Godspeed Mr. Birch
Spurs legend Khem Birch. He played hard when he was here. Can't wait for the video tribute
I didn't have him as the first man out. I guess they were really hoping to trade him?
My guess? Either or both of 1) Rehabilitating him, show him in a game as a favor for his value or, more likely 2) Keep him just in case Bassey and Barlow faceplanted in the preseason.
My guess is the coaches like what Bassey and Barlow have done enough that keeping a veteran around isn't needed.
Oh I'm sure it was 1. Get him healthy and on his way. Goodwill story and mutually beneficial on a small scale.
Really? Who did you have?
Maybe its as simple as the insurance payout for his injury finally expired? That or they wanted to keep Barlow, Mamu, Bassey on their A game.
First man out? You mean after the other Cleveland guy, Payne, and Bullock?
CAA client. Only explanation.
Payne, Osman or Bullock. Maybe Mamu or Wesley depending one how things went. I figured Birch was going to but cut pretty immediately or not cut at all if there was a monetary thing.
Just to clarify, I meant "first man out" as in the last person cut. I figured the last one in is the 15th man (ignoring two-ways since they are their own case). Last one out sounds like it might fit better. However, in my experience it tends to be thought of as all of the players starting off on the training camp roster, with the guys getting "in" the regular roster. So like Wemby and the other real players are the "first guys in", Osman, Mamu or whatever would be "last guy in", and then the "out" guys would be ranked last to first based on the order they left the team. Payne (or maybe there was a Toro I'm missing) was "last man out" all the way to Birch, who is as far as I know the last cut their going to make before the season starts, being "first man out".
Maybe. It may well be something like Birch playing again made it unlikely the insurance would pay for games this year or that the Spurs could apply for any kind of salary relief from cutting him. They might well have been hoping they could either avoid actually paying for his salary spot or that his potentially insured contract would give him some trade value. That makes sense from the perspective of us fans who hadn't seen Birch rehabbing or practicing. It's a bit more surprising for the Spurs given that they should've known by the off-season if Birch was going to legit come back or retire.
So long Byatch.
Expected. Randomly, he was 2nd for playoff minutes and is the only player who appears to have started in the playoffs.
oh gotcha. i thought you meant that even now, just prior to his being waived, you did not think he would have been the first to get the axe from who was left
What is Barlow's situation after all of this. Could another team poach him since he's on a 2 way, or do the Spurs have the right of first refusal in that situation?
cant be poached. but he's limited to being active for only 50 spurs games while on two-way status
the spurs had bassey on a two way last year and ended up just signing him outright after the deadline
** #92 **
IN REMEMBRANCE
A 2way is still a contract.
That's exactly the way I see the Barlow situation playing out. We will trade Cedi/Graham, and the players we get back will be waived. That will create roster room for Barlow.
I don't think Barlow would want to go anywhere else anyway. He's developing very nicely and he wanted us from the start.
That's why I think he agreed to another 2way, knowing that the Spurs would have a roster spot available later in the season.
Barlow isn't an all star or even close but he is progressing nicely. I believe he could turn into a decent role player. Birch did what exactly for the spurs ? I can't remember. Oh that's right nothing.
So much for the (absurd) notion some had that Bassey or Wesley were candidates to get cut. The former was always going to be in line for a rotation spot and the latter, there's no urgency to make a decision on yet (even though it's obvious where it's more than likely headed).
just because someone wasnt cut doesnt mean they werent a candidate to be cut
not that i believed either would be cut
In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.
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