The Spurs Aren't Done Making Moves This Summer - What Comes Next?

[Marcus Bryant]

Perhaps the summer league performance of Blair and Mahinmi gave the Spurs enough confidence to sign a veteran bigman for situational spots instead of dealing for one to play heavy minutes....

[Big P]

Ian isn't going to give you much in the limited minutes he will get this year. And if Tiago comes next year, then how useful will Ian really be? If I could get a top notch perimeter defender like Battier, I'd do it in a second. We've got enough big men to handle L.A., Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.

Limited minutes? You know this how? Theres lots of stuff to learn here, including that Ian will get his chance this year...he is not going to see limited minutes.

If Splitter comes over next year, Ian will be even more useful, dont just think about this year...what other big men are we goingt o have when TD retires? Bringing Splitter over & having Ian here to both learn under Duncan & we can have a nice foundation of Splitter at center & Ian at PF. 29 other teams would kill to have players like Ian & Tiago.

[easjer]

Perhaps the summer league performance of Blair and Mahinmi gave the Spurs enough confidence to sign a veteran bigman for situational spots instead of dealing for one to play heavy minutes....

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Barring any no brainers dropping out of the sky I think the Spurs are waiting a while until any deals get done. A few months of basketball can change a lot of things. A team that might be thinking playoffs right now could end up thinking "dump and tank" by January. Plus the Spurs don't lose much by waiting and figuring out exactly what they have on their hands. At this point Ian's trade value isn't great given that his biggest asset is athleticism and that is tempered by injury concerns. If he has a great season then the Spurs either have a serviceable young big, or they have a bunch of GM's calling to ask about him. Or he doesn't improve, in which case I imagine there will still be up tempo teams out there that could still find some appeal in him and believe that he'd do well in their system. Meanwhile, barring any massive economic turnaround, those expiring contracts will be just as attractive in a few months, if not more so.

Whatever guy the Spurs would trade for is likely to fall under the category of "proven vet" so I don't think they'll be getting anyone who will need a full season to really find their place with the team. It's tough to picture the Spurs in a holding pattern given what a whirlwind start this offseason got off to, but I think they are going to bide their time for now.

[cd98]

Limited minutes? You know this how? Theres lots of stuff to learn here, including that Ian will get his chance this year...he is not going to see limited minutes.

If Splitter comes over next year, Ian will be even more useful, dont just think about this year...what other big men are we goingt o have when TD retires? Bringing Splitter over & having Ian here to both learn under Duncan & we can have a nice foundation of Splitter at center & Ian at PF. 29 other teams would kill to have players like Ian & Tiago.

I know this because I know how Pop coaches. You know Tim is going to get 28-32 minutes a game. McDyess won't be far behind. I imagine Haslip will get the nod over Ian just based on experience and readiness. Probably the same with Bonner, 'cause Pop likes a three point shooting big guy. And if anyone is getting any extra minutes, it's Blair.

Ian needs lots of minutes to develop. He won't get that in S.A. We are in win now mode. If we can get a Battier type of defender, Spurs will make that trade in a second.

You are getting your hopes up if you think Ian is going to be a significant factor next season. He is raw. Very raw. He has some flashes of potential, but he's not reliable.

[Knoxxx]

The names that make sense for our roster are no doubt Battier/Raja Bell/S Jax. I think Jax is likely a pipe dream though, unless we essentially swap him our for Manu starting in 2010, because we can't otherwise carry his $8-$10 million contract with 3 years remaining. SJ makes $7.7 million in 2009, and we can carry that by swapping out the oft-mentioned Finley/Bonner + filler if necessary.

Battier's $7.3 million in 2010 could also cause cap issues for us, but at least that is partially offset by a reduction in TD salary that year and possibility of bringing in Splitter on the cheap.

Raja is doable and an expiring contract, but not sure what is in it for Charlotte. Would be a great way for us to offload a little salary though, since Raja is getting a little over $5 million and Finley + Bonner alone is more than that.

Yes, hard to see Ian staying around and even harder to see Bonner sticking, unless nobody will take his contract. I'm thinking a buyout may be in the offing for Bonner? I don't really regard him as one of the bigs though, more of a 3 since he plays outside and lacks much athletisicm or mean streak to bang on the inside. Problem is then he has to guard speedy 3s, not too great. OK I'll quit, starting to ramble here...

[Darkwaters]

The most intriguing idea in that initial post is the one involving moving multiple bigs. If we shipped out Bonner/Mahinmi together for another big then it could seriously modify the future of this team. It would really depend on what we're offered, but a young talent and an expiring contract would be tremendously worthwhile to a team trying to rebuild.

[NZ Spurs]

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2009/...e-making-movesBowen would be my first choice, but I'm fairly certain we can't re-acquire him via trade

If you are going to write an article then do some freaking research.

[xtremesteven33]

Hoping for.....likely not gonna happen though.....

Parker/Hill
Bell/Ginobili
Jefferson/Bowen
Duncan/Blair
Mcdyess/Ratliff


Holy ****

[benefactor]

Perhaps the summer league performance of Blair and Mahinmi gave the Spurs enough confidence to sign a veteran bigman for situational spots instead of dealing for one to play heavy minutes....

Agreed. I wanted a big like Foster but the FO seems to think that we can get by with the Blair/Mahimni tandem with Ratliff on the shelf just in case there are any issues with either of them. There is little doubt that both will struggle some, so in those times Ratliff will be there to pick up the pieces.

[buujness]

Hoping for.....likely not gonna happen though.....

Parker/Hill
Bell/Ginobili
Jefferson/Bowen
Duncan/Blair
Mcdyess/Ratliff


Holy ****

If we are relying on Ratliff to be our main back-up C, then we are royally screwed. The guy's 36, and who knows if he has anything left?

I really don't like the idea of trading Mahinmi. He's a 22-year-old athletic C; those aren't a dime a dozen. He may not have a ton of minutes this year, but for the years after that, I can see him being a real force if he develops his technique on the defensive end a bit. Not to mention you could couple him with Splitter (assuming he comes over next year) and you could have a very good core to go after more championships after Timmy D retires, and who would ever think that would be possible in the immediate future?

[mudyez]

can someone explain why theos salary is partly paid by the league?

btw.: I like the mason+ian for raja bell trade a lot!

[jb4g]

Haislip's signing seems to lean to Mahimni as the main trading chip. The Spurs still don't have a starting #2 that I like. Miller or Bell would give us an awesome starting lineup. If the Spur's FO is sure Spitter is coming next year then Ian is expendable.

I agree, and I think there is a place in the lineup for Bonner in a limited role. Pops gotta have a shooting big, no way he can go cold turkey

[ChumpDumper]

can someone explain why theos salary is partly paid by the league?

Because he's old, and the players' union didn't want teams being discouraged from signing older vets with higher minimum salaries to pay. I believe it's now basically the same as signing a five-year vet, but I'm not sure.

[mudyez]

Because he's old, and the players' union didn't want teams being discouraged from signing older vets with higher minimum salaries to pay. I believe it's now basically the same as signing a five-year vet, but I'm not sure.

uh...didnt know that!

[Bruno]

Because he's old, and the players' union didn't want teams being discouraged from signing older vets with higher minimum salaries to pay. I believe it's now basically the same as signing a five-year vet, but I'm not sure.

It's a two-year vet.

For Ratliff, Spurs will pay $800K and the league $500K for a total salary of $1.3M. He will also count only for $800K against the luxury tax.

[buujness]

I agree, and I think there is a place in the lineup for Bonner in a limited role. Pops gotta have a shooting big, no way he can go cold turkey

Heh, true.

[ChumpDumper]

It's a two-year vet.

For Ratliff, Spurs will pay $800K and the league $500K for a total salary of $1.3M. He will also count only for $800K against the luxury tax.

Thanks for the clarification -- I don't bother looking things up anymore.

[StoneBuddha]

It's a two-year vet.

For Ratliff, Spurs will pay $800K and the league $500K for a total salary of $1.3M. He will also count only for $800K against the luxury tax.

Bruno,

Where does the $500K come from? Is it some escrow account funded by siphoned off luxury tax payments or something like that?

Thanks

[45 bank shot]

I say we ship Bonner's ass

[Bruno]

Bruno,

Where does the $500K come from? Is it some escrow account funded by siphoned off luxury tax payments or something like that?

Thanks

It doesn't come from luxury tax payments. The league has a fund to pay these $500K. This fund is alimented by a part of the NBA benefits.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

The Spurs are obviously planning another move. If there's a weakness in the roster right now I'd say it's at backup point. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs trade for a veteran point guard. A second move might be trying for a guy like Raja Bell.

A trade for SJax would shock me...thoroghly.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't think it's obvious at all. There are currently five players who can supposedly play the point, so I don't know it the perceived weakness is all that glaring to Pop and the FO. I can easily see the Spurs rolling into the season with the 15 players now under contract and shuffling down the line if necessary.

[MaNu4Tres]

The Spurs are obviously planning another move. If there's a weakness in the roster right now I'd say it's at backup point. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs trade for a veteran point guard. A second move might be trying for a guy like Raja Bell.

A trade for SJax would shock me...thoroghly.

Hill is the back up point guard.

They wouldn't be wise to use their trading pieces for a 4th string point guard ( Behind Parker/ Hill/ Manu), who would spend more time in a sport coat in anticipation of the Kiss me cam.

[MaNu4Tres]

The wise thing they would do is to wait it out til the trade deadline and add a defensive starting caliber wing that can hit the 3 offensively. Or maybe even add a Camby like player if the injury bug hits our frontcourt. (or if the production in new bigs sours Blair/ Mahimni/ Haislip/ Ratliff).