Free Agent: Marcin Gortat

[SenorSpur]

By now, it's best to forget about Bourasis or Javtokas. They aint coming, folks.

[ducks]

lets see what he does against lakers

[Manufan909]

By now, it's best to forget about Bourasis or Javtokas. They aint coming, folks.

I can dream!!!

[ducks]

I can dream!!!

you can only dream about them and about a woman

[Ocotillo]

Why not a sign and trade? They want salary relief? Bowen/Oberto could be shipped. They want Thomas? Why not?

With a sign and trade, we would still have the MLE for a small forward if we wanted.

[benefactor]

In 20min last night....4pts, 8reb, 4blk, 2stl....and there were several times where he was open in the lane but the Magic were busy working the ball around the perimeter looking for a shot. He was very active and did an outstanding job defending Gasol.

We have to at least make a run at him. If we give four million a year to some Greek stiff and someone else signs Gortat for the MLE I am going to be pissed.

[SenorSpur]

in 20min last night....4pts, 8reb, 4blk, 2stl....and there were several times where he was open in the lane but the magic were busy working the ball around the perimeter looking for a shot. He was very active and did an outstanding job defending gasol.

We have to at least make a run at him. If we give four million a year to some greek stiff and someone else signs gortat for the mle i am going to be pissed.

+1

[urunobili]

If we give four million a year to some Greek stiff and someone else signs Gortat for the MLE I am going to be pissed.

I think you shouldn't underestimate Bourousis game vs. Gortat's...

Let's wait and see how it pans out.. I'd hate to see most of y'all intelligent posters get angry with the Spurs front office even before seeing a player's game meshing with TD... ala George Hill last year...

If we get him and not Gortat.. please give the guy a chance before hating him...

[loveforthegame]

In 20min last night....4pts, 8reb, 4blk, 2stl....and there were several times where he was open in the lane but the Magic were busy working the ball around the perimeter looking for a shot. He was very active and did an outstanding job defending Gasol.

We have to at least make a run at him. If we give four million a year to some Greek stiff and someone else signs Gortat for the MLE I am going to be pissed.

He had an impressive dunk on Bynum. I like his hustle and he does a good job not falling for the pump fakes. Keeps his arms straight up. Reminds me of Oberto when he taps the ball out if he can't secure the rebound. Crafty around the basket while the defense is focusing on the shooters. Good mobility and runs the floor well.

But I have a feeling the Spurs won't throw the entire MLE at him and someone else scoops him up.

[Indazone]

He's a good player but not worth the MLE

[poop]

this guy is pretty much just what we need right now.

unfortunately all the exposure hes getting is only gonna make him more expensive

[lefty]

Gortat's nose is huge

It's bigger than my... it's big

[Mel_13]

He's a good player but not worth the MLE

He may not be worth it, but he definitely will get it.

[TampaDude]

Gortat is solid. The Spurs should consider him.

[yavozerb]

He's a good player but not worth the MLE

Agreed...And unfortunatly he will also be overpayed, no thanks.

[Libri]

I haven't seen much of his offensive skills. He did make a jump shot against the Lakers and seemed comfortable doing it.

[benefactor]

I think you shouldn't underestimate Bourousis game vs. Gortat's...

Let's wait and see how it pans out.. I'd hate to see most of y'all intelligent posters get angry with the Spurs front office even before seeing a player's game meshing with TD... ala George Hill last year...

If we get him and not Gortat.. please give the guy a chance before hating him...

I really don't mean to come across like I hate the guy. I guess KBP has posioned me against him a little bit.

Bourousis probably has a legit shot at being a decent role player in this league...and if we sign him I will be as objective as I am with any other role player on this team. But we are talking about two different players here. One player has done nothing in the NBA and is being signed based on his potential, and the other one is providing productive minutes in the NBA playoffs. Gortat provided a double/double in a closeout game when Howard was out. He sent away LeBron at the rim and sent away Gasol on the block...repeatedly. If you are going to commit 3-4 million a year over multiple years to a player you go with the proven product, and Gortat is providing the evidence that he is just that.

As far as giving him the MLE goes, here is my response to that:

The bottom line is this...big men with Gortat's abilities on an NBA level are few and far between. They are hard to spot and even harder to keep. We know this from experience. There have been two big needs on this team for a while now...a new SF to replace Bruce and a mobile big who plays defense and gets on the boards. From a free agency standpoint, there aren't any realistic options to upgrade the SF position significantly. The players that are available are either going to be too expensive or will opt to stay with the the teams they are currently on.

If we plan to make a run at Gortat we have offer him the full MLE. You can't just keep low balling good players and expect them to jump. Having him on our front line would be an instant upgrade defensively and it would help shore up our mismatches that we have had when facing other contenders that have big, physical front lines. Add in the fact that he has shown he can step up his game when called upon in the playoffs and 5 million a year seems like a bargain.

[benefactor]

I haven't seen much of his offensive skills. He did make a jump shot against the Lakers and seemed comfortable doing it.

He actually has a fairly nice outside stroke. You just don't see it much because the Magic are content with using their other offensive weapons. He could at least hit the little baseline jumper that Oberto shoots.

He won't be asked to do much offensively anyway. The huge benefits we will reap from his defense and his rebounding will cancel out any offense he doesn't provide.

[Mel_13]

As far as giving him the MLE goes, here is my response to that:

+1

Any team interested in Gortat will have to offer the full MLE for the maximum number of years. After his performance in the playoffs he will likely be able to choose from among several such offers.

It is entirely possible that the Spurs could make a max offer and come away empty handed. The reported interest in Bourousis may be a case of pursuing a more attainable target.

I'd rather have Gortat than Bourousis, but I'd also rather take a chance with Bourousis than settle for Sheed or Dice.

[yavozerb]

If you sign this guy for 6mil you might as well group in a class of big men with:jerome james (who got paid cause he also did well in the playoffs), Nazr,and foster..I think the guy is a good role player but not someone who would make a difference and If I am going to give someone 6mil they better at this point make the spurs better which I do not think he is much better than thomas at this point. Bourrosis is an unknown player to 99% of us but I would rather gamble with 10 mil total (from rumors) than 18-20 mil (which some are suggesting).

[HarlemHeat37]

do some of you watch the games? LOL..Gortat is much, much better than an old Kurt Thomas..if you gave us KT in his prime, he would be fine as our starter, but he isn't..Gortat is clearly much better..

did you guys see the D he played against Bynum and Gasol yesterday?..they couldn't back him down at all, and they were throwing up ugly bricks against him..he also finished strong at the rim, and he would have had more points had they called an obvious hack by Bynum on one of his layups..

this guy is a perfect Spur..the fact that Timmy can play both the low post and the high post makes this a good fit..

[benefactor]

If you sign this guy for 6mil you might as well group in a class of big men with:jerome james (who got paid cause he also did well in the playoffs), Nazr,and foster..I think the guy is a good role player but not someone who would make a difference and If I am going to give someone 6mil they better at this point make the spurs better which I do not think he is much better than thomas at this point. Bourrosis is an unknown player to 99% of us but I would rather gamble with 10 mil total (from rumors) than 18-20 mil (which some are suggesting).

[yavozerb]

He actually has a fairly nice outside stroke. You just don't see it much because the Magic are content with using their other offensive weapons. He could at least hit the little baseline jumper that Oberto shoots.
He won't be asked to do much offensively anyway. The huge benefits we will reap from his defense and his rebounding will cancel out any offense he doesn't provide.

Thats setting your standards high..

[benefactor]

Thats setting your standards high..

That is as high as they need to be. If he can hit a couple of those when he is open or roll to the basket off a double for a dunk then that is all we need from him offensively.

[SenorSpur]

I think you shouldn't underestimate Bourousis game vs. Gortat's...

Let's wait and see how it pans out.. I'd hate to see most of y'all intelligent posters get angry with the Spurs front office even before seeing a player's game meshing with TD... ala George Hill last year...

If we get him and not Gortat.. please give the guy a chance before hating him...

Like what has been said earlier, I don't wanna come across as a hater on Bourousis either. I give the edge to Gortat now because he's doin' his thing against NBA compe ion. He's as close to a sure thing, for a big, as there is out there. The Spurs need that level of contribution now. I don't want to have to wait until another international prospect has to be either bought out of his Euro contract or needs time to see if his talents translate to the NBA.