Free Agent: Ime Udoka

[Marcus Bryant]

Not a bad thought, but there's not much room there. Portland actually offered Barry more the summer he signed with the Spurs.

[SenorSpur]

A few questions concerning both Udoka and our boy J. White.

Is Udoka a better player than White right now?
What does one do better than the other?
Also, who has the better upside?

[Mr. Body]

A few questions concerning both Udoka and our boy J. White.

Is Udoka a better player than White right now?
What does one do better than the other?
Also, who has the better upside?

Udoka is far better. White is taller and more athletic, but Udoka is smarter and more effective on the basketball court. He'll also make about 7 times more next season.

[Marcus Bryant]

The Lakers years were crushing and the worst time I've ever had as a sports fan, but they were clearly the better team. This is demoralizing - different term - because it's such an awful basketball trade and shows the team uninterested in improving. It shows a front office egotistical, fat with success, and arrogant... and cheap. It means all the 'effort' I've put in, with others, about the draft and interest in Scola, was for naught, because almost universally the Spurs have screwed it up with bad decisions or crassly greedy reasons.

This deal sucks hard. What remains to be seen is if it essentially was thinning out their frontcourt to devote those resources to their swing spots. Ginobili's the only swingman under contract past next season. If they turn the payroll savings and cash from this deal into talent at the 2/3 then at least it makes some kind of sense.

[Spurs16212]

Just maybe we can get another second rounder if they were able to pull off this deal..... Portland has the cap room after paying off Steve Francis....

Sign Udoka for about four million per year for three years.... still gives the team about 1.5 million plus the mid-level excemption for another player.

[timvp]

Would the Spurs really sign Udoka as a free agent and then go back to the same luxury tax issues they were at before The Trade. Doubt it.

As mentioned, the Spurs perhaps can do something like Barry and two second round picks for a sign-and-traded Udoka.

[Marcus Bryant]

Would the Spurs really sign Udoka as a free agent and then go back to the same luxury tax issues they were at before The Trade. Doubt it.

Seems doubtful. One thought on Johnson is that the Spurs signing him to an offer sheet eventually matched by the Pistons would have at least given them some justification for the deal, as in 'we thought Johnson was the better prospect' but unfortunately lost out. Obviously the Spurs weren't offering much more than the Pistons. Now the trade is a bald financial move. Unfortunately San Antonio de Bexar won't see what is going on.

[Mr. Body]

Would the Spurs really sign Udoka as a free agent and then go back to the same luxury tax issues they were at before The Trade. Doubt it.

As mentioned, the Spurs perhaps can do something like Barry and two second round picks for a sign-and-traded Udoka.

AGAIN that would help another team, since Portland doesn't need Udoka. The question is whether they need Barry at all.

This would be the Spurs overpaying (in 2nd rounders) for a deal, but it's more equitable than what just happened.

[Marcus Bryant]

Portland might go for something like that, if they have the room.

[timvp]

Seems doubtful. One thought on Johnson is that the Spurs signing him to an offer sheet eventually matched by the Pistons would have at least given them some justification for the deal, as in 'we thought Johnson was the better prospect' but unfortunately lost out. Obviously the Spurs weren't offering much more than the Pistons. Now the trade is a bald financial move. Unfortunately San Antonio de Bexar won't see what is going on.

Yeah, it could be how the Express-News last year was harping on the notion that the Spurs were in the running for Zo. Then it came out that the Spurs were offering the veteran's minimum

[Marcus Bryant]

Yeah, maybe they offered $11,000,000.01 to Johnson.

[SenorSpur]

Ime Udoka | SF
Born: Aug 9, 1977
Height: 6-5 / 1,96
Weight: 220 lbs. / 99,8 kg.
College : Portland State
Years Pro: 2

Info

For those who are familiar with this guy, what kind of a defender is he? Does his game resemble anyone in particular?

[timvp]

For those who are familiar with this guy, what kind of a defender is he? Does his game resemble anyone in particular?

Weirdly enough, his game most resembles Bruce Bowen. Good, physical defender who does his damage offensively from the corners.

Put Bowen's game into Raja Bell's body and you have Udoka. However, Bowen is a legendary defender. Udoka is more of a "good" to "very good" defender.

[coopdogg3]

Weirdly enough, his game most resembles Bruce Bowen. Good, physical defender who does his damage offensively from the corners.

Put Bowen's game into Raja Bell's body and you have Udoka. However, Bowen is a legendary defender. Udoka is more of a "good" to "very good" defender.

Could Udoka be Finley's replacement then, as opposed to Bowen's?? If he hits 3's (granted with Chip he'll have to learn to hit 3's besides from the corner), learns the system for a year, Barry and Finley are gone next year (if Barry isn't traded this off-season), and this allows Manu to keep coming off the bench (where he does the most damage.)

So maybe Udoka is gonna replace Barry and Finley next year, while the Spurs still search for a 3.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

six foot five, huh?

lol........hooray.

[Mr. Body]

Wasn't Ime Udoka another Isiah Thomas find? Did he play for their summer league last year?

[Marcus Bryant]

Could Udoka be Finley's replacement then, as opposed to Bowen's?? If he hits 3's (granted with Chip he'll have to learn to hit 3's besides from the corner), learns the system for a year, Barry and Finley are gone next year (if Barry isn't traded this off-season), and this allows Manu to keep coming off the bench (where he does the most damage.)

So maybe Udoka is gonna replace Barry and Finley next year, while the Spurs still search for a 3.

Maybe Udoka ends up at the 2, but the key is that he gives the Spurs someone to eventually replace Bowen as the team's best perimeter defender.

[SenorSpur]

I wonder if Pop is still on his endless search for the Derrick McKey-type player :-)

[Cant_Be_Faded]

A six foot five defensive guard.