Splitter signs a four-year extension with Tau

[T Park]

If you're going to argue a point, don't be a and tell someone to search and prove your point. You argue your point, prove it don't wait and hug someone elses nuts and wait for them to save you.

You always cry when you're getting insulted but it never fails that you always insult more than being insulted.

It never fails theres always someone who acts like a tough guy.


Read or scroll chump.

[temujin]

im starting to think TAU is trying to with our organization

I am sure all TAU fans think that the Spurs were more than trying to with THEIR organization.

[MacGyver]

vs.

[bigdog]

Spurs drafted Splitter, RC basically all but said he was coming over next year, Splitter decided "I'm gonna with these guys, sign an extension, and be way overpaid", and he took the money and ran.

Splitter is way overrated, and a waste of a pick. RC should stop drafting guys that are still in their contracts or have huge buyouts, because in the end, they don't end up coming over. We have tons of useless players playing in other countries that will never wear a Spurs uniform. RC and Pop should consider an actual American player sometime.

This should be that year, although I wouldn't be pissed if they used one of the 2nd rounders on a foreigner. We don't exactly need all 3 picks. That would probably be too many young to develop, so just trade one or mayb both of the 2nd rounders for a future pick, or a player. It's very simple.

[SenorSpur]

He's like any other executive. Bad performance shouldn't override good feelings, not when the corporation is injured by this bad performance.

Buford really needs to be called onto the carpet. Splitter resigning is not his fault, but it does emphasize the fact that he has failed to get any young talent on this team whatsoever and, leaving aside Mahinmi for the moment (again, a Presti pet project), the Spurs' drafting and personnel management since Parker's draft has been a five year disaster.

We have a talented coach in Pop.
We have one of the greatest players ever in Duncan.
Our General Manager is not up to par, not by a long shot.

It's time for a change. This is his crunch time. If he can't get it done this summer, I say hit the road.

Exactly. RC's biggest offense isn't the Splitter fiasco. Yet is does serve as an indictment to this "All-Euro-only, draft-n-stash" philosophy that has all but left the cupboard bare of young talent. With the possible exception of Ian in 2005, the Spurs have absolutely NOTHING to show for their five out of their last six drafts since drafting Tony Parker in 2001.

Does RC expect us to believe there hasn't been one suitable American-born player available in that time period that could been drafted to help this team? Wait, it gets better. The Spurs have no number 1 pick next year either.

I wonder if the rest of the NBA community will continue kissing RC's ass for finding Parker and Ginobili. What have you done for us lately, RC? I'm going to blame Pop too because he had laid the ground work for this philosophy. OF course, he compounded matter with his "sign the next old guy for the veteran's minimum" strategy.

These are supposed to be smart guys. Which is why it's mind-boggling they would "sell their souls" to one particular talent-acquisition strategy. This latest folly, coupled with the recent loss to the Fakers, hoperfully will cause them to change their way of thinking going forward.

[temujin]

It was win-win situation.

Splitter would have been a of a player and made Spurs contender again for 2-3 years.
He is SO good. Without him, my prediction is a 56-26 season and out in the second round.

On the other hand, I am quite happy he decided to stay and make the Euroleague a better league. I am looking forward going to watch him, if his team comes to town next year.

To those that blame Splitter.
It's business. Top players want to be in the NBA because that's where the big money is. The NBA has lured most top NON-american players because of the money and the possibility to play with the top. Many factors are reversing this.
Splitter just made a business decision. That's all. EXACTLY like those that leave their own country for doing business in the US.
Period.

To those that blame the Spurs FO.
I thought that they would have made a more serious effort.
At the end of the day, the kid is way way way better than Damon Stoudamire. I see a flair of arrogance since the summer of 2007.

[jcrod]

It never fails theres always someone who acts like a tough guy.


Read or scroll chump.

Proving my point pansy.

[bigdog]

It was win-win situation.

Splitter would have been a of a player and made Spurs contender again for 2-3 years.
He is SO good. Without him, my prediction is a 56-26 season and out in the second round.

On the other hand, I am quite happy he decided to stay and make the Euroleague a better league. I am looking forward going to watch him, if his team comes to town next year.

To those that blame Splitter.
It's business. Top players want to be in the NBA because that's where the big money is. The NBA has lured most top NON-american players because of the money and the possibility to play with the top. Many factors are reversing this.
Splitter just made a business decision. That's all. EXACTLY like those that leave their own country for doing business in the US.
Period.

To those that blame the Spurs FO.
I thought that they would have made a more serious effort.
At the end of the day, the kid is way way way better than Damon Stoudamire. I see a flair of arrogance since the summer of 2007.

I find it quite hilarious that you, including many other people think that Splitter is some amazing player that would have possibly gotten the Spurs a championship just by his presence.

Next, you're clueless to the fact that the Spurs could only offer him the rookie salary respective to where he was drafted, and nothing more, so you shouldn't be trying to make a point that he stayed for more money. If he really wanted to come to the NBA, he would have come now. No matter what, if he ever decided to come over, the Spurs (or whatever other team he could get traded to) could only offer a cheap rookie salary, so don't try to make a point that is impossible to be made. He would have never gotten more money over here if he had signed with us. So that shouldn't be an issue. It's the opportunity to play in the best league in the world, with one of the greatest franchises in the world, and with some of the best players in the world. If you can prove yourself against this talent and this league, then the money will come to you when the time is right.

and finally, you just compared Tiago to Damon Stoudamire. There's no comparison there, because first of all, they play completely different positions. Second of all, Damon is older than Tiago. Damon was just a guy to fill in as a 3rd PG, as an insurance policy. Are you trying to say that Splitter would have done a better job as a 3rd PG than Stoudamire? That's what I thought.

I blame Splitter for being greedy and not coming over to prove himself, but I blame the Spurs' FO even more for drafting him. He had a contract already, the buyout was too big, and I guess RC doesn't think that players can negotiate new ones while they are sill playing for their teams. We need to stop drafting guys that won't come over. Period.

[SenorSpur]

Splitter. I'm pissed that this is yet another wasted pick. When are these GMs going to realize that picks are like currency. You cannot and should not simply flush them down the toilet.

This fiasco is akin to allowing one of your own free agents to walk without compensation. As a result, the Spurs have absolute NOTHING to show for last year's draft - in either round. So much for RC's genius tag.

[kobyz]

i dont blame the spurs for this, remember lest year Splitter was project to be a lottery pick, he was fall to us and we where must take it, it was a STEAL !!
he still will coming in 2 years...

[objective]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

As of right now there's no news item at all about Pop being in Spain to to personally court Tiago Splitter. The season has been over and the exit interviews completed for several days now, Pop could have been over there. RC might have the excuse that he had to attend the pre-draft camp and deal with workouts and such. Pop though as far as we know had free time.

So why is that a marginal washed up third string point guard gets the personal royal treatment from Pop, desperate and rushed overnight with the utmost urgency when the only thing at stake was a guy to handle some minutes for 2-4 regular season weeks while Parker healed . . .

And a 23 year old stud with the potential to be a 10 year starter and who could be a factor in whether the Spurs ever win another le again gets . . . phone calls? Texts maybe? A terse e-mail? A visit from an underling 3-4 weeks prior?

Even if they feel it's a lost cause, you still got to get on that plane and see him in person. At worst you get to sample some spanish wine.

Maybe it comes out later that Pop was in Spain, maybe everyone was in Spain. But as of right now . . . the difference in courtship remains stark.

[objective]

Splitter resigning isn't really his fault, but losing Scola is, as is signing Bonner. The pressure is on.

I think if he has another lackluster off-season it ought to be time to ask R.C. Buford to move along.

Another lackluster offseason and it won't matter if Buford is asked to move along or not, it will be too late to save.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

In retrospect, Spurs org, have kind of gotten full of themselves.. What the was that?
They should have just let Damon Stoudamire get picked up by Boston or one of the other teams that wanted him more.
He would have given them his bad luck.

Pop should have had the foresight and just changed his mind before getting on the plane "feh, Stoudamire kinda sucks anyway" He would have saved some money refunding his airplane ticket.

[milkyway21]

look at the players picked after Splitter.
any other choices if only he didn't submit his name for the draft or we didn't pick him?

28 San Antonio Tiago Splitter 7-0 240 PF Brazil
29 Phoenix Alando Tucker 6-5 205 SF Wisconsin
30 Philadelphia* Petteri Koponen 6-4 194 PG Finland
(*from Dal via Den/GS; Traded to Portland)




ROUND 2 DRAFT RESULTS

1 (31) Seattle Carl Landry 6-7 248 PF Purdue
(Traded to Houston)
2 (32) Boston Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC
3 (33) San Antonio Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SF Arizona
4 (34) Dallas Nick Fazekas 6-11 225 PF Nevada
5 (35) Seattle* Glen Davis 6-9 290 PF LSU
(*Traded to Boston)
6 (36) Golden State* Jermareo Davidson6-11 230 PF Alabama
(*Traded to Charlotte)
7 (37) Portland Josh McRoberts 6-10 230 PF Duke
8 (38) Philadelphia* Kyrylo Fesenko 7-1 270 PF Ukraine
(*Traded to Utah)
9 (39) Miami* Stanko Barac 7-1 235 C Bosnia
(Traded to Indiana)
10 (40) LA Lakers Sun Yue 6-9 205 SF China
11 (41) Minnesota Chris Richard 6-9 252 C Florida
12 (42) Portland* Derrick Byars 6-7 220 SF Vanderbilt
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
13 (43) New Orleans Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa
14 (44) Orlando* Reyshawn Terry 6-8 222 SF North Carolina
(*Traded to Dallas)
15 (45) LA Clippers Jared Jordan 6-2 183 PG Marist
16 (46) Golden State Stephane Lasme 6-7 213 PF Massachusetts
17 (47) Washington Dominic McGuire 6-9 220 SF Fresno State
18 (48) LA Lakers Marc Gasol 7-0 265 C Spain
19 (49) Chicago Aaron Gray 7-2 271 C Pittsburgh
20 (50) Dallas Renaldas Seibutis6-6 185 SG Lithuania
21 (51) Chicago JamesOn Curry 6-3 190 SG Oklahoma State
23 (53) Portland Demetris Nichols6-8 211 SF Syracuse
24 (54) Houston Brad Newley 6-7 201 SG Australia
25 (55) Utah* Herbert Hill 6-10 232 PF Providence
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
26 (56) Milwaukee Ramon Sessions 6-4 185 PG Nevada
27 (57) Detroit Sammy Mejia 6-7 218 SG DePaul
28 (58) San Antonio* Giorgos Printezis6-9 210 SF Greece
(*Traded to Toronto)
29 (59) Phoenix D. J. Strawberry6-5 199 SG Maryland
30 (60) Dallas* Milovan Rakovic 6-10 ? PF Serbia
(Traded to Orlando)

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Landry was after Splitter?!?

[milkyway21]

Landry was after Splitter?!?

yeah i think I remember Landry. He was that player who smiled with one missing teeth, right?

I think he's good. He can score.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

why is he good? I have no clue about him

He did well for Houston from what I saw. He's a leaper.

[milkyway21]

He did well for Houston from what I saw. He's a leaper.

exactly. I remember now.

[hsxvvd]

look at the players picked after Splitter.
any other choices if only he didn't submit his name for the draft or we didn't pick him?

28 San Antonio Tiago Splitter 7-0 240 PF Brazil
29 Phoenix Alando Tucker 6-5 205 SF Wisconsin
30 Philadelphia* Petteri Koponen 6-4 194 PG Finland
(*from Dal via Den/GS; Traded to Portland)




ROUND 2 DRAFT RESULTS

1 (31) Seattle Carl Landry 6-7 248 PF Purdue
(Traded to Houston)
2 (32) Boston Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC
3 (33) San Antonio Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SF Arizona
4 (34) Dallas Nick Fazekas 6-11 225 PF Nevada
5 (35) Seattle* Glen Davis 6-9 290 PF LSU
(*Traded to Boston)
6 (36) Golden State* Jermareo Davidson6-11 230 PF Alabama
(*Traded to Charlotte)
7 (37) Portland Josh McRoberts 6-10 230 PF Duke
8 (38) Philadelphia* Kyrylo Fesenko 7-1 270 PF Ukraine
(*Traded to Utah)
9 (39) Miami* Stanko Barac 7-1 235 C Bosnia
(Traded to Indiana)
10 (40) LA Lakers Sun Yue 6-9 205 SF China
11 (41) Minnesota Chris Richard 6-9 252 C Florida
12 (42) Portland* Derrick Byars 6-7 220 SF Vanderbilt
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
13 (43) New Orleans Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa
14 (44) Orlando* Reyshawn Terry 6-8 222 SF North Carolina
(*Traded to Dallas)
15 (45) LA Clippers Jared Jordan 6-2 183 PG Marist
16 (46) Golden State Stephane Lasme 6-7 213 PF Massachusetts
17 (47) Washington Dominic McGuire 6-9 220 SF Fresno State
18 (48) LA Lakers Marc Gasol 7-0 265 C Spain
19 (49) Chicago Aaron Gray 7-2 271 C Pittsburgh
20 (50) Dallas Renaldas Seibutis6-6 185 SG Lithuania
21 (51) Chicago JamesOn Curry 6-3 190 SG Oklahoma State
23 (53) Portland Demetris Nichols6-8 211 SF Syracuse
24 (54) Houston Brad Newley 6-7 201 SG Australia
25 (55) Utah* Herbert Hill 6-10 232 PF Providence
(*Traded to Philadelphia)
26 (56) Milwaukee Ramon Sessions 6-4 185 PG Nevada
27 (57) Detroit Sammy Mejia 6-7 218 SG DePaul
28 (58) San Antonio* Giorgos Printezis6-9 210 SF Greece
(*Traded to Toronto)
29 (59) Phoenix D. J. Strawberry6-5 199 SG Maryland
30 (60) Dallas* Milovan Rakovic 6-10 ? PF Serbia
(Traded to Orlando)

Marc Gasol helped the Lakers land Pau, he was part of the trade.

[milkyway21]

CARL LANDRY'S -THE ROOKIE

Key Stats
GP MIN/G PPG REB/G AST/G FG %
42 16.9 8.1 4.9 0.5 61.6


Landry on All-Rookie second squad: The NBA's All-Rookie second team was announced Tuesday. Toronto's Jamario Moon, Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro, Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young, Detroit's Rodney Stuckey and Houston's Carl Landry were selected. Landry appeared in 42 games during his rookie season, but did not start any games. He shot a very impressive 61.6 percent from the field, but averaged taking just 5.2 shots per game.
(Updated 05/13/2008).

Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 6/6/08).

Fantasy Analysis
Landry's biggest contributions came in the second half of the season after Yao Ming went down with an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. But his efforts may have earned him a bigger role in 2008-09. He'll be a restricted free agent in the offseason, but the Rockets may look to keep him as a backup to Luis Scola. Chuck Hayes is also around to take some of the minutes at power forward, though, and the cluster limits Landry's Fantasy appeal.
(Updated 05/13/2008).

[temujin]

I find it quite hilarious that you, including many other people think that Splitter is some amazing player that would have possibly gotten the Spurs a championship just by his presence.

In 2007, I got in some argument with people on this board, including one that I care reading (Chump), on the fact that another Tau player would have been a hit in the NBA, predicting 10ppg and 5 rpg in the second half of the season.
I was wrong. It was 10 ppg and 5rpg THROUGHOUT the season.
I think, this Splitter kid is overall better.

Next, you're clueless to the fact that the Spurs could only offer him the rookie salary respective to where he was drafted, and nothing more, so you shouldn't be trying to make a point that he stayed for more money. If he really wanted to come to the NBA, he would have come now.

Not at all.
He can still come in 2 years time. It will just be so freaking evident that is so good, that he could still come any time.

No matter what, if he ever decided to come over, the Spurs (or whatever other team he could get traded to) could only offer a cheap rookie salary, so don't try to make a point that is impossible to be made. He would have never gotten more money over here if he had signed with us. So that shouldn't be an issue.

It is an issue. Money is always an issue.

It's the opportunity to play in the best league in the world, with one of the greatest franchises in the world, and with some of the best players in the world. If you can prove yourself against this talent and this league, then the money will come to you when the time is right.

Big deal. Oberto started for a championship team, best franchise etch etch and he is making $3.5M per year. Splitter will be making more, provided that he won't get an offer from CSKA or Pana, because he would make A LOT more.

and finally, you just compared Tiago to Damon Stoudamire. There's no comparison there, because first of all, they play completely different positions. Second of all, Damon is older than Tiago. Damon was just a guy to fill in as a 3rd PG, as an insurance policy. Are you trying to say that Splitter would have done a better job as a 3rd PG than Stoudamire? That's what I thought.

You got it wrong. Ojective got it right. Popovich flew to convince this irrelevant Stoudamire player. Maybe he flew to convince Splitter as well and we don't know. But if he didn't, he was wrong.

I blame Splitter for being greedy and not coming over to prove himself,

Maybe Tiago Splitter had personal reasons as well, which have been mentioned on this board. They are understable.

but I blame the Spurs' FO even more for drafting him. He had a contract already, the buyout was too big, and I guess RC doesn't think that players can negotiate new ones while they are sill playing for their teams. We need to stop drafting guys that won't come over. Period.

Right. Or make sure you do all you can to convince them to join your organization. From now on, it is clear that few good players will come to the Spurs just because they are the Spurs.

[temujin]

Pop after a regular season game took an airplane halfway across the country to personally court Damon Stoudamire for his services.

As of right now there's no news item at all about Pop being in Spain to to personally court Tiago Splitter. The season has been over and the exit interviews completed for several days now, Pop could have been over there. RC might have the excuse that he had to attend the pre-draft camp and deal with workouts and such. Pop though as far as we know had free time.

So why is that a marginal washed up third string point guard gets the personal royal treatment from Pop, desperate and rushed overnight with the utmost urgency when the only thing at stake was a guy to handle some minutes for 2-4 regular season weeks while Parker healed . . .

And a 23 year old stud with the potential to be a 10 year starter and who could be a factor in whether the Spurs ever win another le again gets . . . phone calls? Texts maybe? A terse e-mail? A visit from an underling 3-4 weeks prior?

Even if they feel it's a lost cause, you still got to get on that plane and see him in person. At worst you get to sample some spanish wine.

Maybe it comes out later that Pop was in Spain, maybe everyone was in Spain. But as of right now . . . the difference in courtship remains stark.

[Anti.Hero]

you Tiamango.

[Pero]

Smart decision by Tiago.

[Harry Callahan]

Yeah, it's not like a situation where the Spurs picked Splitter against his will. He specifically was saying he had only one more year in Spain and then would pay his buyout and come to the NBA.

The NBA is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you are going to say something, it's wrong to go back on your word. There were some difficult cir stances but nothing that should have made Splitter go from "I just have to get through my last year" to signing a four year extension.

I blame RC for falling for it and I blame Splitter for not being honest ... or not thinking through his decision. Splitter basically took $3M out of the Spurs pockets by having a change of heart.

TimVP
Do the Spurs have penalties to their salary cap over the next two years even though Splitter did not sign here?

I don't get the calls to dump an essentially worthless asset (Splitters rights) in the next two years. I would hope the Spurs front office would be smart enough this time around to not burn bridges again. It only harms their own team. It would not surprise me that Splitter would want to come over in 2010 and play after pocketing a lot of money the next two years. The bottom line is, Splitter is still playing second tier professional basketball by staying in Europe. That is a fact and he knows it. A true compe or might get bored playing against a lot of guys that AREN'T NBA material.

It's too bad that this move really bites the Spurs in the butt for the next 2years for sure (no buyout till 2010?). The SAS's big three need help and they're not getting it.

This team has had the fewest #1 picks of any team in the NBA (4) since Duncan was drafted and they've all been in the 25-30 range. That will catch up to you. Those low picks moved the FO into the "lets hit a home run with foreign born guys" mode in the first place. This policy by the FO (at least in the 1st round) has been terminated for good as of yesterday, I suspect.

It's going to be difficult to improve this team over the next two years with no Splitter and no #1 in 2009. One significant injury to the big three and this team could easily end up in the lottery. I'm serious.