Batum is disapointed

[xapatan2]

Last year the Spurs flat out said Splitter was their second pick. Pop and RC both sound like Hill was their man. But this Batum news makes me unsure about which was their man.

Although like I've been saying for the last few days, the Spurs had good intel that Batum was going to Portland one way or another. Portland buying a pick to get Batum was not a surprise at all from what I've heard.

I talked about the Batum deception in the other thread ( "Houston...f..)

I' ve been following closely the Batum story these days and knowing a bit his behaviour and the way he talks to the press, I can tell you he is not dreaming when he refers to Pop assuring him to take place in the rotation directly this year...

I am quite well deceived, Batum is one of the few steals of the draft !

Xap'

[anakha]

I talked about the Batum deception in the other thread ( "Houston...f..)

I' ve been following closely the Batum story these days and knowing a bit his behaviour and the way he talks to the press, I can tell you he is not dreaming when he refers to Pop assuring him to take place in the rotation directly this year...

I am quite well deceived, Batum is one of the few steals of the draft !

Xap'

So Batum says that Pop said he would put him in the rotation if drafted.

Just to clarify, did Batum also say that the Spurs promised to draft him?

[picnroll]

Maybe, as I believe Kori alluded to, the Spurs knew going into draft night that Portland were detrmined to make moves that would keep Batum from them so Hill became the Spurs primary target. If that's the case, too bad Spurs couldn't have made a quiet deal to buy one of those earlier picks that were for sale and sprung a last minute trap on the Blazers

[Bruno]

I can understand why Batum is disappointed.
Spurs were a team with a lot of playing time available for him and he ends up as a third string SF for Blazers..

[MaNu4Tres]

I can see Batum seasoning overseas for a year or two. Rudy Fernandez is on his way to Portland. Between Roy/Outlaw/ Webster/ Fernandez at the wing positions minutes would be scarce.

[picnroll]

Batum and his agent should force a trade a la what may have happend with Scola.

[urunobili]

i would be disappointed too... if he comes over you are destined to the D-League...

[mrspurs]

batums only problem should be what kind of hybrid to buy first...then worry about all those dognuts rookies bring to practice.......no more no less....go spurs go

[xapatan2]

So Batum says that Pop said he would put him in the rotation if drafted.

Just to clarify, did Batum also say that the Spurs promised to draft him?

Q : On vous attendait à une place plus basse, du côté de San Antonio.
A : C'est vrai que c'est la stratégie qu'on avait mise en place avec mon agent. La place on s'en fichait un peu parce que quand j'ai rencontré le staff des Spurs, Greg Popovich m'a proposé des choses qui m'ont intéressé. Ils m'ont dit qu'ils voulaient me mettre dans la rotation dès l'année prochaine parce qu'il y a des ailiers assez vieillissants. Ils voulaient vraiment me mettre dans la rotation pour que je sois l'un des ailiers principaux dans un ou deux ans. Mon objectif, c'est vraiment d'aller à San Antonio. Ça s'est joué à un pick près et c'est un peu dommage.

Trans. :

Q : You were expected at a lower place, near San Antonio
A : It's right this is the strategy we settled with my agent. We didn't care really about the place, because when I met the Spurs Staff, Greg Popovich has proposed things that interested me. They told me they wanted to put me in the rotation this year because they have forwards that are getting older and older. They really wanted to set me in the rotation so that I can be one of the principals forwards within one or two years. My objective, is really to go to San Antonio. It happened to be "played" on just one pick close and that's a bit too bad

( end of the trans.)

So, in a way, I truly things Batum was their first choice.

Xap'

[Kori Ellis]

Q : On vous attendait à une place plus basse, du côté de San Antonio.
A : C'est vrai que c'est la stratégie qu'on avait mise en place avec mon agent. La place on s'en fichait un peu parce que quand j'ai rencontré le staff des Spurs, Greg Popovich m'a proposé des choses qui m'ont intéressé. Ils m'ont dit qu'ils voulaient me mettre dans la rotation dès l'année prochaine parce qu'il y a des ailiers assez vieillissants. Ils voulaient vraiment me mettre dans la rotation pour que je sois l'un des ailiers principaux dans un ou deux ans. Mon objectif, c'est vraiment d'aller à San Antonio. Ça s'est joué à un pick près et c'est un peu dommage.

Trans. :

Q : You were expected at a lower place, near San Antonio
A : It's right this is the strategy we settled with my agent. We didn't care really about the place, because when I met the Spurs Staff, Greg Popovich has proposed things that interested me. They told me they wanted to put me in the rotation this year because they have forwards that are getting older and older. They really wanted to set me in the rotation so that I can be one of the principals forwards within one or two years. My objective, is really to go to San Antonio. It happened to be "played" on just one pick close and that's a bit too bad

( end of the trans.)

So, in a way, I truly things Batum was their first choice.

Xap'

By what you translated, I think it just means that Pop told him IF they draft him that he'd get playing time here because the Spurs have older wings. I don't think it indicates they promised to draft him or that Batum was their first choice.

Again, they told Hill that if he was available at 26, they'd draft him too. So we'll never know who was actually the first choice. I think Hill was.

[xapatan2]

By what you translated, I think it just means that Pop told him IF they draft him that he'd get playing time here because the Spurs have older wings. I don't think it indicates they promised to draft him or that Batum was their first choice.

Again, they told Hill that if he was available at 26, they'd draft him too. So we'll never know who was actually the first choice. I think Hill was.

I know, he doesn't talk about a promise, but that's what i "understand" between the lines...

Question is : which is more difficult ? finding a good back up for the point or a future good starter for the wings ?

I don't know. You're totally right stating we'll never know... ( well, you might be able to, with yours relations in san antonio .. )

Xap'

[Kori Ellis]

I know, he doesn't talk about a promise, but that's what i "understand" between the lines...

Question is : which is more difficult ? finding a good back up for the point or a future good starter for the wings ?

I don't know. You're totally right stating we'll never know... ( well, you might be able to, with yours relations in san antonio .. )

Xap'

I think that the Spurs chose to find a backup point in the draft because they can find a wing in free agency. There aren't very many good backup points in free agency.

[Obstructed_View]

I think that the Spurs chose to find a backup point in the draft because they can find a wing in free agency. There aren't very many good backup points in free agency.

I agree. If the Spurs have someone that can come in and hold the fort with the second team, allowing Vaughn to fill in when appropriate, then the Spurs can put a fresh Manu and Tony in to finish out games. That's very big, and much more likely at that point in the draft than finding a rookie wing that's going to step in and contribute to a good team right away.

[picnroll]

IF Hill solves the backup PG that removes a thorn in the Spurs side that's been there for many, many years. Parker won't go into the playoffs as beat up and tired. IF Hill can put up points off the bench that's another problem solved. Fingers crossed, hoping Pop works some old magic.

[The Truth #6]

I don't see how we'll ever know.

It's possible they duped Batum, but I'm equally as dubious about the Spurs claims that they were ecstatic that Hill fell to them. That line felt like Spurs BS just as much as any other line they feed to the press.

I think they wanted Batum, knew that someone else, possibly Portland was going to get him, then at the last second tried to get out of their 26th pick because they knew their backup Hill (Gregg Sutton v.2?) would still be around a few picks later, and because they sent out that email too late no one was able to make a deal and so they were stuck with Hill at the 26th, even though they thought they could get him later.

At least that's one theory on what transpired...

Or, they wanted Hill all along and thought he would be gone a few picks later.

[SenorSpur]

IF Hill solves the backup PG that removes a thorn in the Spurs side that's been there for many, many years. Parker won't go into the playoffs as beat up and tired. IF Hill can put up points off the bench that's another problem solved. Fingers crossed, hoping Pop works some old magic.

We thought the same thing 4 years ago when Beno was drafted. With Pop's stringent at ude and rules, there are no guarantees this guy will pan out.

Just as there are no guarantees they will acquire their targeted FA swingman - whoever that is - will pan out.

As far as what is needed at the wing position versus the talent of Batum, it is a collossal disappointment that they didn't land this kid.

[Russ]

The Spurs got lucky in '01 when Indiana picked Tinsley in the spot just before the Spurs and the Spurs got Parker. They were unlucky this year when Houston took Batum with the pick just before the Spurs. (One French connection, one French miss.)

Hill seems like a reach but if they get rotation minutes from anyone they pick up at 26 this draft has to be considered a success.

[SequSpur]

Batum was first on the list.......

[Bruno]

An Batum's disappointment should be that big.
The day before the draft, his agent was interviewed. At the question "What will be the ideal team for Batum?", his first answer was Portland.

I personally think that Portland isn't a good fit for Batum and that he will have a hard time to get playing time with them, but his agent (so likely Batum) seems to think the opposite.

Link to the interview (in French) :
http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/26062008/...que-batum.html

[MoSpur]

I think the Spurs wanted Batum. I know they did. However, since Houston jacked him, the Spurs went to pick 1-A and selected George Hill.

[wildbill2u]

Maybe, as I believe Kori alluded to, the Spurs knew going into draft night that Portland were detrmined to make moves that would keep Batum from them so Hill became the Spurs primary target. If that's the case, too bad Spurs couldn't have made a quiet deal to buy one of those earlier picks that were for sale and sprung a last minute trap on the Blazers

Well, Portland's strategy worked out. They wound up with Batum via trade with Rockets.

[hater]

this is what happened: Spurs were planning to take Batum at 26 and Hill at 45.

but when they lost Batum they did not wanna mess their chances and took Hill

[Kori Ellis]

this is what happened: Spurs were planning to take Batum at 26 and Hill at 45.

but when they lost Batum they did not wanna mess their chances and took Hill

So, that's why when Hill was working out with San Antonio Pop told him that if he was there at 26, they'd draft him?

[anakha]

Q : On vous attendait à une place plus basse, du côté de San Antonio.
A : C'est vrai que c'est la stratégie qu'on avait mise en place avec mon agent. La place on s'en fichait un peu parce que quand j'ai rencontré le staff des Spurs, Greg Popovich m'a proposé des choses qui m'ont intéressé. Ils m'ont dit qu'ils voulaient me mettre dans la rotation dès l'année prochaine parce qu'il y a des ailiers assez vieillissants. Ils voulaient vraiment me mettre dans la rotation pour que je sois l'un des ailiers principaux dans un ou deux ans. Mon objectif, c'est vraiment d'aller à San Antonio. Ça s'est joué à un pick près et c'est un peu dommage.

Trans. :

Q : You were expected at a lower place, near San Antonio
A : It's right this is the strategy we settled with my agent. We didn't care really about the place, because when I met the Spurs Staff, Greg Popovich has proposed things that interested me. They told me they wanted to put me in the rotation this year because they have forwards that are getting older and older. They really wanted to set me in the rotation so that I can be one of the principals forwards within one or two years. My objective, is really to go to San Antonio. It happened to be "played" on just one pick close and that's a bit too bad

( end of the trans.)

So, in a way, I truly things Batum was their first choice.

Xap'

Thanks for the translation.

Given that the Hill article does state that the Spurs promised to pick Hill if he was available, I'm more and more inclined to believe that Hill was the first choice all along.

[SenorSpur]

Based on last year's Scola train robbery, the Rockets should've done the Spurs a solid with Batum. Does anyone know if the Spurs even tried to work a deal with Houston for this kid or was it simply a lost cause from the gitgo?

Also I don't know if this has been discussed, but WTF is Portland and Pritchard doing? I mean stockpiling a boat load of young talent looks good on paper. But they've got virtual logjams at a lot of spots. There's no way they'll be able to pay and keep all those guys.