, probably no more than 10 games.
And to the guy touting Nichols...it ain't gonna happen. Nor will it happen with Byars. Both of these guys were available when the Spurs picked at #33 and the Spurs passed in favor of Williams. Obviously they saw something they didn't like in those two and saw something they did like in Williams.
RC takes risks on draft night. He goes for developmental no-name players. Sometimes he comes through and sometimes he strikes out.
Right now Mahinmi looks like a questionable pick, but this kid has the potential to be a beast. If he turns into a beast in two years will you be questioning RC then?
And what about Splitter? How was that a bad pick?
To be honest, that's not even the point...
The real point is that RC is allowed to take those risks on draft night because he has built a championship-contending team year in and year out by piecing veteran role players with his core and not by relying on draft night selections/rookies to fill critical roles. Guys like Bowen and Horry will be gone in a couple years and the ones that come in behind them (Udoka, Bonner?) won't be green rookies or flashy superstars...they'll be quality role players.
Bottom Line: If RC thinks Mahinmi could be the next Robinson and Williams the next Elliott, why not take a chance on them and see if they pan out? In the meantime, the Spurs will continue to build their championship-calibur teams without having to count on that coming true.
I don't think Demetrius Nichols, Derrick Byars, or Marcus Wiliams will be heard of much in this league, ever.
I don't think anybody dislikes the Mahinmi pick anymore. He has a good amount of promise and is a likeable, hard-working guy, even if he's years away from true production.
As for Williams, I don't blame Buford for taking a shot at an iffy pick. It's just... Marcus Williams? What a stretch. It was a stretch when it happened and it was little wonder he wasn't that great in summer league. Ok, we probably expected him to be a little better, but to be so lousy was a surprise.
Cutting a recent second round draft pick isn't a terrible thing. It just happened to the Sixers and Knicks (who had overflowing rosters), even if they are two of the worst run teams in the league. We just coulda wished the Spurs used the pick more wisely. In my opinion, Williams doesn't belong on an NBA roster this year, much less a championship-caliber roster where he won't fill a need and there's a player right beside him who does.
Darius Washington>Marcus Williams>Beno Udrih
Make the right choice front office.
That is the most crucial aspect of this whole situation.
I don't see how Darius Washington fills a need for this team? I don't see how any player fighting for the 15th spot fills a need for this team?
That is the most crucial aspect of this whole situation.
The 15th player is either meant to be an over-the-hill veteran that is mostly good for waiving towels and occasional spot duty when one of the bench guys takes a night off, or it's meant to be a young guy looking to be developed in practice with the big squad or in games with the NBADL team.
If you want to say that Washington deserves a spot because he's a better prospect than Williams and will benefit from development moreso than Williams, that's fine. But to suggest that either is going to contribute or fills a need, is rediculous.
To be honest, I think Mr. Body's is probably more right than wrong when he says none of these guys (to include Marcus Williams) will be legit NBA players. But my point is that an investment was made less than 6 months ago in Williams to see if he could develop into something more and I doubt that experiment is over.
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