Tiago Splitter Close to Signing Two-Year Extension with Tau

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

That's a nail in the Spurs coffin for any future le contention.

They have no flexibility in the cap, no roster space, no first round picks from 07 or in 09, no young talent other than Mahinmi who is tracking Amir Johnson and Sanikidze who can't even get a contract offer.

Their scouting has proven horrid, they can't identify NCAA prospects.

And the free agent class is exceptionally weak, maybe they can get Pietrus, or Najera, or Diop.

But that won't be enough.

Aside from the sky is falling crap, they actually have quite a bit of cap flexibility, even this year.

[loveforthegame]

I don't blame Splitter for taking more money. It's what most people would do no matter how easy it is for us to sit here and tell him to come over now and it'll pay off later.

I'm upset that he gave the Spurs a promise last summer and appears to be thinking of going back on it. Of course it's hard to blame him when he thinks he'll be glued to the bench all season or sent to the d-league.

I'm more pissed that the Spurs keep drafting overseas players and wait for them to come over and it not happen.

[Mr. Body]

The trade of Scola looks worse and worse. Some claimed Splitter's availability 'allowed' the Spurs to trade Luis off for nothing; now it looks absolutely terrible. It'd be nice to have a guy who can score closer against the basket during these terrible droughts. Now we'll have neither of them?

[T Park]

ESPN column stated that Splitter is only considering Tau's offer and that Spurs officials were traveling to talk to him in person.

Encouraging, but probobly worthless by now.

[Bruno]

so what the conversation would be about? "Tiago you will be an important piece and you'll get plenty of playing time right away?"

"Stick to your words and come in NBA this summer. If you re-sign with Tau, we will remember this move when you will decide to play in NBA. Don't forget that you will have to sign with us if you want to play in NBA in 2010 or whenever. You have the choice, sign with us now or spend your career in Spain and spend your career at playing against Boniface N'Dong and Mario Kasun."

[samikeyp]

Now not even second-rate Euros want to join your decrepit-ass team!

Says the guy who waffles back and forth between the Suns and Lakers as his "favorite team"

[T Park]

Aside from the sky is falling crap, they actually have quite a bit of cap flexibility, even this year.

Other than the MLE, the LLE, and draft picks, thats all they have.

[T Park]

"Stick to your words and come in NBA this summer. If you re-sign with Tau, we will remember this move when you will decide to play in NBA. Don't forget that you will have to sign with us if you want to play in NBA in 2010 or whenever. You have the choice, sign with us now or spend your career in Spain and spend your career at playing against Boniface N'Dong and Mario Kasun."

I doubt he cares about the compe ion, all he hears is *cha ching*

[urunobili]

The trade of Scola looks worse and worse. Some claimed Splitter's availability 'allowed' the Spurs to trade Luis off for nothing; now it looks absolutely terrible. It'd be nice to have a guy who can score closer against the basket during these terrible droughts. Now we'll have neither of them?

Blame TAU... the Spurs are in love with that team.. have been for years... and they continue to get ed by them.... they should have bought that whole franchise instead of the Toros...

[Mr. Body]

Other than the MLE, the LLE, and draft picks, thats all they have.

Strike one of the draft picks for moving Bonner's contract.

[ChumpDumper]

The trade of Scola looks worse and worse. Some claimed Splitter's availability 'allowed' the Spurs to trade Luis off for nothing; now it looks absolutely terrible.

I thought it mitigated it a bit, but Scola was a luxury tax casualty.

It'd be nice to have a guy who can score closer against the basket during these terrible droughts. Now we'll have neither of them?

Well, Ian can certainly score up close. Hopefully he can develop some other parts of his game as well.

[Saguaro]

Says the guy who waffles back and forth between the Suns and Lakers as his "favorite team"

At least I get to follow a budding new dynasty while you are relegated to watching Hardwood Classics on NBA TV.

[urunobili]

At least I get to follow a budding new dynasty while you are relegated to watching Hardwood Classics on NBA TV.

that my friend... is yet to be seen...

[Indazone]

At least Vspan isn't the Euroleague leader in turnovers

He might even give Manu Ginobili a run for his money!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Looking at this with a positive frame of mind. If Tau is offering more money with an extension, that must mean he is very good. So,if he does come to S.A, that could be a good thing. I hope he does. I guess we'll see.

Looking at this in a negative frame of mind, by the time he could come over Duncan would be in the twilight of his career.

We need Tiago here now for another le run, not in 3-4 years.

[ChumpDumper]

At least I get to follow a budding new dynasty while you are relegated to watching Hardwood Classics on NBA TV.

So you'll be switching your team to the Celtics next....

[Bruno]

I doubt he cares about the compe ion, all he hears is *cha ching*

If he decides to choose the money, it's his choice and Spurs can do nothing against that.

I just wish Spurs will make him understand that he can't choose money now and come in SA in two years like nothing bad has happened.

[Indazone]

I heard Kevin Willis is still available. LOL

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Other than the MLE, the LLE, and draft picks, thats all they have.

Not necessarily. They have Bird rights for Horry and Finley, they could easily sign them for whatever is necessary to be salary filler to another squad, something akin to Keith Van Horn going to the Nets type stuff.

Just gotta be a little creative...

[T Park]

If he decides to choose the money, it's his choice and Spurs can do nothing against that.

I just wish Spurs will make him understand that he can't choose money now and come in SA in two years like nothing bad has happened.

Yeah thats all they can do. Take a mediocre contract for 2 years, then you will get paid a great amount of money.
Thats the only thing they can do, just pray that the "wooing" of Splitter would work.

[T Park]

Not necessarily. They have Bird rights for Horry and Finley, they could easily sign them for whatever is necessary to be salary filler to another squad, something akin to Keith Van Horn going to the Nets type stuff.

Just gotta be a little creative...

True.
That would take other teams wanting to help the Spurs out though

[T Park]

I heard Kevin Willis is still available. LOL

You still have Tracy McGrady and no hope, back to your corner.

[Supergirl]

PLayers that have taken less money than their market value, or renegotiated their contracts to take less money, in order to stay with the Spurs:

David Robinson
Tim Duncan
Bruce Bowen
Manu Ginobili

Others? I think there have been others. Barry and Horry both took sig pay cuts to stay with the Spurs, and could have probably gotten more from other people in the past. Finley is getting paid much less, but that's because he is still being paid by Dallas.

Jax left not over money, but because he wanted a guaranteed starting spot. At the time, and perhaps even still, Pop wouldn't be able to guarantee he'd start over Manu.

[samikeyp]

At least I get to follow a budding new dynasty while you are relegated to watching Hardwood Classics on NBA TV.

No, because unlike you, I stay supporting and watching my team no matter what happens.

[urunobili]

If he decides to choose the money, it's his choice and Spurs can do nothing against that.

I just wish Spurs will make him understand that he can't choose money now and come in SA in two years like nothing bad has happened.

After you answered my question i finally understood this approach... thinking about it... it really makes sense... be clear.. Money over glory won't work for Pop... the whole question hat is coming up to my mind... what happened with that Spur FO guy there in Vitoria? he may have made things worse.... UNREAL...