Isn't this a copy off what MB just posted?
Spurs roster analysis
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald breaks down the status of the team:
Tim Duncan, forward
Age: 33
Contract status: Three years, $62.1 million remaining
Future: Will remain an All-Star for as long as his knees will allow.
Tony Parker, guard
Age: 26
Contract status: Two years, $26.1 million remaining
Future: Coming off the best season of his career. Indicator arrow pointing up, so long as he survives the summer injury free.
Manu Ginobili, guard
Age: 31
Contract status: One year, $10.7 million remaining
Future: Injured almost from start to finish this season. Will have to prove his health before Spurs commit to extension.
Bruce Bowen, guard/forward
Age: 37
Contract status: One year, $4 million remaining (partially guaranteed).
Future: In rotation, then out, then back in again, Bowen enjoyed revitalization during playoffs. Expiring contract makes for nice trading chip, either this summer or next season.
Matt Bonner, center/forward
Age: 29
Contract status: One year, $3.2 million remaining
Future: Set to return next season, but manageable contract could find him on trade market.
Michael Finley, forward/guard
Age: 36
Contract status: One year, $2.5 million remaining (player option)
Future: Has the option to return next season, but remains non-committal. Hard to see him passing up free money.
Roger Mason Jr., guard
Age: 28
Contract status: One year, $3.8 million remaining
Future: Cooled after strong first half, but still very much in Spurs’ plans. Will become more valuable as he becomes more comfortable at the point.
Drew Gooden, forward/center
Age: 27
Contract status: Free agent
Future: Spurs were pleased with his progress after late-season arrival, but DNP-CD in last game of the playoffs is troubling. Could be back, depending on offers he receives elsewhere.
Kurt Thomas, center/forward
Age: 36
Contract status: One year, $3.8 million remaining
Future: Spurs like him for what he’s asked to provide. Like Bowen and Bonner, has an expiring contract that could be dealt easily.
Ime Udoka, forward/guard
Age: 31
Contract status: Free agent
Future: For second year in a row, emerged as a dependable rotation piece late in the season. Return likely hinges on value of other offers.
George Hill, guard
Age: 22
Contract status: Three years, $3.2 million remaining
Future: After solid rookie season, earned the trust of coaches in Games 4 and 5 of playoffs. Will see more time once he learns to be a point guard.
Fabricio Oberto, center/forward
Age: 34
Contract status: One year, $3.9 million remaining (partially guaranteed)
Future: Fell completely out of rotation after returning from third bout of heart arrhythmia. Spurs could cut him loose for $1.9 million.
Jacque Vaughn, guard
Age: 34
Contract status: Free agent
Future: Appeared in just 30 games, and would see even less time if Hill continues to emerge. Return doesn’t appear likely.
Ian Mahinmi, center
Age: 22
Contract status: Two years, $2.6 million remaining
Future: Injury-plagued season was a disappointment for Spurs coaches, who still don’t know what they have in Mahinmi. Team has already picked up his option for next season, and he’ll play in summer league.
Marcus Williams, guard
Age: 23
Contract status: Free agent
Future: A D-League player for now. Could come to camp with Spurs next season, or could generate greater interest elsewhere.
Isn't this a copy off what MB just posted?
He wasn't on the roster at the end of the season. Marcus took his spot.
I think Geroge will see more minutes regardless of his guard status, especially if he improves on his jumpshot.
Isn't Manu a SG/SF?
I hope he's just being his usual self when he mentions Mason and PG in a positive light.
If Mason plays point guard next year in a game in which Parker and Hill are healthy, I'll be preparing for back-to-back first round exits.Future: Cooled after strong first half, but still very much in Spurs’ plans. Will become more valuable as he becomes more comfortable at the point.
Jeff McDonald's thoughts equate to:
Definite
Tim Duncan
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Roger Mason Jr
George Hill
Ian Mahinmi
Likely
Bruce Bowen
Maybe
Matt Bonner
Michael Finley
Drew Gooden
Kurt Thomas
Ime Udoka
Fabricio Oberto
Marcus Williams
Unlikely
Jacque Vaughn
I'd like for McDonald to explain to us how a 28 yr old player that sucks at ball handling suddenly learns how to do it.
Not what I wanted to hear. But if that helps create a roster spot for a younger player by not adding a veteran point guard, I'll accept it.
Midway through the season, this would have been unthinkable - I hated on Ime more than anyone, but he definitely pulled it together late and performed admirably in his role. It might be difficult to upgrade at the position anyway considering the Spurs' limited resources this off-season, so signing him short-term makes some sense.Ime Udoka, forward/guard
Age: 31
Contract status: Free agent
Future: For second year in a row, emerged as a dependable rotation piece late in the season. Return likely hinges on value of other offers.
Apparently the Spurs' fascination of turning Mason into a point guard permeates all the way out to the beat writers.
saw that too and agree. might be the least insightful thing McDonald has ever written.
While it seems a bunch of guys should go, can we really expect Pop to drop a bunch of people such as Oberto, Bonner, Finley? The logical answer is, "yes." Logically we should definitely look to get a stronger scoring bench, but Pop's answer to that at the exit interview was that you "don't start from scratch but you replace a few pieces," or something to that effect.
Yeah, I think Manu (If he comes back strong) should play back up point since he comes off the bench anyway or Hill needs to be a quick learn and take it. I have a strong feeling that Mason's game was affected in a bad way after he started playing back up point. Manu and Hill second team back court and switch off point for differnt packages.
And Manu. If Manu would have been available this playoffs, I'm pretty sure he would have taken backup PG duties early and often...
Mason has no business running the point unless there's a major problem fielding the usual suspects...
Ime I think really needs to go, the guy is embarrassing to watch and contributes very little at defence. We really need to look at whats out there before the consider bringing him back
We will, but you can't just point at any player in the league and say "play for us." It all has to work out perfectly.
Pop has officially lost it.Roger Mason Jr., guard
Age: 28
Contract status: One year, $3.8 million remaining
Future: Cooled after strong first half, but still very much in Spurs’ plans.Will become more valuable as he becomes more comfortable at the point.
Next year's project: turn Parker into a Center.
Mason sucks at PG. I hope we can trade him but if he stays he must play only at SGRoger Mason Jr., guard
Age: 28
Contract status: One year, $3.8 million remaining
Future: Cooled after strong first half, but still very much in Spurs’ plans. Will become more valuable as he becomes more comfortable at the point.
The good news is McDonald knows nothing
What I want to see
IN:
Tim Duncan
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Roger Mason Jr
George Hill
Ian Mahinmi
Bruce Bowen
Drew Gooden
Kurt Thomas
POSSIBLE TRADE BAIT:
Matt Bonner
Ime Udoka
Fabricio Oberto
Marcus Williams
OUT:
Michael Finley
Jacque Vaughn
I'm hoping it's just McDonald's analysis, and nothing more than that. We cannot possibly be the only ones who are extremely concerned with Mason in the PG position again. Considering our first round exit and how Mason played the PG, and after reviewing tapes, etc... one would think the coaching staff has concluded that Mason is just not point guard material. At least I genuinely hope that is there take.
Again, for now, I'm assuming this is only McDonald's analysis and nothing more than that regarding Mason at PG comment. I'm putting some faith in the coaching staff and presuming that with Manu out, they thought they had no alternative but to play RM at point. In retrospect, if Pop had given Hill more of a shot and had more faith in him, I think just maybe Hill would have played more PG duties than Mason, as was evidenced in the last playoff game. Hopefully, the plan was never to place RM in the PG position long-term.
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