Speculation: McClinton heading overseas

[lurker23]

I'd like to preface this thread by saying that this is pure speculation on my part. I have sources, but this does not come from any of those sources. However, based on several things going on, I have a strong gut feeling that we'll hear in the next week that Jack McClinton will play this upcoming basketball season somewhere other than the NBA. Here are a few of my reasons:

1. The obvious one that everyone knows: by signing Keith Bogans, the Spurs now have 14 players with guaranteed contracts. Barring a trade or the Spurs eating some money and cutting one of these 14 guys (e.g.- Mahinmi), a roster spot on this year's team will be very hard to come by.

2. Also with the Bogans signing, the Spurs have added another SG. This makes the 2/3 situation in San Antonio very crowded, particularly when you add the compe ion of Hairston and Williams, as well as the distinct possibility that George Hill will get some minutes at the 2.

3. While Jack McClinton is a very talented shooter, many have said that he'll need to improve his all-around game if he's going to make it in the NBA as an undersized player. With specific goals to target and work on, he becomes a better candidate for a year overseas than most.

4. On Tuesday, on Jack McClinton's Twitter, he said, "big decisions to make right now,,, reall big decisions,,,,,". In his next post, he told Iman Shumpert (basketball player at Georgia Tech) that he's "wit the spurs for now." I could be reading way too much into that "for now" part, and perhaps Jack's big decision is what kind of car to buy from the money that the Spurs will throw at him for training camp. But I really think this indicates that Jack knows his options: sign on for training camp, where either the writing on the wall or the Spurs themselves tell him that he has a fairly slim chance of making the team, or go overseas for a year for some guaranteed money, and give the Spurs another shot when there's potentially less of a logjam on the roster.


Anyway, I know some of you really couldn't care less about my speculation and gut feelings, but I figured I'd throw my thoughts out there for discussion.

[VivaPopovich]

Yeah I agree, Jack's overall game needs a lot of work. I agree with the likely outcome of him playing overseas but I don't think that'd be the right decision for Jack. The best way to develop your game would be to play for the Spurs d-league team.

As far as money is concerned, every nba player should have their own business ventures going on independently of their careers so money isn't always the biggest factor to every nba decision. Will miss him especially since he actually replies to his twitter messages.

[coyotes_geek]

As far as money is concerned, every nba player should have their own business ventures going on independently of their careers so money isn't always the biggest factor to every nba decision.

McClinton hasn't made any money yet. There's only one business venture he needs to be involved in right now. That's figuring out how to make a living by getting paid to play basketball.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I speculated that McClinton would be playing somewhere other than SA as soon as we saw him in the summer league.

[rjv]

I speculated that McClinton would be playing somewhere other than SA as soon as we saw him in the summer league.

his summer league stint did not help at all, that's for sure.

i do see gist heading back to europe as well.

[Libri]

It could be that his "big decision" is to play in Europe or maybe he was told of another option; the Spurs could let him go so that he could take a chance elsewhere, with another team. Leaving the Spurs to workout for another NBA team would certainly be a big decision.

I'm not sure how that would work. Would the Spurs have to renounce their rights to McClinton?

[coyotes_geek]

It could be that his "big decision" is to play in Europe or maybe he was told of another option; the Spurs could let him go so that he could take a chance elsewhere, with another team. Leaving the Spurs to workout for another NBA team would certainly be a big decision.

I'm not sure how that would work. Would the Spurs have to renounce their rights to McClinton?

Not if he goes to europe before signing a contract with the Spurs. Once he signs the contract though the Spurs either have to keep him or cut him. If they cut him, they've lost all rights to him.

[Spurs Brazil]

I think McClinton and Gist will be playing in Austin

[Libri]

Not if he goes to europe before signing a contract with the Spurs. Once he signs the contract though the Spurs either have to keep him or cut him. If they cut him, they've lost all rights to him.

I see.

Personally, I would like to see him play for the Toros and observe how he performs in a more organized system.

[CyberBob]

He's gone. It's official now. He's been waived.

[ChumpDumper]

My guess is he asked to be released.

[coyotes_geek]

When did McClinton sign? Can't get waived unless you signed.

What probably happened is the Spurs pulled the required tender offer which forfeits their rights and makes him a FA. Technically not a waiving, but ends up with the same result.

I'd guess the Spurs and McClinton had a disagreement about him playing in europe next year. This doesn't close the book on him and the Spurs though. If no one picks him up he'll end up a Toro by default.

[bigdog]

He signed before Summer League, I believe.

[manu_maniac]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs_....html?rss=true

[rayray2k8]

oh wow. he has been waived..

[pkbpkb81]

He was signed on 9/14.

why sgin him just to waive him like 9 days later

[completely deck]

He was signed on 9/14.

why sgin him just to waive him like 9 days later

Spurs were required to give him something, so they gave him a tender offer

[coyotes_geek]

He was signed on 9/14.

why sgin him just to waive him like 9 days later

In order to keep his draft rights the Spurs were required to offer him a contract by September 6th. McClinton took it, even though it's likely that the Spurs didn't want him to.

[lurker23]

When did McClinton sign? Can't get waived unless you signed.

What probably happened is the Spurs pulled the required tender offer which forfeits their rights and makes him a FA. Technically not a waiving, but ends up with the same result.

I'd guess the Spurs and McClinton had a disagreement about him playing in europe next year. This doesn't close the book on him and the Spurs though. If no one picks him up he'll end up a Toro by default.

I'd honestly be surprised if McClinton ended up as a Toro. If our speculation is correct, he wanted to play in the NBA and not in Europe. If that is the case, he'll likely sign a training camp deal with some other NBA team where he feels he has a shot at making the 15-man roster.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but once he does that, he basically loses all affiliation with the Spurs organization, correct? Or does he still somehow retain a Toros tie-in as a Spurs second-round pick?

(Not that it matters all that much. Whether as a Toro or with another D-League team, the Spurs have no more rights to him than any other NBA team.)

[completely deck]

I'd honestly be surprised if McClinton ended up as a Toro. If our speculation is correct, he wanted to play in the NBA and not in Europe. If that is the case, he'll likely sign a training camp deal with some other NBA team where he feels he has a shot at making the 15-man roster.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but once he does that, he basically loses all affiliation with the Spurs organization, correct? Or does he still somehow retain a Toros tie-in as a Spurs second-round pick?

(Not that it matters all that much. Whether as a Toro or with another D-League team, the Spurs have no more rights to him than any other NBA team.)

From what I gather, if he ends up in the D-League he has to be with the Toros unless they don't want him.

[lurker23]

Anyway, to sum up this thread, I was right on some accounts and wrong on others. All the reasons for thinking he was heading overseas also pointed to the idea that there was no room for him on the Spurs this season. However, if you had told me of today's events, I wouldn't have believed you.

I thought the worst case for the Spurs/McClinton relationship was that he would choose to come to camp, he would fail to beat out others for a roster spot, then he would be cut and the Spurs would lose his rights. However, to lose his rights without even seeing him play a preseason game is disappointing. I wish Jack well, and I hope that he and the Spurs can renew their relationship at some point in the future. It may just be yet another second round draft pick that didn't work out, but for it to fail so abruptly and unexpectedly is a bit of a disappointment for the Spurs.

[coyotes_geek]

It may just be yet another second round draft pick that didn't work out, but for it to fail so abruptly and unexpectedly is a bit of a disappointment for the Spurs.

Agree with you there. I'm sure the Spurs aren't happy about how it all went down. Not that they really had much of a say in the matter. McClinton clearly wants to play in the NBA immediately, the CBA rules gave him an out, and he took it. No one should fault him for that. It's his right. But at the same time this incident does give me some extra appreciation for the decision James Gist made last year.

[kbrury]

If only the spurs got Mills even though he is injury prone, they could have stashed him in Australia for a few years.

Though its easier said then done and at the time I thought Jack would be the better player and he could still prove his worth but its sad it won't be with the spurs.

[lurker23]

Agree with you there. I'm sure the Spurs aren't happy about how it all went down. Not that they really had much of a say in the matter. McClinton clearly wants to play in the NBA immediately, the CBA rules gave him an out, and he took it. No one should fault him for that. It's his right. But at the same time this incident does give me some extra appreciation for the decision James Gist made last year.

Agreed. No ill feelings toward McClinton, and props to Gist. Also, this is yet another example of what a class organization the Spurs are. Another organization may have asked the player to fulfill their contractual agreement, play with the team through the entire training camp, then cut them. Instead, the Spurs agreed to McClinton's request and gave him a better shot to fulfill his dreams.

[exstatic]

Uh, it's not necessarily over with Jack as a Spur. Marcus Williams did almost the same thing, except they had him in camp and then cut him. At that point he really had no ties with the Spurs. He went and played in the d-league for a year, signing with the Clippers at the end. Then, back to the Toros in the fall. Here he is, two years later, knocking on the door. The Spurs have a HUGE advantage by owning their own d-league club.