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The Spurs have a 0% chance of getting Ariza this summer.
I didn't say full MLE and he had the best defensive +/- stats of anyone on the Nuggets in the playoffs.
He's definitely still a work but he would bring a lot of useful attributes. Kleiza wouldn't be able to come close to replacing Bowen on the defensive end ... but I've pretty much given up on the Spurs being able to find a Bowen replacement. With Kleiza at SF, at least he strengthens the frontline in terms of size and toughness.
But yeah, it depends on how the Spurs go about getting the pieces they need. If they trade for a big, then trying to steal Kleiza by using a chunk the MLE could be a smart avenue to take. I agree that a maxed out MLE is too much ... but then again the pickings are so slim this summer that Kleiza could very well get that offer. D'Antoni, for one, has been after him for a while.
As for the draft, it's pretty much irrelevant in terms of piecing together the team. There's no way a player drafted in the second round can be counted on to do anything. Drafting a big or a wing wouldn't make either need less glaring. And with Pop having no history of ever trading up, I think it's safe to say the Spurs won't be trading up into the first round for an impact rookie.
The Spurs have a 0% chance of getting Ariza this summer.
Along with Gortat, Kleiza is one of the few players that I would delve into the 5 million dollar range to acquire. He is the type of player I think of getting when I think about the direction we will likely have to go in 2010...solid role players who we can put around the big three that will help us contend through 2012.
I'm curious how hard Denver is willing to fight to keep him. I read somewhere else a while back that Denver's owner is really partial to him. Denver is pushing the cap now with the contracts they have now though, so its hard to see them matching something in the 5 million range.
That is the MLE dilemna. Every team over the cap has it at their disposal and it only takes one team to set the market for any one player. Players like Kleiza may not be worth the full MLE, but it is entirely possible that he will get it.I didn't say full MLE and he had the best defensive +/- stats of anyone on the Nuggets in the playoffs.
He's definitely still a work but he would bring a lot of useful attributes. Kleiza wouldn't be able to come close to replacing Bowen on the defensive end ... but I've pretty much given up on the Spurs being able to find a Bowen replacement. With Kleiza at SF, at least he strengthens the frontline in terms of size and toughness.
But yeah, it depends on how the Spurs go about getting the pieces they need. If they trade for a big, then trying to steal Kleiza by using a chunk the MLE could be a smart avenue to take. I agree that a maxed out MLE is too much ... but then again the pickings are so slim this summer that Kleiza could very well get that offer. D'Antoni, for one, has been after him for a while.
As for the draft, it's pretty much irrelevant in terms of piecing together the team. There's no way a player drafted in the second round can be counted on to do anything. Drafting a big or a wing wouldn't make either need less glaring. And with Pop having no history of ever trading up, I think it's safe to say the Spurs won't be trading up into the first round for an impact rookie.
The full MLE offer is a longshot bet. The great majority of players on full or nearly full MLE contracts never come close to playing to the level of their contracts. Try to think of players signed for all or most of the MLE that were/are in line for a raise at the end of their deals. Hard to do. Now try to think of MLE players that become cap killers and trade fillers and can't get a job in the NBA much above the vet min when their deals are up. Much longer list.
So for a team on a budget like the Spurs, players like Kleiza pose a problem. They can obviously help the team but a 3yr/12M or a 4yr/16M offer probably gets matched The full MLE offer of 5yr/33M probably gets the job done, but if he busts then the damage will be severe and long-lasting.
The Spurs have recently taken the low risk approach (Roger Mason) when using the MLE. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to place a big bet on a longshot this summer.
^^ True regarding the fail percentage of a full MLE contract. Even just think back to last year. If the Spurs would have landed Maggette, even that deal wouldn't look so grand right now with Maggette's injury woes.
Indeed. I was pretty pissed about Bad Porn opting to go with a crap team for more money, but now it's looking like we got pretty lucky. I can't imagine being GS right now. What is even funnier is that they are paying Capt. Jack less money than him and Jack is twice the player.
But as I have said before, we are coming to the point that a risk like this is starting to look closer to being a necessity instead of an option if we want to even consider contending next season. No move at all basically equals mailing next year in and hoping for the best in 2010.
That defensive +/- took me by surprise. I'm not sure what to make of it.I didn't say full MLE and he had the best defensive +/- stats of anyone on the Nuggets in the playoffs.
He's definitely still a work but he would bring a lot of useful attributes. Kleiza wouldn't be able to come close to replacing Bowen on the defensive end ... but I've pretty much given up on the Spurs being able to find a Bowen replacement. With Kleiza at SF, at least he strengthens the frontline in terms of size and toughness.
But yeah, it depends on how the Spurs go about getting the pieces they need. If they trade for a big, then trying to steal Kleiza by using a chunk the MLE could be a smart avenue to take. I agree that a maxed out MLE is too much ... but then again the pickings are so slim this summer that Kleiza could very well get that offer. D'Antoni, for one, has been after him for a while.
As for the draft, it's pretty much irrelevant in terms of piecing together the team. There's no way a player drafted in the second round can be counted on to do anything. Drafting a big or a wing wouldn't make either need less glaring. And with Pop having no history of ever trading up, I think it's safe to say the Spurs won't be trading up into the first round for an impact rookie.
The draft is largely unimportant if the Spurs don't trade up in. We definitely agree on that much.
Not only that, but I'm not sure I'd even want him. I used to be on his bandwagon, but increasingly I doubt he'd fit the system. All sorts of talent. But I'm not sure if he's the right kind of talent. I'd prefer the Spurs to offer the full MLE to, say, Marvin Williams and see if Atlanta blinks.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...ion_to_kleiza/
Raptors Turn Attention To Kleiza
Toronto was interested in Charlie Villanueva, but he has now agreed to terms with Detroit.
The Raptors will now turn their attention back to Denver's Linas Kleiza, who they contacted early in the free agent process last night.
Via Toronto Star
If the Spurs can land a starting center via trade (ie Foster) then making a run at Kleiza with the MLE might not be such a bad idea. He would be great off the bench, especially with his ability to play multiple positions.
I guess the market on Kleiza is partial MLE. That's a good price, but he's defensive liability. I'd rather retain Gooden and give a youngster like Hairston burn.
btw: I still don't know what to make of the defensive +/- numbers. I'm guessing aberration. Blame the noise.
I really have liked Kleiza for awhile, but the Spurs have never seemed too interested in him. Perhaps now... I think he would be a good fit we can't get Sheed or Dyess.
I was thinking the same thing - if we could somehow swap Bonner for Kleiza, I'm all over it!
I love this guy... he has the word Spurs written all over him... I still think Nocioni > Kleiza...
Any word of where he'll be playing?
For the past several years, whenever I saw this guy get on the floor, I was impressed by his hustle and his ability to knock down big shots. His numbers are pretty damn good and I'd love to see him on the Spurs' second team.
Olympiacos is trying to get him.
http://www.talkbasket.net/news/olymp...eiza-1680.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns
Also Khimki is going to make an offer to him now because Garbajosa left them.
It is spelled Olympiacos.
The Spurs will dominate the 19-20 year old bench players of Olympiacos? Wow.
but their web page is called olympiakos.gr, so don`t be so punctual.
Kleiza is great player, it will be sad if he doesn`t play in the league, but I don`t see how we can get him...
If the nuggets dont keep him they have an even weaker bench.
No it is not dumb ass.
http://olympiacos.org/
http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/188495
Kleiza's agent said that they will finalize agreement with Olympiacos very soon.
Considering we use different alphabets, your point seems moot. Since Greek only has the Kappa to make a "C" sound, it makes little difference whether you choose to latinize/anglicize the team name as Olympiacos, or retain a more traditional Olympiakos spelling. The team owns both domains, so there's obviously enough ambiguity on the issue to warrant their purchase. Dumb ass.
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