Spurs notebook: Popovich won't speculate on trade deadline action
Web Posted: 02/06/2008 12:22 AM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
INDIANAPOLIS – Last year around this time, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gathered his slumping team together and offered it a pick-me-up.
He promised his players that the Spurs team before him that day would be the Spurs team that would finish the season. There would be no major trades or free-agent signings.
It was a seminal moment of the Spurs’ championship drive, designed to put players at ease and prod them to figure out their problems together.
As the trade deadline looms this year, Popovich doesn’t plan on proffering a reprise.
“I haven’t made that statement,” Popovich said. “That means probably anything can happen.”
Not even the addition of veteran guard Damon Stoudamire, signed earlier this week, is enough to spur Popovich to declare a freeze on the status quo. Between now and the Feb. 21 trade deadline, the Spurs plan to evaluate their needs and determine if a move makes sense.
“That deadline makes every team assess themselves, to see if there is something you can do to make your team better,” Popovich said. “We’ll do that, just like everyone else. Our team wants us to do that; the public wants us to do that. They’re doing that on 30 teams in the NBA right now.”
But just because a trade is possible doesn’t mean it is probable.
“If we don’t see anything we think will help us, we won’t do it,” Popovich said, “But I’m not prepared to say, like I did last year at this point, there will be no trade.”
Stoudamire cramming: On Sunday, Stoudamire signed the deal that made him a Spur. By Monday, Popovich broke the news that he would be starting in his debut Tuesday at Indiana.
Well, sort of.
“He didn’t exactly tell me I was starting,” Stoudamire said. “He just said, ‘You’ve got (Travis) Diener.’ ”
Stoudamire started at point guard in the Spurs’ 116-89 victory, shifting Manu Ginobili to a starting off-guard spot and nudging Michael Finley to the bench. Afterward, the Spurs’ new point guard drew praise from Popovich for his quick study in learning the team’s extensive playbook.
“He spent a lot of time with the coaches, very focused,” Popovich said. “The players were even teaching him. He caught on very quickly.”
D-League All-Stars: Spurs rookie Ian Mahinmi, the team’s first-round pick in 2006, has been named to the NBA Developmental League All-Star team. Mahinmi, who has been playing with the Spurs affiliate in Austin, will play for the Blue Team in the D-League exhibition Feb. 16 in New Orleans.
Two other players who have logged time in San Antonio this season – Keith Langford and Jeremy Richardson – were also named All-Stars.
Double-double machine: Tim Duncan’s 19-point, 15-rebound effort against Indiana marked his 27th double-double of the season, and 16th in the past 19 games.
Milestone for Madison alum: Jeff Foster, a 1995 graduate of Madison High School, made his 576th career appearance for the Pacers on Tuesday, moving into seventh place on the club’s all-time chart. With two more games played, he will pass Herb Williams for sixth place.
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Afterward, the Spurs’ new point guard drew praise from Popovich for his quick study in learning the team’s extensive playbook.
“He spent a lot of time with the coaches, very focused,” Popovich said. “The players were even teaching him. He caught on very quickly.”
Cool to hear Stoudamire's focused.
Anyway, I hope the Spurs Org. don't knee-jerk, or anything, but still look at viable options.
Pop can't say the Spurs aren't going to make a trade because the Spurs have so many expiring contracts that someone could offer a deal they couldn't turn down. Like Udonis Haslem or Mike Miller for expiring contracts. You have to take those deals.
nuggets are trying to get in on the Mike Miller talks
Of course there is so much speculation at this time of the year
Yeah, Miami could offer Haslem for Horry+Elson.
Damn, they'd have a ton of expiring contracts after this season and a high pick.
I'd trade for Udonis Haslem in a new york minute....
Which Spurs players specifically do you think are trade options at this point?
Everyone not named Tim, Tony, Manu or Bruce. Everybody else could and would be traded if the price were right. Specifically, Barry and Elson have the most tradeable contracts.
Expiring contracts
Brent Barry $5,544,370
Francisco Elson $3,000,000
Michael Finley $3,103,000
Robert Horry $3,630,000
Damon Stoudamire (TR) $335,442
Jacque Vaughn $1,219,590
Notes: Brent is an option but one of our best shooters, same for Finley. Elson is pure trade bait. Horry could easily be trade bait but is in the rotation and Pop seems loyal to him. Damon is trade restricted. Vaughn is tradable but would kind of mess up our PG situation.
Oh yeah, the addition of Stoudamire makes Barry more tradable. Before, he could sub in for PG.
It seems that the Spurs have been trying to trade Barry every year...Do you think it would be harder to do so this year considering he's on the injured list at the moment? And the other teams might not give him a chance?
I just definitely don't want the Spurs to mess with that Big Four you mentioned of Bruce/Manu/Tony/Tim. That's the true core of the team...
Also, I feel that Horry(especially 2005 championship) and Fin have done so much for the Spurs, and Oberto was amazing in the 2007 championship...
Last edited by greenleo; 02-06-2008 at 04:07 AM.
Trading Brent should be easiest this year. If a team is tanking away (like Miami) then they wont care if he's injured, they'll just let them go when the season ends and reap in the cap space.
Francisco for Zo.
For a center who is out for the season?
Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. I don't know too much about cap space and such...
Yeah.
Before this season a team would have to eat Barry's contract for two years or do a waiver/buyout which costs the team money. By taking a guy on the last year of the contract they can just let him go during the resigning period.
Example, Miami could trade Haslem who has $6 mil for 3 years, a guaranteed loss of $18 mil. If they traded for Brent, they'd have to pay about $5 mil for his remaining year and they don't resign him, giving Miami $6 mil total to spend on free agents or rookie signings or whatever they want. Since Miami is rebuilding they have a crapload of expiring contracts and will have a good chunk of cap space.
And that's today's lesson on salaries and trades.
Makes sense. And weren't other Spurs fans talking recently about a possible get Haslem trade situation...that they'd like him on the Spurs...
Do you think he'd be a good fit?
I'd take Haslem for Horry/Elson (although I love Horry, business is business). He'd provide much needed rebounding and you can move Duncan to center. I'm much more hesitant to trade Barry or Finley because they spread the defense well with their accurate 3pt shooting, which compliments Duncan's post play a lot. Since Elson seems to be getting nowhere and Horry "seems" to be on his last legs, it makes sense.
We'd lose a 3pt shooting PF for an inside PF. As much as I like Horry, I'd pull the trigger on that.
There's no doubt. If the Spurs could get a hold of this guy, it would give Tim a physical PF in the low post. The chance of repeating would increase exponentially.
Teams that appear to be in the midst of fire sales:
Miami, Memphis, Minnesota
Barry+Elson for Mike Miller works (or at least 90% sure the salaries match). Barry is shooting at a pretty ridiculous clip from three this year though his injuries have me worried. Miller is pretty accurate too.
I don't know...Horry is one of my favorites...I'd be okay with Barry being traded if it was very necessary...Horry usually truly shows up during the playoffs...He's Big Shot Bob.
As for 3 point shooting, I think Fin/Manu/Bruce/Udoka would be able to handle it...although, Barry does offer good ball handling skills...that's one of his strengths, he's an excellent passer and has really good court vision.
I'm just glad that I'm not the one choosing who to trade...that's not that easy to do...especially, since the Spurs players talk about how they are like a family...
Whatever happens, happens. There aren't many trade scenarios that benefit both the Spurs and another team. No doubt the Spurs will get offers as the deadline comes up with so many expiring contracts. Barry and Elson are the most likely to go as one has a large contract and is injured and the other isn't doing much of anything. Plus, Pop seems to be sticking to Horry in rotations. Also, Barry+Elson could save the spurs money if their trade is worth more than the other and is possible under the rules. I'd imagine the front office is interested in making up Damon's paycheck.
There seems to be a lack of articles on possible Spurs trades. There are numerous trade rumors/news/articles on the other teams...
As of right now, nothing is really clear about what the Spurs office is thinking of doing...
But yes, Elson/Barry combination sounds like a possible trade situation, indeed.
instead of adding horry, we should get rid of the red rocket asap
Another reason to do a trade is the 2010 plan.
If Spurs really want to have the maximum cap space in 2010, they won't be able to offer contracts longer than 2 years this summer. Improving the team via free agency will be really hard.
The best way for Spurs to stay compe ive until 2010 and keep the 2010 plan alive is to do some trades. This deadline is likely the last time Spurs could really do a trade because of all the expiring contracts they have.
Mike Miller contract expire at the perfect time (summer 2010), I can really see Spurs trying to get him.
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