Hypothetical Question: How much $ would Holt be willing to lose for a championship?

[StoneBuddha]

I don't think so, and it's probably the best move he could make.

I understand exactly where you're coming from, Buddha, but what exactly is a "sure thing?" One thing that Peter Holt realized a long time ago is that more money doesn't always mean an NBA Championship. The Spurs are the Patriots of the NBA. They're not spendthrifts, but they're also not willing to close their wallet to big players. That's why we're not paying guys like Steve Francis, Raef LaFrentz, and Juwan Howard anywhere from $13 million to $20 million per year.

Yes I agree with you in practice, I was doing a mental exercise. I'm glad the spurs haven't tried to 'buy a championship' in the past, because if you miss, you've basically shot yourself in the foot for a long time. Their sound cap management (and Duncan) has been essential in keeping them in contention year after year.

Not to go on too much of a tangent, but this came about because I was thinking about Duncan's career trajectory and was wondering how long he could remain a super elite player. If you go for the homerun now and miss, the penalty isn't as bad. Realistically, once Duncan retires, the odds on more championships are pretty long.

Anyways, I tried to put myself in Holt's shoe and was wondering how I'd manage the last few Duncan years. If I was an owner, would I be willing to take a huge one time loss if it brought me another championship. (Of course, there aren't any "guarantees" but how you answer that question strongly influences how you manage the next few years.) Would I be willing to loss 20 million (5% of the value of the team) for another ring? etc, etc.

Basically, I don't want the Spurs to be ruined post-Duncan like other teams, but I also think that Duncan's a once-in-a-lifetime player, so the rules may have to be adjusted a bit.

[StoneBuddha]

How much $ would Holt be willing to lose for a championship?

They real question is why they would even consider a money-losing proposition. Would bragging rights mean so much that you would be willing to pay a lot more for tickets next season?

For me personally, I would pay more...just to shut up Dr. House.

[underdawg]

For me personally, I would pay more...just to shut up Dr. House.

you won't shut him up - very similar to maverick fan in 2007 during regular season.

it would be interesting to compare the spurs net worth and how much money they spend vs other teams in the league. i don't know what holt's ownership percentage is, but as a majority owner he has one of the lowest net worths for a majority owner in the nba.

[underdawg]

you won't shut him up - very similar to maverick fan in 2007 during regular season.

it would be interesting to compare the spurs net worth and how much money they spend vs other teams in the league. i don't know what holt's ownership percentage is, but as a majority owner he has one of the lowest net worths for a majority owner in the nba.

looked it up - holt tied with alexander (houston) for lowest net worth at $80 million. 9 other teams with a higher team net worth (houston is one of them.) it wasn't listed, but i believe the spurs are in the top 9 for payroll. also, only two current owners in the league with more les - reinsdorf and buss.

[EricB]

Yeah I'am sure another coach couldn't work on some rings with the best power forward to ever exist in all of human existance.

Yeah like John Lucas or Bob Hill

[EricB]

AT THAT TIME. I wasn't talking about Malone, Tim is different.. Tim is better.. Tim would bring rings to the Spurs under most ANY NBA coach.

I say this in the nicest way.

Your a ing idiot.

[Drachen]

Given all the salary/luxury tax issues that are creeping into the trade threads, I started to wonder what Holt is willing to spend. The spurs have creeped around (mostly under) the the luxury tax number for years, but do you think Holt would be willing to go significantly over that number if he knew that would get the spurs a fifth ring?

I know Holt's reputation and some past transactions (i.e. Scola) make it unlikely, but in this hypothetical (and yes ficitious) world, do you think Holt would be willing to lose $10 million if it guranteed a championship? 20mil? etc.

I know it's a business, but I also know that owners don't pro teams purely as investments.

I have to comment on this. I read an article either last year, or two years ago that Holt is the "poorest" NBA owner in the L. They compiled each owner's assets and his total net worth was the only 8 figure total - about 80 million. This was BEFORE the market crashed, so if he "lost" 20 million, that would be a substantial portion of his fortune. Think of this next time you have trouble with him wanting the Spurs to be profitable.

[Sec24Row7]

AT THAT TIME. I wasn't talking about Malone, Tim is different.. Tim is better.. Tim would bring rings to the Spurs under most ANY NBA coach.

And Tim is the best PF of all time "at this time"...

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Given all the salary/luxury tax issues that are creeping into the trade threads, I started to wonder what Holt is willing to spend. The spurs have creeped around (mostly under) the the luxury tax number for years, but do you think Holt would be willing to go significantly over that number if he knew that would get the spurs a fifth ring?

I know Holt's reputation and some past transactions (i.e. Scola) make it unlikely, but in this hypothetical (and yes ficitious) world, do you think Holt would be willing to lose $10 million if it guranteed a championship? 20mil? etc.

I know it's a business, but I also know that owners don't pro teams purely as investments.

A quick look in history will show you that the teams who have the biggest payrolls aren't winning the championships, the teams who are run in the best manner do. And there's a very fine line when taking basketball related decisions to money related decisions. Until now the Spurs have done it to perfection, you have nothing to brag about.

Besides spending 20 or 30 million more doesn't guarantee a championship, ask the Knicks, Mavs and Suns.

I don't think so, and it's probably the best move he could make.

Let's just say that for some crazy reason, the Lakers don't pick up the team option on Kobe's contract this summer and he comes to us saying he'd love to play for us. He's arguably the best player on the planet and all we have to do is open up our pocketbooks.

Does that guarantee us a championship?

Here's some more food for thought. Three teams in recent memory come to mind when you talk about teams who tried to buy a championship.

1. Dallas Mavs under Cuban-- Just look at the stars who have come and gone. Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Antawn Jamison, Michael Finley, Antoine Walker, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Nick Van Exel, Juwan Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and I'm sure there are others. Every single one of these people have, at one time or another, been an All-Star. Several have either won MVP's or been in the discussion. One was called "Baby Jordan" at the outset of his career.

2. Sacramento Kings under the Maloof Brothers-- You know the story. They had Bibby, Webber, Peja, Doug Christie, Vlade, etc, etc.

3. Portland Trailblazers, circa 2000-- Paul Allen really broke the mold for the team that spends too much with these 'Blazers. If any team ever should've won a le but got denied, it was these guys. Just about everyone on that team was either a former All-Rookie/ROY, former All-Star, or future All-Star.


I guess you could throw the Knicks in there, too, but these were the teams that were halfway smart with their money. They have a combined zero les between them.

I understand exactly where you're coming from, Buddha, but what exactly is a "sure thing?" One thing that Peter Holt realized a long time ago is that more money doesn't always mean an NBA Championship. The Spurs are the Patriots of the NBA. They're not spendthrifts, but they're also not willing to close their wallet to big players. That's why we're not paying guys like Steve Francis, Raef LaFrentz, and Juwan Howard anywhere from $13 million to $20 million per year.

We will not be able to open up our pocketbooks even if Kobe came calling in the summer because we'd be over the cap, so the best offer we can give him would be MLE money.

[benefactor]

AT THAT TIME. I wasn't talking about Malone, Tim is different.. Tim is better.. Tim would bring rings to the Spurs under most ANY NBA coach.

Really? What about all those playoff games where players like Kerr, Capt. Jack and Horry bailed us out? It has just as much to do with role players and the system...which is Pop's doing, not Duncan's.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

How much would you spend on medical treatment if you were guaranteed it'd add 10 years to your life?