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I think he will shock a lot of people and come to SA.
Reports came out of Spain and Brazil that Tiago Splitter had already agreed to sign a two-year extension with Tau. While Splitter initially didn't offer any indication either way, he's now stating publicly that he's unsure of his decision.
In the meantime, Splitter and Tau won the ACB (Spanish League) championship. Here is a YouTube of the celebration. Splitter is the tall guy who almost brains himself with the championship trophy.
Here is a translation (major props to diego for the translation) of an interview Splitter gave after the championship:
Here is another Splitter interview, however it hasn't been translated yet:Interview translation:
¿Is this le the high point of your career?
Yes, its an incredible moment. Its what i always dreamed of and it finally happened.
Besides, theres few people with more history in the team than you...
This is where i grew as a player. Since i was a kid i identified with the team philosophy, in the day to day... I feel it and am proud of it.
I assume leaving brasil for the basque country at age 15 is now worth it...
When I arrived i was a quiet, hard working boy... The only thing i wanted was to practice and play. It worked out well.
The first game of the final was your coming-out game as a great big man.It was against barca, in a stage like the Palau... ¿did you feel it that way?
Yes. It was a game where they hadnt prepared their D for me, and i felt comfortable and good. It was very important.
In the second game you didnt do as much, but when you did it was in key moments...
They are moments of high tension, very difficult games. I like those games because you learn a lot.
Neven Spahija has been and is very questioned, but i understand you have a special bond.
yes i'm fond of him. i dont know if hes the best coach ive had, but definitely the one who has given me a spotlight. he has helped me alot.He's a players coach, and that gives way to criticism or praise. I dont think its time to speak about him leaving or staying.
From the outside this looked like the TAU team with the most internal problems. ¿Has it been so?
You cant say we havent had problems, but theyve made us stronger. I dont mean to say this is the formula for success, but when weve reached a final in good mental and physical condition it is difficult for us to lose.
in your personal case it must have been especially difficult [his sister fights leukemia]...
Its been rough, to be honest. Ive tried to be strong and concentrate on doing my job the best, but it hasnt been easy.
Though you dont want to talk about your future, its clear you have magnificent options. ¿do you feel priveleged?
When you can choose between going to the nba or staying with the champ, you feel very happy
http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/b...o/1131357.html
http://www.elcorreodigital.com/alava...-20080605.html
Bottomline is it sounds like Splitter is having a tough time deciding whether he wants to come to the NBA to fulfill his dream and potentially strike it rich down the line or stay in Spain while playing with a team he likes and receive a lot more money in the next three seasons.
If Splitter decides to make the jump to the NBA, there's a very real possibility that he'd become the San Antonio's starting center in the next year or so. If he signs the rumored two-year extension with Tau, there's a good chance that he'll never play in the NBA.
Tiago Splitter highlight video:
Expect a final answer to come from Splitter in the next couple days.
I think he will shock a lot of people and come to SA.
I'm not sure if he realizes he is almost exactly what the Spurs need now. Hopefully someone from the team explains how big a role he could play on this team for the next decade.
me too.
I think he is torn and doesn't want to appear ungrateful but he is probably planning to leave Tau.
i hope he comes, we really need some youth injected into the front line, old cross eyes and fab ain't gonna cut it............
i wish he comes, Duncan/Splitter can really be a nice answer to Gasol/Bynum combination
Well, at least it seems to be a better situation than we thought, for the moment.
If Splitter does decide to join the Spurs, Bonner will definitely be moved. Of course, I'm assuming the Spurs would do the obvious and let Mahinmi join the active roster next season. Then the frontcourt rotation would look like:
Starters
4 Duncan
5 Splitter
Bench
4 Mahinmi
4/5 Thomas
5 Oberto
Having a big man who can shoot the 3 is a luxury, albeit a very nice one. This rotation would be a nice blend of experience, youth, and athleticism.
this is good news to know BEFORE THE DRAFT
feel bad for Ian though
Where was the question that asked him if he's trying to break San Antonio's spirit by acting like he's still considering coming here?
I'll be happy to eat crow but I don't think he's changing his mind. I think he's feeling guilty but that's probably about it.
Yeah, judging by his interviews, he really doesn't realize how much the Spurs need him. And knowing how the Spurs operate in this type of situation, they aren't going to go out of their way to sell him.
I can imagine the conversation:
Splitter: I like Tau. I like the city. I like my teammates. I can make more money here for the next three years. Why do you need me to join the Spurs?
Pop: We don't need you to join the program. We want you to join the club but we don't need you.
Splitter: Alright. What kind of minutes can I expect?
Pop: You'll get the minutes you deserve. I don't guarantee Tim Duncan minutes so I can't guarantee Tiago Splitter minutes.
Splitter: Do you think I'll be able to fit a role with the Spurs?
Pop: That's up to you.
Splitter:
I hope that's not how Pop acts. He seems to impress people by showing up at their doorstep and saying...something. Let's hope he's over there right now, and not just to drink the tempranillo.
@ timvp
Tim, Tony, and Manu better find some time to call Splitter and let him know how much he's needed. ! Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Beckett, Eva, and who ever the else is a Spur fan with any pull... It's time to earn your "Spurs!"
Here's to a nice dinner, an expensive ass bottle of wine, and Pop sealing the deal with Tiago.
One way to look at it is that he's won a championship with Tau. What's left to accomplish? It's not like he'd be leaving his teammates short of the top of that mountain.
Regarding salaries, the long-term guaranteed money resides in the NBA. Yes, he'd be leaving a nice chunk on the table, but what's guaranteed for him with Tau besides those two years? If he wants to play in the NBA, he's going to have to play through that rookie contract. Radoslav got $40 mil guaranteed. A whole host of NBA bigmen have managed to land sizable long-term guaranteed contracts when their primary talent was scant more than the ability to fog a mirror with their breath.
Sure, the Spurs don't guarantee roles and minutes, but the one thing which can be communicated to him is that the starting center spot is wide open and he would have a very good shot at taking it.
The dude isn't very good otherwise he would be running to the NBA. The money given to mediocre bigmen is insane in the NBA. For example, I think Rasho is making a gazillion dollars next year.
Several years back, I had a close friend who pitched for the Mets, and the Indians. I'd known him since he was in grade school. He was one of those natural athletes that can throw a 90 mph fast ball and three steps later two hand reverse dunk a basketball. Just very phenomenally gifted.
He worked his way up to the majors by pitching well enough in high school to get drafted by the Mets organization. He put in his time at San Diego State and AAA ball clubs. I have him on video pitching against Barry Bonds (and brushing him back, I might add
Sadly for him, he tore a tendon in his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery. After that, he never was quite the same. In my estimation, he wasn't quite good enough to continue in the majors, so he signed with a Japanese ballclub and had two really lucrative six digit paychecks, which was much more than he earned in the majors.
ALL THIS TO SAY THE FOLLOWING: If I were to ask him today where he'd like to pitch, he'd say the majors without the slightest hesitation. Why? It wasn't because of the money. It was because MLB is the best. Period.
I think the same will happen with Splitter. He realizes that he'll get a boatload of short term money with Tau, but he'll screw up his chances of ever playing in the NBA again if he does. I think he sees the NBA as the ultimate challenge, and much like the article says when he went to Spain when he was 15, he'll want to take the next and final step up.
Dan Gadzuric is being paid 7mm per year over the next 3 years. Dan Freakin Gadzuric.
Sean Bradley made 5mm last year. Dampier is scheduled to make 9mm.
OMG if I was 7ft tall with any ability whatsoever I would be licking my chops. For this guy to second guess is a major RED FLAG that he probably sucks.
Last edited by 2centsworth; 06-05-2008 at 01:12 AM.
I hope Splitter signs with San Antonio, but he would have to be a fool to do it.
jerk off in private, why share?
You know, maybe there is come kind of negotiation going on with Splitter's camp trying to get him out of the team option years of his rookie contract. It's no secret that the Spurs will have money in the summer of 2010 and his agent might be trying to get a piece of that early.
Agreeing to such a scheme would be fraught with potential problems for the Spurs, since I think Splitter will be unrestricted in such a scenario, and they certainly want to use the cap space on someone not already on the team -- but it is a way to pay him early.
Yeah, judging by his interviews, he really doesn't realize how much the Spurs need him. And knowing how the Spurs operate in this type of situation, they aren't going to go out of their way to sell him.
I can imagine the conversation:
Splitter: I like Tau. I like the city. I like my teammates. I can make more money here for the next three years. Why do you need me to join the Spurs?
Pop: We don't need you to join the program. We want you to join the club but we don't need you.
Splitter: Alright. What kind of minutes can I expect?
Pop: You'll get the minutes you deserve. I don't guarantee Tim Duncan minutes so I can't guarantee Tiago Splitter minutes.
Splitter: Do you think I'll be able to fit a role with the Spurs?
Pop: That's up to you.
Splitter:
CIA Pop --->
I still don't quite understand why money is an issue in this case
it is almost a guarantee that a NBA big men can easily earn 7/8 mill a year after their rookie scale. Even Darko who sucked during his first few years got a similar contract.
Plus there are more endorsement/commercials he could earn if he comes
why hesitate?
that's more than fair and if that's the angle he's playing then I'm a little bit more optimistic he's a player.
Pop & RC need to handle this correctly & assure Splitter that he WILL get palying time. I know Pop doesn't like to play rookies blah blah..etc.., but this kid is different...he was a definite lotto pick & probably a top 10 pick in the draft, before his contract situation plummeted his draft stock..everything happens for a reason, we already know this kid is a winner, he needs to be mentored by Duncan ASAP...there is no waiting a year or 2...I'm a believer in Splitter & Mahinmi & IMO the sooner the better.
If hes torn, then that means its a better situation than a few days ago.
I'm not optimistic hes coming, but I feel slightly better than I did when the "Two year contract" was announced.
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