Spurs weigh Mahinmi’s fate
Jeff McDonald
Sometime before Monday’s NBA roster deadline, the Spurs must determine whether Malik Hairston or Marcus Williams will still have a job in San Antonio when the season starts.
Elsewhere on the roster, center Ian Mahinmi is battling a different, delayed sort of job insecurity. The Spurs have until Halloween to determine whether he will still have a job here next year.
Mahinmi, the 28th pick in the 2005 draft, is in the third season of his standard rookie contract, which comes with a team option for a fourth season. As the deadline to extend Mahinmi’s deal approaches, the Spurs’ decision-makers still don’t seem to know what to make of the enigmatic 22-year-old Frenchman, whose career to date has been long on promise but short on production.
“We haven’t talked about it yet,” Mahinmi said after Friday’s preseason finale against the Pacers. “All I can do is take it day after day and see what happens.”
Sometime this week, the Spurs must have their reckoning with Mahinmi.
The team must weigh what it has already invested in its 6-foot-11 project — three seasons and what will total about $2.45 million by the end of this season — against the price of buying Mahinmi more time.
Should the Spurs opt to bring Mahinmi back in 2010-11, it will cost them an additional $1.78 million — and double that, if they are unable to get below the luxury tax line for next season.
“It’s a situation where I think we’re not going to get ahead of the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’re going to take it day-to-day and see what we feel when the time comes.”
When it comes to deciding the fate of Mahinmi, the Spurs wish they had what they do not — more time, and a greater body of evidence.
Mahinmi, who is guaranteed $989,670 for the upcoming season, has played just one full season in the United States, a 2007-08 campaign spent mostly with the Austin Toros. He missed all of his sop re campaign battling a litany of lower leg injuries, eventually requiring season-ending ankle surgery in February.
In brief stints against NBA-caliber compe ion, Mahinmi has yet to consistently show the form that once made him a Development League All-Star. He has shown glimpses of a natural shot-blocking prowess and can run the floor better than most NBA big men. Yet he is still raw offensively and remains foul prone.
In what amounts to the Spurs’ final evaluation of Mahinmi, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.3 minutes this preseason.
“He’s really working harder than one can even imagine, because he wants it to work,” Popovich said. “He’s progressing in a positive direction. He’s actually holding his own against guys in practice. As his confidence level increases, I think we’re going to see a better player.”
It can’t hurt Mahinmi’s case that he is coming off one of his best performances of the preseason. In the Spurs’ 114-112 loss at Indiana, Mahinmi stayed in a tight game down the stretch and produced two big buckets over Josh McRoberts.
Veteran center Theo Ratliff says he can understand why the Spurs have devoted so much time and energy to developing Mahinmi.
“He can be an NBA player,” Ratliff said. “It’s just a matter of him continuing to develop, understanding the different nuances of the game. That’s something this coaching staff teaches very well.”
Mahinmi is beginning to believe he belongs on an NBA court. Asked if he now can envision himself as an everyday player someday, Mahinmi didn’t hesitate.
“Oh yes,” he said. “Definitely.”
Whether that day will eventually come with the Spurs, or some other team, is a question for later this week.
NOTABLE: X-rays on DeJuan Blair’s bruised tailbone were negative Saturday. The rookie is considered day-to-day for practices but is not expected to miss Wednesday’s season-opener against New Orleans.
This is kind of reminding me of Claxton, whose option they didn't pick up..
Both largely unproven at the NBA level and injury-prone, but talented players on cheap contracts as well.
My gut says they do pick up his option, but nothing would surprise me.
I cannot get a good read, but my gut tells me they will err on the side of fiscal caution and not pick up his option. If they were leaning towards picking up his option I would think they would be more encouraging and give him many votes of confidence.
As a fan, I hope I am wrong and they spend the money to evaluate him further. But I also understand he is still largely unproven and the Spurs have done a lot money wise recently; I can see them saving where the can.
He's coming back after missing almost a full year. The Spurs can afford to wait for him to get back to full strength. And should.
Mahinmi has been a promising rookie for 3 years, just let him play.
I agree and I hope so. I just cannot tell how the Spurs feel about him. My initial thought is that they are annoyed with him. I know to some of us, it is obvious that he is coming back from injury and we should be patient. But we are not the ones investing money and time in Ian. The Spurs are. So one can see why they might be ready to give up.
I really, really hope Ian gets his option picked up and he is given more time to adjust. He potentially fills such a huge need. I wonder how much Tiago weighs into this decision.
I think if they want him next year, they'll pick up the option. Don't jump to conclusions and say "duh!". In another year, they might not have picked up the option and tried to lowball him for year 4, but next summer, there's going to be a load of disappointed suitors in the FA game, and heaven help the team that has a prospect that's a FA.
Mahinmi had his big year with the Toros when the frontcourt rotation was set and there was no room for him in SA. Last year there was room and he was injured. While I think the Spurs aren't sure what they have, I don't think they've soured on him as much as this forum believes they have. They'd be foolish to run him off, especially to save the amount they could.
The funny thing is, that even though Ian has had EXTREMELY limited time with the big boys, he actually has performed decently well, especially before he was injured (I know it was garbage time and a small sample...).
I think he has done well and shown enough, but you never know. We will have a lot of these questions answered on the 31st.
They'll pick it up. Dice and Theo will only be around 1-2 years. The team WILL be in need of another big a year from now. It WILL cost MORE to bring Splitter over, and there will be a lot of cashed up teams with money to burn, and we all know how much bigs can command on the FA market.
The price for Ian is actually very low, even for a gamble that he will be a serviceable big.
I think they should pick up the option. I'm not sure if Mahinmi will ever turn it around, but if he does he could be quite the player. And if he doesn't then he would be very easy to trade next year as an expiring young athletic big. If we soured on him and decided to part ways after this season then some team would be willing to take a shot considering the small risk involved.
No brainer.
You pick it up.
If the Spurs were not in the luxury tax, IMO, it wouldn't be an issue. But I suspect that they may cut him for fiscal concerns because for the Spurs money is always an issue. We'll know soon enough but in the long run, SA 's possible loss will be a gain for someone. Big men are still a scarcity. And just as sure as the Lakers suck, Ian will blossom after his cut from the Spurs and will be one that got away.
Just thinking aloud here; as much as you can on a message board..
If things go right and they sign Splitter and Bonner gets extended, what's been rumored, that leaves the Spurs with a rotation of: Duncan, 'Dyess, Blair, Splitter and Bonner.
I can't really see much out there that's going to be better than picking up Ian's option, at least not for a sixth big..
Why wouldn't you pick up Ian's option? If not for his game, you could do it for his potential trade value. I really doubt the Spurs would not pick up that option.
Same with Hairston, why would you not keep him? Don't you have until January until his contract becomes fully guaranteed and counts towards the salary cap?
Blackjack21 I also read in the last game thread where someone mentioned that Bonner is talking about a contract extension. Was that you? I can't believe no one else has mentioned this. Is this true? I was kinda surprised to read that.
IMHO, Mahinmi was a nice project, but its time to let it go. He is a perenial all-star in the D-league and will probably only ammount to a 2nd string at best on another NBA team. We just dont have the minutes for him now with Mcdyess, bonner and Ratliff.
Why throw away a potential trade chip when bigs are sought after in this league?
i say pick up his option but i'm not the one picking up the luxury tax tab. spurs could be thinking of declining his option just to save money for splitter. mahinmi won't see much playing time this year, if any. so the spurs don't really need him. on the other hand, ratliff, bonner, and haislip may no longer be on the team next year, giving mahinmi more chances to shine. i want to see him succeed but improvements probably won't appear until next year.
If they thought 1.78m is too expensive, is it possible that Spurs doesn't extend his current contract but renegotiate a new minimum contract? I thought the minimum for a 5th year player is less than 1m.
I think MaNu4Tres was the last poster I've seen mention it but there's been some reports of Bonner's agent and the Spurs trying to get something done.
Well its encouraging to hear Pop call him a hard worker and that he wants it badly. Also, that hes holding his own in practice.
Personally, I don't even know why this is even a question. Of course, the Spurs pick up the option. If Ian were 26 and his performance was steady, I could understand the hesitation. However, he's 22 and improving. Has tremedous upside and seemingly works hard.
With Duncan, McDyess and Ratliff all likely gone in 2 years, the Spurs would be big fools to throw away a young, developing big of his skill and potential. As I've said before, young, talented bigs are not growing on trees.
After all, Pop's comments on his practice habits and progress are convincing enough for me to believe that the team will pick up his option. I'd be shocked if they didn't.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 10-25-2009 at 09:39 AM.
Was it talked about anywhere else or was he the only person to mention it? That really did surprise me. I wonder if getting him on a cheaper extension would help his trade value. I mean could he be worth more next season in free agency than if he was extended at a similar amount to his current salary?
I couldn't tell you where I read it but he's not the only one to mention it. And if they're looking to extend him, it's for no other reason than they want to keep him in the program; I know how hard that is for some to hear/read.
Bonner would seem to be a major piece for the Spurs if they're to make a deal this year, but an extension would pretty much take that chip off the table..
Yeah, That's what I thought too. Giving him an extension if you're not planning on keeping him and making him a big part of the rotation would not help his trade value would it?I couldn't tell you where I read it but he's not the only one to mention it. And if they're looking to extend him, it's for no other reason than they want to keep him in the program; I know how hard that is for some to hear/read.
Bonner would seem to be a major piece for the Spurs if they're to make a deal this year, but an extension would pretty much take that chip off the table..
lol unless some team said - hey we like Bonner so much that we'll take him if you sign him to an extension.
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