McDonald: Patience Pays Off For Newest Spur Mason

[duncan228]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.4007bde.html

NBA: Patience pays off for newest Spur Mason
By Jeff McDonald

Roger Mason Jr. walked into the Spurs' practice facility Friday for the first time since telling the Spurs “no.”

It was just last August he turned down a 3-year deal worth $1 million per season to come to San Antonio, choosing instead to spend another season in Washington, a roll of the dice meant to see if he could increase his stock and his payday.

Eleven months later, he is back in San Antonio, a gamble made good.

Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard, was introduced as the newest member of the Spurs on Friday, two days after agreeing to a two-year contract.

The deal is expected to pay him roughly $7.5 million — or more than three times more per year than he would have made had he said, “yes” to the Spurs last summer.

“It was tough,” Mason said of his previous decision to rebuff the four-time NBA champions. “I just knew that, with all the time I spent in the gym, if I got a lucky break, an opportunity, I'd be able to show off a little bit more.”

Mason got that break — lucky for him, unlucky for the Wizards — when All-Star Gilbert Arenas went down with a knee injury eight games into the season.

That afforded Mason, 27, plenty of playing time off the bench in Washington. He made the most of it, averaging 9.1 points and shooting nearly 40 percent from the 3-point line in what was his first full season as an NBA regular.

When Antonio Daniels got hurt later in the year, Mason got to showcase his versatility by filling in at point guard for the Wizards.

All told, it was a breakout year for Mason, a late-bloomer in his fourth season in the league — one he parlayed into a fatter paycheck with Peter Holt's name on it.

“To Roger's credit, he went out and proved he deserved a much bigger opportunity than we talked about last year,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.

It took more than promise of a bigger bank account to lure Mason away from Washington D.C., the city in which he was born and raised.

In San Antonio, he has the opportunity for more playing time than he was likely to earn with the Wizards — either as a possible starting shooting guard, depending on the future of free agent Michael Finley, or as a backup point guard.

He also ought to have an opportunity to play deeper into the postseason than he ever has. Each of his two seasons with the Wizards ended with Cleveland bouncing them from the playoffs in the first round.

All Mason had to do was glance at the four championship banners on the wall of the Spurs practice facility Friday to know the expectations are higher on the banks of the San Antonio River than they are on the banks of the Potomac.

“You think of San Antonio, you think of le contender,” Mason said. “In Washington, we got beat in the first round. When the playoffs get to June, I'd usually cut the TV off. Hopefully, my friends will be watching me this year.”

The Spurs' courtship of Mason — and he of them — was a year in the making, and maybe longer. Mason auditioned in each of the past two summers for the Spurs, and so impressed them last year that he left with a contract offer.

The Spurs made an impression on Mason as well, beginning with the most prominent man in their locker room.

“I was in a mini-camp, and it was in August, and Tim Duncan was in here playing with us free agent guys,” Mason said. “That tells you what kind of team this is, when your best player is here in August with rookies and free agents who might not even be in the NBA, and he's busting his you-know-what.”

The Spurs believe Mason, renowned for his work ethic and willingness to fill any role, will fit in nicely with their team-first program.

“When we started to differentiate who we were going to go after (in free agency), the guy at the top of the list as far as who's a Spur — that was Roger,” Buford said. “That's what made it easy for us to move him to the top of the list.”

And so, Mason was back in San Antonio on Friday. Nearly a year after telling the Spurs no, he was here to tell them yes.

“I feel blessed, there's no question,” Mason said. “God has given me a great opportunity, and I'm going to make the most of it. I feel like my career is still going up.”

[timvp]

In San Antonio, he has the opportunity for more playing time than he was likely to earn with the Wizards — either as a possible starting shooting guard, depending on the future of free agent Michael Finley, or as a backup point guard.

McDonald wrote that as if Finley would be the starter if he returned. I highly doubt that is the case. Ginobili will likely begin the year as the starter and Mason will compete for backup minutes at shooting guard. Mason played point guard in Washington but I don't see him playing much point guard in San Antonio. Unless Hill sucks in summer league, I fully expect him to be the backup point guard. Pop seems dedicated to using Hill in that role.

Mason may eventually start at shooting guard when Pop sends Ginobili to the bench at some point next year, but Mason won't be handed the starting job out of the gates.

[Spurtacus]

Uh...he better be a SG...preferably starting. But PG? I think we are fine there.

[SenorSpur]

McDonald wrote that as if Finley would be the starter if he returned. I highly doubt that is the case. Ginobili will likely begin the year as the starter and Mason will compete for backup minutes at shooting guard. Mason played point guard in Washington but I don't see him playing much point guard in San Antonio. Unless Hill sucks in summer league, I fully expect him to be the backup point guard. Pop seems dedicated to using Hill in that role.

Mason may eventually start at shooting guard when Pop sends Ginobili to the bench at some point next year, but Mason won't be handed the starting job out of the gates.

My thoughts exactly. Maybe McDonald is a guest columnist from a different city

[TDMVPDPOY]

BUFORF made me LULU......

mason top of his list of FAs...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

In San Antonio, he has the opportunity for more playing time than he was likely to earn with the Wizards — either as a possible starting shooting guard, depending on the future of free agent Michael Finley, or as a backup point guard.

Oh no. The only way Finley should be near our starting lineup next year is if he's the ing ball boy giving them water before the game.

[Mr. Body]

Oh no. The only way Finley should be near our starting lineup next year is if he's the ing ball boy giving them water before the game.

I am going to laugh and laugh.

[koopa]

i watched the interview that the quotes came from and i never really pay attention to rc cause his teeth annoy me, but it looks like he is competing with jeff van gundy on who can have the biggest eye bags

i hope mason comes out and does good, i want manu to be able to play as less minutes as possible, tim is the back bone that keeps us up, but manu is the heart and soul of this team and if he ain't healthy we might as well not even make the playoffs

[SenorSpur]

i watched the interview that the quotes came from and i never really pay attention to rc cause his teeth annoy me, but it looks like he is competing with jeff van gundy on who can have the biggest eye bags

i hope mason comes out and does good, i want manu to be able to play as less minutes as possible, tim is the back bone that keeps us up, but manu is the heart and soul of this team and if he ain't healthy we might as well not even make the playoffs

Perhaps the fact that the Rockets "jobbed" him and Spurs in the great Scola trade is what's keeping him up at night. Or maybe he has visions of Splitter sinking a turnaround hook shot, in the paint, in a Spurs uniform.

[mystargtr34]

Perhaps the fact that the Rockets "jobbed" him and Spurs in the great Scola trade is what's keeping him up at night. Or maybe he has visions of Splitter sinking a turnaround hook shot, in the paint, in a Spurs uniform.

im guessing you have seen that Turnaround Hook Shot... its effective by god its ugly.

[The Truth #6]

The bit about Finley - it's wrong on any objective level, but Pop's bromance withe Finley was never based on facts. If Finley is re-signed, then it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's starting again. However, if that's true, then something is really wrong. I'd rather give Hairston the starting job over Finley. Anything. Nothing good can come from Finley playing real minutes. It's an admission of failure and an invitation to mockery. God, no.

[Obstructed_View]

Knowing Pop, Finley might not be the starting 2 on opening night, he might be the starting 4.

[SenorSpur]

The bit about Finley - it's wrong on any objective level, but Pop's bromance withe Finley was never based on facts. If Finley is re-signed, then it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's starting again. However, if that's true, then something is really wrong. I'd rather give Hairston the starting job over Finley. Anything. Nothing good can come from Finley playing real minutes. It's an admission of failure and an invitation to mockery. God, no.

I'm right there with you. I sincerely hope that Hairston shows enough early results that it will make the decision easy for Pop to allow Finley to walk. Of course, if you ask me, they should allow him to walk regardless. As you've stated, nothing good can come from him being resigned. Let's get on with the transition and let the youth movement continue.

[mrspurs]

ill take roger over hill anyday.....good thing they are both on our squad

[Solid D]

McDonald wrote that as if Finley would be the starter if he returned. I highly doubt that is the case. Ginobili will likely begin the year as the starter and Mason will compete for backup minutes at shooting guard. Mason played point guard in Washington but I don't see him playing much point guard in San Antonio. Unless Hill sucks in summer league, I fully expect him to be the backup point guard. Pop seems dedicated to using Hill in that role.

Mason may eventually start at shooting guard when Pop sends Ginobili to the bench at some point next year, but Mason won't be handed the starting job out of the gates.

Yeah, Mason played some lead guard in Washington because they don't really have anyone else that is a true PG and, of course, the injuries. They were a team full of combination guards....yes, including Arenas.

As timvp says, Hill will probably be the backup PG to Tony. Truly, the only natural PG in the classic sense for the Spurs is Jacques Vaughn, and I think he will still get some minutes. Every team should have a Darrell Armstrong or a Jacque Vaughn on their bench and in the room. The thing is, I think Pop views Finley in that way too (a good room guy), so that's why I don't rule out Fin re-signing. What the Spurs will miss is Brent Barry's humor and many contributions...and they are many and varied positive influences.

The Spurs appear to be getting younger, but keeping the "fiber" of this team strong. They aren't done, but so far they look fine with Mason.

[loveforthegame]

If the Spurs were interested in signing Finley again why isn't he signed yet? Especially if they favored him over Barry like so many criticize the FO for?

Too many here are assuming Finley's going to be back because they let Barry go.

[ceperez]

I think despite his poor assist stats, it appears than Mason will most likely play as a backup point for us. That's what he did for Washington, that's what he'll likely do for us. See, I don't think George Hill is ready to play point in the NBA, and it's likely he'll play SG when Mason is on the floor.

On the reverse side, Mason will guard the SG while George will play the PG.

Which is kind of bothersome since with the exception of Vaughn (who we should waive) the 3 other guards (Parker, Hill, Mason) don't really play the point particularly well!