McDonald: Spurs' Three Bubble Players Fight For Two Roster Spots

[Obstructed_View]

Understand your point and the arguments of others who are lobbying for Farmer. They make perfect sense. Actually, I don't think the Spurs can go wrong with either. I wish they could keep them both.

My concern with Farmer is once Ginobili comes back and with the addition of Mason, who will obviously play ahead of him, how much PT would Farmer realistically get? Would he rendered irrevelant? Since he's a D-League veteran, he's probably not going to develop much more there. And it would be a waste to have him at the end of the bench.

Hairston, on the other hand, has more skills in his tool belt. Personally, I don't buy the scenario that Hairston couldn't contribute this season. Because of his versatility, I could see him getting spot time at the SG/SF spot . Even if he doesn't, his time wouldn't be a waste as he could be sent to the D-League and called up at Pop's discretion.

Ever since the departure of SJAX, the Spurs have continuously tried to patch the wing position with a collection of veteran FAs, most of which have spurned their advances. A route that is very expensive. Or they've taken fliers on a collection of late round draftees and unproven youngsters (Marcus Williams, James White, Bobby Jones, Jeremy Richardson), all of whom have not panned out, for one reason or another. A route that is very risky.

The point is if Hairston is talented enough and even closely resembles the type of player that fits the Spurs mold and culture, they can ill-afford to jettison him. Thereby allowing another team to snatch him up. In fact, they would be damn fools if they allowed that to happen.

Whoever the Spurs elect to go with at that spot will likely be at the end of the bench anyway. At least with Hairston, he's far more versatile and could potentially solve the need for a long-term answer at the backup SG/SF spot. If the Spurs plan on remaining in contention through the waning years of the Duncan era, they can't keep up this habit of forfeiting young, talented players, in favor of the over-the-hill veteran. They've got to commit to developing the next core of players "on the fly". They've started the process with Hill. They've got to do the same at Bowen's spot. Hairston seems to fit that need. After all, they're not going to rebuild. They have to reload.

Well put. I'd like to see the Spurs keep all the young guys. , I thought Green looked good, but there are just too many guys under contract right now. Hopefully Mason, Udoka and Bonner get out of suck mode by the regular season so we don't miss the young guys so much.

When one considers, for example, the defense he played on Teyshaun Prince, I don't think there's any way Hairston doesn't make this team. If there's a choice to be made, it's between Farmer and Tolliver. I have a feeling Pop's going to ratchet up the pressure on all three guys tonight, and unless Hairston just completely regresses, the final job is between Farmer and Tolliver, and Farmer probably has to have the game of his life to get the spot.

If Hairston makes the roster and starts to get fat (my only actual concern about him), Spurs fans will never forgive him for taking a spot away from one of the other two.

[Obstructed_View]

For all we know, Hairston could be a better all-around player than any of the wing players on this roster. We just don't know. However, let's not be quick to judge the guy before he's had a chance to get on the floor. Would Houston have known about Carl Landry, also a 2nd round pick, had they simply banished him to the bench or rushed to judgement and cut the guy? The only way these guys get appreciably better is with practice and playing time. We'll never replenish the roster if we throw out everyone we draft before seeing if they can flourish.

Excellent example. Considering the contributions of well-traveled guys like Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka, I'm not sure why Spurs fans would think that someone isn't potentially valuable just because they weren't instantly successful in the NBA. That applies more to Tolliver and Farmer than it does Hairston, but it's still a good point.

[Tully365]

Knowing what know now, and really, what we knew two years ago, there is no way anyone can honestly believe Bonner would fill Horry's shoes, and to bring it up to date, how can we expect Tolliver to fill his shoes either? There was only one Horry. In the process we let a superior player like Gist get sent off to Europe so we could find 'the real' Horry replacement. Compared to Tolliver (and Bonner) Gist was a better defender, better rebounder, had a better nose for the ball, was more athletic, and in general, was someone we should have kept but we're too caught up finding the replacement to Horry's replacement, rather than realizing that this mode of thought is completely flawed.

The sad thing is that with Gist gone we probably could use Tolliver because Bonner doesn't seem up to the challenge this year. He's already shrinking.

Does anyone know the full story on why Gist so quickly signed in Europe, given how well he played in the Summer League? Was it more from the Spurs' side, wanting him to develop, or was it more of a money issue coming from Gist and his agent? i've never heard the full story on this.

[ChumpDumper]

My thinking about Gist is the Spurs do want him to develop in Europe for one season on someone else's dime, then they could sign him to a two-year deal so there wouldn't be the huge cap hit in the summer of 2010 had he signed a two year deal starting this season.

[SenorSpur]

When one considers, for example, the defense he played on Teyshaun Prince, I don't think there's any way Hairston doesn't make this team.

Very interesting. Since I didn't see the game, can you describe, in more detail, exactly what Hairston did defensively against Prince that caught your eye?

[The Truth #6]

I recall Hairston blocked Prince's shot and it wasn't from the weak side, Malik was guarding him on the block, Prince tried a turnaround, and Malik pretty much blocked it before it even left Prince's hand. Prince has a longer reach than Malik, so it was fairly impressive.

That's one thing I remember.

[The Truth #6]

My thinking about Gist is the Spurs do want him to develop in Europe for one season on someone else's dime, then they could sign him to a two-year deal so there wouldn't be the huge cap hit in the summer of 2010 had he signed a two year deal starting this season.

But would that hit on the cap be any different than signing Tolliver this year?

[ChumpDumper]

But would that hit on the cap be any different than signing Tolliver this year?

They don't have any draft rights for Tolliver, so they can't put him off. Have they signed him for two seasons?

[SenorSpur]

I recall Hairston blocked Prince's shot and it wasn't from the weak side, Malik was guarding him on the block, Prince tried a turnaround, and Malik pretty much blocked it before it even left Prince's hand. Prince has a longer reach than Malik, so it was fairly impressive.

That's one thing I remember.

Good stuff~ (pun intended)

[benefactor]

Does anyone know the full story on why Gist so quickly signed in Europe, given how well he played in the Summer League? Was it more from the Spurs' side, wanting him to develop, or was it more of a money issue coming from Gist and his agent? i've never heard the full story on this.

It seems like it has just been assumed. Bruno posted something about it a while back not long after it happened, but there was no confirmation from the Spurs FO that this was the plan. Personally, it scares the out of me. With the Euro teams able to throw big cash around and us only able to offer a rookie scale contract I question the idea of letting a young player develop in a place with so much financial temptation.

[Obstructed_View]

I recall Hairston blocked Prince's shot and it wasn't from the weak side, Malik was guarding him on the block, Prince tried a turnaround, and Malik pretty much blocked it before it even left Prince's hand. Prince has a longer reach than Malik, so it was fairly impressive.

That's one thing I remember.

That's the one play that sticks in my mind. I came into that game with concerns about Hairston. Prince is one of the non-Spurs guys that I really like. He's a sneaky scorer, he's a good athlete, and he has really long arms. Hairston just went to work on him and that stuff impressed the out of me. I haven't seen anything from Hairston's defense since then to change my mind.

I think I misspelled Prince's first name.

[Obstructed_View]

It seems like it has just been assumed. Bruno posted something about it a while back not long after it happened, but there was no confirmation from the Spurs FO that this was the plan. Personally, it scares the out of me. With the Euro teams able to throw big cash around and us only able to offer a rookie scale contract I question the idea of letting a young player develop in a place with so much financial temptation.

I'm not sure, but I think the rookie scale only applies to first round picks, right? I think the Spurs can pay Gist anything they want. If they had picked Splitter in the second round he'd probably be here now.

[tp2021]

I'm not sure, but I think the rookie scale only applies to first round picks, right? I think the Spurs can pay Gist anything they want. If they had picked Splitter in the second round he'd probably be here now.

Do you think he would have lasted 5 more spots if they passed on him with their first pick? He was #28, And Marcus Williams was #33...

[benefactor]

I'm not sure, but I think the rookie scale only applies to first round picks, right? I think the Spurs can pay Gist anything they want. If they had picked Splitter in the second round he'd probably be here now.

You may be right. I can't seem to find anything on picks in later rounds. It still worries me though. A team over there could easily throw 6 or 7 million a year at him if he plays well. There is no way we pay that much to bring him back.

[Obstructed_View]

Do you think he would have lasted 5 more spots if they passed on him with their first pick? He was #28, And Marcus Williams was #33...

I honestly can't remember. He was projected as a top ten pick the year before, and I don't know how far he was going to fall. There's probably some discussion about it somewhere that you can find with a search. The Spurs could have picked up an extra second round pick to drop out of the first round and grab him. If Splitter had just done what he said he was going to do he'd have been here, as well, so it's not all on the Spurs.

[Obstructed_View]

You may be right. I can't seem to find anything on picks in later rounds. It still worries me though. A team over there could easily throw 6 or 7 million a year at him if he plays well. There is no way we pay that much to bring him back.

If Gist is happy being a ham and egger in the JV leagues, then there's not much anyone can do. It'll certainly give us a lot to talk about, especially if Tolilver makes this team and doesn't pan out.

[Slippy]

How about the Spurs dump Vaughn and Bonner and sign Farmer, Hairston, Tolliver and the man called Robert Horry. By resigning Robert Horry you get that BBall IQ back that you lost by cutting Vaughn and a superior mentor to Tolliver.

Interesting scenario just not much chance of it happening for the reasons already stated by others. Spurs made the right choice in not bringing Horry back.

[Ice009]

Interesting scenario just not much chance of it happening for the reasons already stated by others. Spurs made the right choice in not bringing Horry back.

That's a bad post by me. Horry wouldn't help at all these days. I just don't like Bonner that much and was willing to take anyone instead of him.

If Bonner doesn't get it together hopefully the Spurs can trade him for player that will fit into our team better.

[Obstructed_View]

Hopefully Bonner uses the positive things he's done in the preseason as a springboard for the year. If he just toughens up and does his job he'll earn some trust from Pop.

[HarlemHeat37]

I just have the feeling that if we don't see both Malik and Farmer on the team, somebody is going to pick them up and we're going to regret it..