Spurs Discuss Trade For Bucks’ Jefferson

[pad300]

I'd rather get a cheap big or a cheap point guard than two cheap wings who aren't very exciting prospects ... especially if the Spurs have RJ, Manu, Bowen and Mason at the wings.

We'll be filling out the roster with Vet Min players and draft picks at both bigs and wings. The question is, how many wings will we carry.

Assuming Fin goes away, we are commited to 68.7 million for 8 players (Duncan, Bonner, Mahinmi, Hill, Parker, Manu, Mason, Jefferson). We would have to get a minimum of 4 more players, and I'd be shocked if we took less than 6. I can't remember us ever carrying less than 14 players at the start of a season (since the ins ution of the 15 man roster). Even at the vet min ($457 588), with 4 we are past the tax line.(salary $70.5 Million).

I would expect to see a 3ed pg added to the roster, at least 2 wings, likely 3, and at least 2 bigs. 1 of the wings would be a resigned bowen (vet min, 457588 vs cap). After that, Hairston, Williams, Gist, all very cheap ($457 588 or less), young, and athletic. Attributes that IMO, make them valuable to this team...

The big question is Big men. Here, I am uncertain the direction the FO takes. We need at least 1 more veteran big. Preferably a starting caliber big. Sheed? McDyess? Are we willing to pay either of them?

A smaller concern is 3ed PG. Does Pop trust Hill enough to make him back up PG for a whole season and risk a rookie as 3ed PG, as opposed to the vets he likes to have. There will be some Spurs type PG's in the 2nd round. Lester Hudson for one.

[duncan228]

Nice going, Pop. Trade Bowen? You just made my list.
By Roy Bragg

Nothing personal, but I'm hating Coach Gregg Popovich right about now.

The Spurs traded Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas to the Milwaukee Bucks -- the team that beats us like a red-headed step-mule every single year, by the way -- for Richard Jefferson.

Pop does this kind of crap without any regard to how it affects other people. I am referring, specifically, to me.

Now I need to find another blogging name. Or a crazy nun.

UPDATE: Richard Oliver tweets that Bowen might be cut loose as soon as he gets to Milwaukee and allowed to re-sign with the Spurs after 30 days. Until then, I stand by the tirade that follows...)

Maybe it was a business decision

I'm no Jerry McGuire, but I think it's a salary dump for the Bucks. According to HoopsHype, Bowen is on the books for $4 million next year; Fab's going to get $3.5m, and Thomas was set to earn $3.8m. All were in the last year of their contracts.

Jefferson's good for $14 million this year and $15 million the next year. This saves the Bucks some bucks, because they take $15 million off their 2010-2011 books by losing RJefferson's contract.

Maybe it was a basketball decision.

Jefferson plays like a more offensive-minded version of Tayshaun Prince, and I love TPrince. Roger Mason showed us what youth and athleticism can add to an aging team.

Jefferson is a balla and a good citizen. He'll fit in well here.

But then again..

Pop still makes my list.

He joins Phil Bronstein -- the San Francisco Editor-At-Large who tried to jack my blog le for his blog, which all Hearst papers are required to carry -- on this roll call of infamy.

Also on the list: Sister Mary Bernadette, my 6th grade teacher at St. Luke's. That crazy penguin once dragged me by the ear -- literally -- from the playground to the principal's office for some minor kickball infraction.

I hate this trade because Richard Oliver and I spent two months courting Bowen, via email, phone and Twitter, to blog for mySA's "City Brights" project. He signed on just as the NBA Finals started.

City Brights has many excellent bloggers. There are dozens of new and exciting voices there, adding lots of cool stuff to mySA. We've got some badasses over there, but Bowen was the Big, Bald, Enchilada of the bunch.

And now he's going to Milwaukee. Maybe he'll still blog for us. Maybe not.

Or maybe Pop can do the right thing and get Sister Bernadette out of retirement to blog for us.

[timvp]

This moves makes bringing over Gist a no-brainer. Not only does he fit, his salary is the lowest possible amount.

[Libri]

Good point about Jefferson's minutes. He's a player who can withstand playing a lot of minutes. If the Fab 4 can stay healthy, you don't need that much depth behind them in the playoffs.

Hill alone could be enough ... seriously.

Fab 4. I like the sound of that!

[DPG21920]

Good point about Jefferson's minutes. He's a player who can withstand playing a lot of minutes. If the Fab 4 can stay healthy, you don't need that much depth behind them in the playoffs.

Hill alone could be enough ... seriously.

I still think the Spurs need a reliable center. If Ian can help that would be great, but you cannot count on that.

Even if the Spurs were willing to package Bonner/Mason/Finley, it would be hard to get a good center.

[robot89]

I think the spurs will use him (RJ) to get a really good big,
plus on the trade we loose some dead weight (Cash)
Bucks cut bowen so well get him back
thats what im hopping for

[Mark in Austin]

Right now I'd take Dice over Sheed pretty clearly. Now that the Spurs have another good defender to keep people out of the lane, Sheed's D becomes less important than McDyess' rebounding.

Talent vs talent I agree; but I've always thought Sheed would be a better fit next to Duncan.

At this point though, either way I won't complain.

[Pucho!!!]

I wouldnt mind seeing a start to a lineup like this:

PG Parker, Hill
SG Mason, Manu, Williams
SF Richardson, Bowen, Hairston (Hopefully Fin will be traded or retire)
PF Duncan, Gist
C Bonner, Mahimni

So that would leave 3 spots, wow, its hard to predict what the spurs will do next. If the team happens to shape up like this, the questions become who do the spurs go after for a big man and a 3rd string pg. I say (and I know yall might not like this idea, but it makes sense) resign Vaughn for the vet min or draft a PG and then that just leaves the spurs to focus on signing a big man. Does anyone have any idea how much money the spurs have left as of right now after the Jefferson trade?

[manufan10]

I think the spurs will use him (RJ) to get a really good big,
plus on the trade we loose some dead weight (Cash)
Bucks cut bowen so well get him back
thats what im hopping for

That doesn't make sense. Well, at least to me it doesn't. Why not do a 3 team trade then? It would make more sense to do that. I don't think that's what the Spurs are thinking.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Would OKC accept Mason + Finley (picks up option) for Collison?

[tmtcsc]

I like the numbers Rj brings to the team but we are still lacking some at ude. I want a tough, defensive minded BIG to help Tim.

Not to rain on anyone's parade but my biggest concern for the off-season was Tim's health. Is he going to have surgery like Sean Elliott did when he had tendonosis ? Or is he just going to get some rest for it ?

Does anyone have any insight on that ?

[duncan228]

Not to rain on anyone's parade but my biggest concern for the off-season was Tim's health. Is he going to have surgery like Sean Elliott did when he had tendonosis ? Or is he just going to get some rest for it ?

Does anyone have any insight on that ?

There's been nothing official released. The last we heard, at the season's end, was that Duncan would rest and rehab both knees over the summer.

Surgery was never mentioned by Duncan or the Spurs as an option for Duncan. It was only mentioned by the media.

[Bruno]

Spurs and Holt being ready to spend that much money for Jefferson quite shows that they are confident about Manu's and Tim's health.

[bigdog]

Would OKC accept Mason + Finley (picks up option) for Collison?

Possibly, but I don't know. I would think OKC would want to keep Collison there to pair him with Kristic.

[tmtcsc]

There's been nothing official released. The last we heard, at the season's end, was that Duncan would rest and rehab both knees over the summer.

Surgery was never mentioned by Duncan or the Spurs as an option for Duncan. It was only mentioned by the media.

Thanks. He looked better than he has in years before his injury issues. He looked, faster and stronger and lighter. It all starts and ends with # 21. That's why I think he needs some help in the lane. Someone else to help him bang with the bigs and grab a rebound.

[meestahmeestah]

Would OKC accept Mason + Finley (picks up option) for Collison?

I hope so...I'm already following him on Twitter (he's a funny guy) and now that Fab's a Buck I need more Spurs on Twitter.

[rayray2k8]

Will this throw a wrench in the trade if Oberto does not pass his physical??
With his heart condition and all...

[timvp]

Spurs and Holt being ready to spend that much money for Jefferson quite shows that they are confident about Manu's and Tim's health.

Good point. On top of that, Jefferson will help keep Manu and TD healthy during the regular season. Jefferson is built to take the pounding.

[timvp]

Will this throw a wrench in the trade if Oberto does not pass his physical??
With his heart condition and all...

No the Bucks only want him for his half non-guaranteed deal. They won't even give Oberto or Bowen a physical. Doubtful that they even give Kurt Thomas a physical.

[Spursfan092120]

Spurs and Holt being ready to spend that much money for Jefferson quite shows that they are confident about Manu's and Tim's health.

[bigdog]

Will this throw a wrench in the trade if Oberto does not pass his physical??
With his heart condition and all...

I don't think so. Oberto had an operation done that supposedly fixed it. Either way, I think the Bucks needed this move so much, that they'll just pass Oberto's physical so they could clear the cap space. they're going to release him anyways.

[Spursfan092120]

Is Milwaukee going to release Bowen? Are we going to be able to pick him back up after the 30 day rule?

[baseline bum]

Jefferson is built to take the pounding.

That doesn't sound right, considering Joumana's rumor.

[bigdog]

Is Milwaukee going to release Bowen? Are we going to be able to pick him back up after the 30 day rule?

Read the rest of the threads. The speculation is that Bowen and Oberto will be released.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Is Milwaukee going to release Bowen? Are we going to be able to pick him back up after the 30 day rule?

Yep and yep.