Top 25 Spurs Bigman Free Agent Targets

[El Jefe]

I know Camby was only mentioned in passing in this thread, and is not a FA. But keep this in mind....

Last season 25% of Camby's offense came in spot up situations. In these situations he shot 38.2%, resulting in .74 points per possession. That's bad. Really bad. That's "my god, why are you shooting? You're killing your team" bad.

The year before that was even worse. The idea that Camby "spreads the floor" is every bit as overrated as his defense.

[timvp]

Last season, Camby averaged a double-double plus over two blocks per game.

You have to factor in he averaged 31 minutes per game when saying he's a good scorer. Per minute, most players on the list scored more than Camby. I wouldn't classify him as a good scorer.

Hist rebounding and shotblocking are high, though. And that's why I would have to place him third on the list despite his other shortcomings.

That said, I'd rather have Splitter than any of the above, including Camby.

Prior to Blair, I would have rated Splitter pretty high. But it'd be crazy to go into a season with the three main bigmen next to Duncan being Splitter, Blair and Mahinmi. As weird as it is to say, the Spurs need some veteran savvy to fill this hole. For that reason, I easily take Wallace and McDyess over Splitter.

The thought of Finley being the closing power forward has me scared enough to be against have a young and exciting bigman rotation

[timvp]

Pretty good list...though I agree with those that said ZaZa is too low and I would probably put Gortat at #3. The big factor is one that has already been mentioned. We can't really afford to wait on the Magic to make up their mind on matching the offer. We should definitely be on the phone with Sheed/Dice at midnight on Wednesday.

How much are you (and others) willing to pay for Gortat and Pachulia? Gortat is likely to get paid. Pachulia probably won't go under the radar, either.

[Russ]

The idea that Camby "spreads the floor" is every bit as overrated as his defense.

Anybody who ever said that Camby "spreads the floor" on offense is a dope (no pun intended Chris Anderson).

[timvp]

I know Camby was only mentioned in passing in this thread, and is not a FA. But keep this in mind....

Last season 25% of Camby's offense came in spot up situations. In these situations he shot 38.2%, resulting in .74 points per possession. That's bad. Really bad. That's "my god, why are you shooting? You're killing your team" bad.

The year before that was even worse. The idea that Camby "spreads the floor" is every bit as overrated as his defense.

Yeah, Camby is extremely overrated. His DPOY was a disgrace. His pick-and-roll defense might be second worst in the league behind Shaq. His offense is pretty damn bad ... and he's a ballstopper.

But his value is in his rebounding and shotblocking. Those two things, plus his expiring contract, would make him valuable in a trade. But I certainly wouldn't give up Hill in return.

[El Jefe]

Anybody who ever said that Camby "spreads the floor" on offense is a dope (no pun intended Chris Anderson).

You are correct, but that hasn't stopped people from saying it. Looking back in this thread, I realize no one has come out and said it, but I still for some reason feel the need to nip it in the bud.

Basically Camby is efficent scoring off of cuts to the basket and O-rebounds. Anything else is an adventure. I just find it shocking what percentage of his offense is taken up by actions that directly hurt his team.

Course he did play for the Clippers last year. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised?

[rascal]

I don't know what the FA list looks like at the 3, but I can see why the Spurs FO was excited to get RJ into the mix and take their chances in a FA at the 4. There are some quality names on that list.

I like Gortat and Pachulia, but as someone said in another thread, there is a fear of the Spurs going TOO young and inexperienced. As is, we're already penciling in Hill and Blair (or Mahinmi/Gist) into significant roles. Add in RJ and FA Big into the list, and we're talking at least 4 players with very little experience in the Spurs system (include Mason if you'd like as he barely got to play with Manu last year)

The more I think about it, the more bringing Oberto back makes sense. Not to pick up significant minutes mind you, but to act as a coach/tutor/practice player to help the new bigs out.

I don't understand wasting roster spots on mentors or tutors. Pop, Duncan Parker and Manu can mentor the new players into the system.

[coyotes_geek]

How much are you (and others) willing to pay for Gortat and Pachulia? Gortat is likely to get paid. Pachulia probably won't go under the radar, either.

I don't think either are full MLE guys, but you're still probably talking about $4 mil being the minimum you'd need to offer. Gortat's price might a little higher since everyone just saw him play in the finals and that he's restricted, so you pretty much have to overpay if you don't want Orlando to match.

Given their age both are going to be looking for 4 or 5 year deals too. So you're getting into the 4yr/$20 mil range for those two. This could be a reason the Spurs might prefer the vets like Sheed or Dyess. They'll take a 2 year deal. Basically it boils down to whether or not you think Gortat/Pachulia are guys you want to keep around after the championship window has closed, or whether you just want to blow it all up and start from scratch.

[El Jefe]

Prior to Blair, I would have rated Splitter pretty high. But it'd be crazy to go into a season with the three main bigmen next to Duncan being Splitter, Blair and Mahinmi. As weird as it is to say, the Spurs need some veteran savvy to fill this hole. For that reason, I easily take Wallace and McDyess over Splitter.

+1

The Spurs have worshiped at the altar of the experienced vet for so long, it's exciting to see them actually look to some youth for a change. This has a chance to be the most athletic Spurs roster since...... which past team would be considered the most athletic? 2003?

It's easy to get swept up in the potential of the unknown. I find myself dreaming of a Duncan/Splitter/Blair/Mahinmi rotation, before remembering that only 25% of that rotation has every played meaningful minutes in the NBA. Whoever we pick up with the mid-level HAS to be someone that is a proven NBA rotation player. Taking a gamble and missing would be disastrous to any le hopes this team has.

[El Jefe]

I don't understand wasting roster spots on mentors or tutors. Pop, Duncan Parker and Manu can mentor the new players into the system.

Pop, Parker and Manu have never played the 4-5 spot in the Spurs system. I grant you that Pop might have an idea of what that entails, but he has a lot on his plate already.

Duncan could of course do a lot of teaching, and probably will. However, I can easily imagine the team trying to reduce the amount of time he spends on the practice floor in an effort to preserve him for games.

That all being said, the Spurs have several coaches and player development guys for this very reason. You may be right, and if it comes down to choosing between talent or a mentor for that last roster spot, talent is probably the way to go.

But if you have an open roster spot, it makes sense to me to bring in someone who has 4 years of experience in the system, who played with a high basketball IQ, at a position where you'll have a lot of young guys and some coaching to do.

[EricB]

+1

The Spurs have worshiped at the altar of the experienced vet for so long, it's exciting to see them actually look to some youth for a change. This has a chance to be the most athletic Spurs roster since...... which past team would be considered the most athletic? 2003?

It's easy to get swept up in the potential of the unknown. I find myself dreaming of a Duncan/Splitter/Blair/Mahinmi rotation, before remembering that only 25% of that rotation has every played meaningful minutes in the NBA. Whoever we pick up with the mid-level HAS to be someone that is a proven NBA rotation player. Taking a gamble and missing would be disastrous to any le hopes this team has.

That 2005 team was pretty damn athletic.

There were times they ran the Suns oout of the building wich no one thought could be done.

[DPG21920]

We are all in agreement that the Spurs need a legit starting Center. Who on this list do you think qualifies as such?

[Ocotillo]

If they wiff on the first two on your list (job well done by the way, per usual) I could see them bringing in Theo Ratliff on the Caldwell Jones plan for mentoring the young uns.

[DAF86]

My wish list:

1-Wallace
2-Villanueva
3-Gortat

[El Jefe]

That 2005 team was pretty damn athletic.

There were times they ran the Suns oout of the building wich no one thought could be done.

That they did. It was mostly Parker and Manu burning them up in transition, with the occasional Brent Barry sighting (not sure I'd say he was athletic at that point, but ran the floor/moved the ball well, plus you had better damn well find him behind the 3 point line in transition, at least in that series) Is my fragile memory forgetting some other key contributor from that year?

I still side with 2003 though, mainly just for Claxton coming off the bench instead of Beno. Am I wrong?

[Mr. Body]

There is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge drop after Dice and Sheed. We need to land one of those two guys. Either one - they're both excellent - and I think we will.

[yavozerb]

There is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge drop after Dice and Sheed. We need to land one of those two guys. Either one - they're both excellent - and I think we will.

Agreed!! The way this offseason is going I would not expect anyone else.

[DPG21920]

Did the Bucks extend the QO to CV? I do not think many of these guys are upgrades over Bonner/KT starting. There are a few, but the Spurs must get a legit starter.

If not this year, then the next.

[EricB]

Yeah CV got a qualifying offer.

That said, I think hes a stiff and its Rasheed or McDyess or bust.

[elbamba]

So would I. I think he's who the Spurs would go after if they miss on the first two on the list.

Zaza pachulia to me would be the perfect pick up and he would be the player I would most likely expect us to sign. Under the radar and then he comes in to put up solid numbers and becomes a good side kick to tim. I think he will be the big that we sign with another veteren big at the league minimum.

[EricB]

Hey RUSS

In your sig, is that after game 6 against the Lakers in 2003?

[ploto]

Zaza pachulia to me would be the perfect pick up and he would be the player I would most likely expect us to sign. Under the radar and then he comes in to put up solid numbers and becomes a good side kick to tim.

Zaza made $4M this season. I would think he expects the full MLE for four years- do you want to invest that much in him?

[ElNono]

We should use the entire MLE on Diop...
Oh wait!

[benefactor]

How much are you (and others) willing to pay for Gortat and Pachulia? Gortat is likely to get paid. Pachulia probably won't go under the radar, either.

If the Spurs are sold on Gortat, then they have no choice but to make a decisive offer even if it means paying him a little more than he might be worth. If they go too low and the Magic match it could have disastrous consequences in that they could see all other solid big man options dissolve in the waiting period. I was for the full MLE initially but after seeing an exact number on that I think it would be a bit steep. The other side of that coin is that 3 million a year is probably not going to be enough and the Magic will wind up matching.

We could probably pull him away with something between 4.5-5 million a year over 4 years with the final year partially guaranteed...and I would be ok with that type of money for him.

[yavozerb]

If the Spurs are sold on Gortat, then they have no choice but to make a decisive offer even if it means paying him a little more than he might be worth. If they go too low and the Magic match it could have disastrous consequences in that they could see all other solid big man options dissolve in the waiting period. I was for the full MLE initially but after seeing an exact number on that I think it would be a bit steep. The other side of that coin is that 3 million a year is probably not going to be enough and the Magic will wind up matching.

We could probably pull him away with something between 4.5-5 million a year over 4 years with the final year partially guaranteed...and I would be ok with that type of money for him.

20 mil over 4 years...This would ruin the one of the best offseasons in recent spurs history..SAY NO TO JEROME JAMES, i mean GORTAT