http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/ba...ry/711303.html
Recent piece on Cook, his shoulder injury, etc...
Strangely enough, of the young guys that played around Wade last season, I thought Cook and Wright were the only two that could become rotation players down the road.
If the Spurs go in this direction, they could waive JV and let Stoudamire walk. Roger Mason could play some minutes at point once Manu comes back.
Ideally, I would let Cook play in Austin this season, but the Manu injury could open up minutes for him early.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/ba...ry/711303.html
Recent piece on Cook, his shoulder injury, etc...
I would take Dorrell Wright for sure
Wright is off the table until Dec. 15. If the Spurs make a move, it'll be because they don't like what the see from the likes of Hairston and Green in training camp or because someone like Cook is available for a low price. But they'd want to make it sooner than later so that the newly acquired players could begin to learn the system.
Why would the Heat get rid of Wright? He looks like he'll be a decent player, and fits our need. Grab him if you can.
Wright can't be traded until the 15 December cause he sign an extension!
Shawne Williams from Indiana can be what we need in a 3 and it's realistic that we can get him with the Trade Exception cause Indiana want to get rid off him in some time
Miami opened training camp with 16 players under at least partially guaranteed contracts, one above the league regular season maximum. The Heat had its $1.9 million lower-level exception available to sign Livingston. But Riley said such a move into the tax would require approval from owner Micky Arison.
Banks, who has three years and $13.5 million left on his contract, would seem to be the likeliest candidate to be traded. But it is uncertain how much interest other teams have in Banks, a backup since he was drafted 13th overall in 2003.
Shooting guard Daequan Cook, a first-round draft pick last season, could also be dealt. Cook struggled in his rookie season and has lost ground on the depth chart.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/712638.html
Dont see the spurs using the TE. I think they are set with what they have. I would love to see us get Williams from Jersey, Cook would be nice too, but Miami is not shopping Cook I can tell you that for sure. They may be willing to move him if you take Hasslums contract but they like him a lot and is a key biulding pc.
Indy Star from this morning.
"The trade, however, also would give the Pacers 17 players under contract, two more than the NBA allows. They would have to release or trade two players by the Oct. 27 deadline. They would have to release or trade another if Austin Croshere makes the team."
"Tinsley's past three seasons have been marked by injuries limiting his availability and several off-court issues that negatively impacted the franchise. Coach Jim O'Brien lost confidence in Tinsley after last season, and the Pacers told him to stay away from the team while they pursued a trade."
If the Spurs were interested in Williams (this off season has me pessimistic that they are even considering Cook or Williams) they might simply select him off the waiver wire.
With players like Williams and Cook seemingly available, Hill and Stoudamire in camp, Manu's injury, and a combo guard in Mason Jr., I can't see JV making the roster this season. The need for offense is too pressing and the number of roster-worthy guards too many.
/thread
The Spurs are in a relative position of strength compared to the rest of the league regarding trade exceptions. 10 or 12 teams have them, but of that number only about half could use it to acquire Cook or Williams. Perhaps the Spurs would get out bid in terms of draft picks, but they're competing with the likes of Cleveland, Milwaukee and OKC if Cook or Williams is dealt for a TE.
In other words, the Spurs have time to deliberate between their campers and Cook and Williams. If they acquired Williams, he's not in line for any pt. It would be a let's look as him in practice and see if he's a total knucklehead or just a young kid kinda of thing. If they landed Cook, they'd want to do so in time for Austin's camp.
If the Spurs don't land either player, it's not because they couldn't.
In a sense, the ball is in Malik Hairston's court. I'm assuming Tolliver.
Honestly, I'm at the point where I'd like to see the Spurs land both players, but the roster won't allow for it.
Neither player would matter much this season, but both could conceivably contribute next season. This is great chance to make up for not having a first round draft pick next June.
The Spurs lose nothing in bringing in either player. It's a win-win.
Sean Williams would play now, so would Cook
Sean Williams is off the table. He's killing dudes in NJ camp. He'll start for them this season.
Who is Cook going to play in front of? Where would he get minutes?
Cook would get spot minutes at the two, especially if we needed more shooting. That would allow for Ime to solely back up Bowen. Williams is not off the table. He was the only guy in the league last year to average 2 blocks a game in under 20 (for a large portion of the year) minutes and he still did not start. If you look at the Nets roster, they have 15 players under contract (and that is not including Van Horn's contract). Of the 15 players: Josh Boone (6'10), Ryan Anderson (6'10), Brook Lopez (7'0), Yi Jianlian (7'0), Eduardo Najera (6'8), Stomile Swift (6'10) and Sean Williams (6'10) are all bigs. They have to do something about that.
They're not going to trade Sean Williams for nothing when they have dead weight like Swift on the roster. Like you said, Williams averaged 2 blocks in under 20 minutes and from all reports out of NJ, he's improved between then and now. They'll trade Swift or Boone first. And beside, they're not making the playoffs this year. If they carry an extra big, so what.
Listen, I wish the Spurs could get Sean Williams. It's just a pipe dream at this point.
Regarding Cook, if by spot minutes you mean 2 or 3 a game for the first 20, then maybe. He'd be better off in Austin. Otherwise, the Spurs are much better off going with Mason, Manu and, yes, Finley, until Cook knows the system.
And two dats later:
NJ Nets: The Sean Chronicles
by Dave D'Alessandro/The Star-Ledger
Wednesday October 01, 2008, 2:21 PM
It seems that not a day goes by without someone shoveling effusive praise on Sean Williams - which you heard last year, but this time it's different. This time it doesn't sound as if they're content just to have this shiny new toy to play with. It sounds like they're genuinely impressed by the way he's trying to remake himself.
Vince first. We asked him who the camp stars have been so far, and he came out with this:
"Ryan's been playing great basketball. His development, from watching him in the summer league to now, has been just tremendous," Carter said, referring to Ryan Anderson, the rook.
"But I should have said Sean first. Sean's been amazing. At both ends -- his development at the offensive end and his ability at the defensive end have been tremendous. I think he's going to be a big part of what we do, as far as our transition game and halfcourt offense. He'd definitely be No. 1."
Has he noticed whether he's being treated differently than last year, when Sean was basically regarded as everybody's goofy little brother?
"We treat him just like everyone else: 'You're a grown man, you're an NBA player, and we expect what we expect,'" Carter said. "He's handling it well."
And just to prove he wasn't tugging everybody's chain Tuesday, L-Frank went on (and on) about Williams today.
"Sean has played very very well. He truly has," the coach said. "He's bringing great energy. He's impacting the game in other ways other than blocking shots. He's getting himself in the right position at the right times defensively, put himself in position to take charges. He's talking more. Offensively, he's doing a good job running the floor, extra possessions, working the glass. He's doing a good job of doing his job and he's been pretty consistent doing it so he's stood out."
So, a growth spurt. Now he just needs someone to stay in his ear, we assume?
"I think he's been focused in terms of doing his job and understanding what his job is, and if you do your job, then good things can happen," Frank said. "I think everyone is there to guide him. Our assistants have spent a lot of time talking to him, Kiki has been with him. John Lucas has been with him. Ultimately it comes down to you wanting to do what you need to do."
It sounds as though Yi Jianlian is getting close - very close - to actually doing something resembling basketball again. The coach related that he did some dummy offense Tuesday night, and once they hit the 24-hour mark, they'll evaluate where his sore ankle is. Wednesday, he stuck to rehab work and light shooting. Thursday? He might actually scrimmage, but nobody's confirming that yet.
Things have been going so well, L-Frank called off the night session Wednesday, so two-a-days are officially over, done, kaput.
Either that, or he's getting soft.
Either that, or there were just too many tweaks (Lopez leg bruise, Hayes hamstring, Najera wrist, and Swift got an eye-poke) to push his luck.
Either that, or his voice just can't take these 14-hour days, because he can barely be heard at this point.
"It's basically taking into account what they did in September, and just their attention in the meeting this morning," the coach said, adding that they aced another pop quiz. "It just felt like they deserved it. I said, 'We're not giving you anything. You've earned it.' So we're off tonight and we'll be back at it tomorrow."
If you're wondering about Carter, who needed a few days to get his legs back, he officially declares himself up to speed.
"I think the first two practices was more of an adjustment period. I was trying to get myself back into the swing of things," he said Wednesday. "I felt I wasn't where I wanted to be for training camp and I was kind of playing catchup with my rhythm. By Day 3, I felt a little better."
Coach: "He's had a very good camp. In terms of wins he's right up there towards the top. He may have even taken the lead today, either him or Devin."
By wins, he means where his team comes out in scrimmages and other compe ions. Somebody charts each individual's "record," and Carter is on top.
Which is a good thing, because a dirty, closely-guarded secret was that Vince floated through camp last year - not because he had just signed the new contract, but because he and his savvy veteran teammates thought they could pace themselves. Oops.
We got to watch an eight-minute scrimmage Wednesday, and Julius Hodge turned the last two minutes into his personal playground.
No kidding: His team (the whites, with Josh/Awvee/Gill and Simmons at the 4) was down early, but it was a close game with two minutes left. Then Hodge channeled his inner Jordan and....
Broke back 2-on-3 to hit a lefty floating bank shot to give White the lead;
Got to the rim off a high screen from Simmons for a layup;
Stole Sean's inbounds pass and hit a left hand over Sean, who hacked him, giving White a 16-10 lead with 40 seconds left, and leading to a Frank lecture on how to take the ball out;
Airballed the resulting free throw. Everyone politely chose to ignore that;
And when they went to sudden death overtime (16-16, Devin hit a buzzer-beating 3), he set up Storey's winning trey with a drive-and-kick.
Yes, Julius Hodge dominated.
Against Carter/Harris.
That's camp for ya.
If the Spurs didn't want to come off Vet min ($1.25M) up to the LLE ($1.9M) for Barry, why would they bring on an entire new contract with the Beno trade exception (which expires in days, BTW)? They're done. WYSIWYG.
Because there is talent available for cheap that comes with an available out next summer. Just like James White or any of the 10 day contracts they ran last year, accept Williams and Cook are better than any of the aforementioned players. They also purchased the Toros to develop young talent. Cook is Toros eligible and liked by the FO.
Using their trade exception for one of these players is consistent with past patterns.
I agree that there are 2-1 odds against the Spurs making a move, but unlike most trade speculation these are well within the realm of possibility.
I don't think Spurs are really interested in Shawne Williams. He is without a doubt available so if Spurs wanted him, they would have made a trade for him before the training camp.
If Cook is really available, I can definitively Spurs trying to get him.
I think it's more like 20/1. They let a player they KNOW works in their system walk over ~$600K. SA also doesn't have their 2009 first rounder to deal, and since they've already traded it, they cannot now trade their 2010 first rounder until 2010 draft night as a pick-n-trade. That's a long ing time to wait for payment on Daquan.
That article says nothing. It says he has been good in practice, with his main compe ion out (YI, Eduardo, .................). They would not have made trades for guys in his position, signed free agents in his position and drafted a guy in the first round in his position if they wanted him that badly. Use logic. Not saying they will just give him away, but you are seriously not looking at the situation. The fact is they brought numerous players in at his position, and he did not play last year with less guys there.
If they can get a good YOUNG piece, than they would use it. Who cares if Barry and Finley new the system, they want to get younger and better and only wanted one of the 2 back. They chose. That does not mean they will pass on young talent for cheap.
Says nothing. Give me a break.
He played 18 minutes a game as a rookie. He averaged 2 blocks. His coaches and teammates and GM are raving about his off season and camp. Carter thinks he's their starter.
Here's another article, even more recent, that says as much.
http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/200..._williams.html
The news from NJ is: Nets like Williams.
They brought in some of those players to replace Krstic. It doesn't necessarily reflect on Williams.
So yes, I am "seriously looking at the situation" and my logic is fine. The Spurs aren't getting Williams for a trade exception.
I'll grant the 20 to 1 stuff, but what's their lack of a 2009 round 1 have to do with anything. No one is suggesting the Spurs pair a 1st round pick with their trade exception. Why would they have to wait until 2010 for payment on Daequen Cook? I don't follow.
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