Tiago Splitter re-entering the picture for this upcoming season is being talked about in a bunch of different threads. While I think it's still a long shot that he joins the Spurs this summer, there a few things to note:
-A couple of posters have reported hearing a call on local sports radio where the caller said that Splitter is coming. Obviously sports radio caller is about the lowest form of source available, but I guess it's worth something.
-There has been some talk on the internet about Splitter possibly getting paid late by Tau. It has also been stated that Tau may be losing a main sponsor.
-When Splitter didn't come last summer, he talked about not wanting to ride the bench in the NBA and said he didn't see where he'd get minutes. With the bigman positions gutted, Splitter now has a wide open opportunity.
-When he re-signed with Tau, he talked about his sick sister being a big reason why he chose to stay. His sister unfortunately has since passed away. RIP.
-The Spurs management spent some time in Spain during the offseason. A meeting with Splitter could have very well taken place.
-RC in his post-RJ trade interview said that that a couple of the prospects in Europe could be coming over soon. James Gist is one player. Could Splitter be another?
-When RC was asked whether the Spurs will target bigmen in the draft and free agency, he oddly talked as if the bigman position isn't a glaring need.
Bruno also had this to say:
All in all, I don't expect Splitter to cross the pond this year. In all likelihood, he'll wait until the summer of 2010 when he can sign for an amount more than the restrictive rookie scale. But .......... perhaps there is fire where we see smoke.
Great stuff TIMVP....We were just talking about this in studio. Andy said the same thing about the RC comment in last night's PC.
Clearly Spurs made this move feeling confident they can find a big man, or already have a big man ready to roll.
Please prepare for me to steal all of this and use it as my own for the show this morning....
go TEXAS!..... yeah hopefully something like this happens...but if it does how nba ready is he? hopefully bonner does not start!!
One can dream.
Here in Brazil there's no news about that
But any news here must be check after that BS interview with Varejao on a blog
where is the praying dog?
TAU will never allow him to come this summer, they hate the spurs
Another thought could be that after talking to Splitter this offseason confirmed that the team will NOT be getting him this year or next without big money out. So, considering the big money committed to RJ, Tiago's rights may be the bait to dangle for the draft day move up...
Just a thought. I would love to see Splitter play alongside Duncan, but maybe the FO have a draft target big that they think will work instead.
I too can dream...
It makes sense if Splitter's main reason for not joining the Spurs last season was not having an opportunity to start. Unless Tau is imploding financially, the rookie deal would still seem to be a limitation, unless Splitter opts to begin his NBA career now and not wait any longer. He'll be paid well after his initial NBA contract anyways.
Plus, as pointed out in the OP, there were other considerations which seemed to affect his decision last year.
Splitter actually coming over here this year would be cool.
And would shore up that huge hole we have currently. One can dream!
It would truly be a dream offseason if Splitter comes over.
Originally Posted by Bruno View Post
Tau is in full rebuilding mode.
They have lost their starting, PG, SG and SF (Prigioni, Rakocevic and Pete Mickael). Teletovic (their best big aside Splitter) is also rumored to be on his way out.
They are building a team for the future with young players. If Splitter is set to leave the team in 2010, it makes few sense for Tau to keep him and his big salary in 09-10.
I'm a little looking at Tau forums and Spanish articles about Splitter since the end of his season. I have seen almost nothing hinting that he will leave or that he will stay. I've only read a rumor of him going to the NBA on the ACB forum ( link ).
Bruno should be pinked. His distortions are DISGUSTING. TAU has a HIGHER budget next year.
Even if he did come over, we'd quickly trade him to the wizards for Etan Thomas.
Rakocevic is gone. Lior Eliahu is in. Thats facts. Didn`t heard anything about Mickeal nor Prigioni. I am sure Teletovic stay.
There is crisis and Tau Ceramica is considert to leave this team. May 1 mln euros buyout for Splitter is a great deal for managment ? hope so...
I read in another thread that the Pistons sent Amir Johnson and cash to the Spurs for Oberto, and that the Spurs sent Johnson straight to the Bucks in the trade for Jefferson. If that is accurate, the Spurs can use that money to reach a buyout agreement with TAU and Splitter. I'm not sure if there's any truth to that, but it would be nice.
That would be nice.
Eliyahu makes MORE than Rakocevic. Prigioni will leave. Lakovic will replace him for MORE than Prigioni made. Mickeal will leave. Tripkovic will replace him for similar amount of money. Teletovic if he leaves will bring TAU a BIG buyout which will be used to buy another player.
Their budget next year will be HIGHER than this year. Once again Bruno is just trying to stir up .
Bruno has like 7 billion times more credibility on this forum than KBP...pinked indeed.
Okay, it's official. Splitter is coming.
Don't you have some other Greek player to drool on and over hype?
What's the matter, Boarass didn't work out?
Just leave already and stop hating on Bruno. Don't be mad because he's who you wanna be..
OK I get it, there are conflicting views as to whether Tau is in rebuilding mode, but hypothetically speaking, do we have a sense of what the buy out would have to approximate in order to get Tau to budge of Splitter?
Hypothetically (again), it seems to me that paying Tau a generous buy out ($1.5M euro?) and then signing Splitter to a rookie scale deal would be a huge feat for the Spurs. That option may be more financial sensible than paying a C/PF vet near the full MLE (approx. 6M).
The question then becomes what happens is the Spurs reach a buy out with the club but the player is not on board with the deal? Does the player have the opportunity to shoot down such an agreement? Under our hypothetical, Splitter of course would face making significantly less money.
Spurs would not have been this confident trade 2 of our bigs if they didn't have a plan.
It would make sense if Splitter come over this year and would actually increase his value in 2010.
It's a pipe dream, but everyone gets the feeling that the spurs FO is brewing something...
Once again KBP forgets to use his Greek accent.
I would be beyond shocked if he even CONSIDERED coming over this summer.
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