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Good take. Another good point to consider is maybe Anthony is trying to do other stuff that Pop wants and it's affecting his shooting a little bit trying to impress Pop?
...and if you study Pop's comments, he seems very pleased that this kid is focusing hard on those other critical areas (i.e. rebounding, defense). As long he does those things, remains coachable and keeps shooting with confidence, Pop will be behind him. While I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, I do expect AT to make the team.
Good take. Another good point to consider is maybe Anthony is trying to do other stuff that Pop wants and it's affecting his shooting a little bit trying to impress Pop?
I'm talking about defense only here. I know that Ian has a more balanced game compared to Watkins, especially offensively. All I want to know is how they compare on the defensive end. Who is bigger? stronger? Has the better defensive instincts to block shots and play D in our system? Are you answering Mahinmi to that question?
I don't know the answer. Watkins is more of a natural shot blocker, but that is only one element of defense.
Watkins has not shown me enough to think that his athletic prowess in one area is enough to consider him a better defender than Mahinmi. I'd like Watkins to see a year in Austin because I think the answer could be "yes." But he could go nowhere fast, too.
Nobody. I haven't follow at all who was doing well in preseason and could be cut. Spurs have also their TE that expired in 10 days.
When I wonder if a player should be kept, the question I asked to myself is "Can this player help Spurs in the short or the long term ?"
A player able to help Spurs in the short term would be a role player able to do something that other players on Spurs roster aren't able to do.
A player able to help Spurs in the long term would be an intriguing prospect.
Rigth now, I don't see how Tolliver, Farmer, Green and Gaines would be able to help Spurs more than the 13 players with a guaranteed contract.
Watkins and Hairston have some interesting qualities but is it enough to put them in the "intriguing prospect" case ?
Ian reminds me of David Robinson without the prodigious talent. Like Dave, Ian is somewhat passive but he doesn't have Dave's explosiveness and he seems lost. Clearly not as bright as big Dave. I wouldn't assume that Mahinmi will be a better player than Watkins.
We haven't really had that intimidating shot blocking consistently since D-Rob was here. We had it at times with Rasho and Nazr, but it wasn't as intimidating as when both TD and D-Rob can block your shot at any time. That kind of element can really bring our defense up another level.
I agree with your last paragraph though that having him in Austin would be a great route to take to see if he improves. You know what? I'd love it if Pop were to start Watkins alongside Tim tonight to see how they would go together.
Mahinmi was a better shotblocker than Watkins in D-League last year.
How old is Darryl? maybe he is improving?
Agree. Give Watkins more pt with the first team and see what happens.
I wonder if the Spurs could secure a roster spot for Hairston in Europe and bring him back next summer and training camp. Is it too late for that?
Google is your friend.
We all know it's a numbers game. If he can't make the team this year, I'd like to see him in Austin too. I'd just be afraid that some other team would snag him.
Although, I agree with you in principle, I disagree on a few of the particulars.
I'd be okay if the Spurs waived Tolliver, Gaines and Green, although I think Tolly has already made the team. Pop is high..............on him.
Farmer is enough of an offensive player, that I wouldn't mind keeping him for this season. From what I've seen he can score at the NBA-level and would be good to keep until at least Ginobili returns. He'd help during one of the Spurs' notorious droughts.
Hairston and Watkins I would put in the "intriguing prospect" category. Intriguing enough that I would want the Spurs to retain their rights, but not so intriguing that I want to see them signed long term. Things would be much more simple if the Spurs found a European team for Hairston.
We have enough perimeter shooters. Bowens, Finley, Mason, Oduka, Tolliver and Manu. In reality Tim is the only true center on the team. We need a combination of players to do the dirty work rebounding and defensively when Tim isn't in the game. We need a legit center who can do that. Hopefully, Ian will turn out to be that guy. If not Watkins sounds promising. Ian's injury has put Pop in a position of not knowing who to keep.
There is probably a strong possibility that will happen if we cut him. Everyone is looking for big bodies to try to contain the teams like us, LA, Portand, etc. that have scoring threats in the post. Someone that is shorter on bigs than we are could look at his size and shot blocking numbers in the preseason and pick him up for insurance.
Iowa or LA might retain his NBDL rights.
Watkins is almost 24. That's pretty old to still be this raw.
But does that matter if he signs a new contract elsewhere?
If the contract is with the Spurs, no. But the context of your last post was "cut."
Not really. Now if you get as old as Bonner and you are still having the same issues...then that is a problem.
Shesh
As I read those articles and some post I don't know if the spurs are in rebuliding process or what?
Even Dallas has Diop who can block shots and is long. They're also paying that dude 5 million though. That just goes to show you how big of a commodity a shot blocker who can play defense and rebound is in the West.
He can still develop, no doubt. But a 24 year old project is not the same as an 18 year old project. That's all. It's not like he hasn't been playing his whole life. What is the reason that he hasn't advanced beyond this point?
Rebuilding? Huh?
Not the same as developing the pipeline.
Whether or not he can consistently block shots remains to be seen.Even Dallas has Diop who can block shots and is long. They're also paying that dude 5 million though
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