McDonald: Spurs weigh Mahinmi’s fate

[Mel_13]

I'll never give up my Rasheed quote until Bonner is wearing another jersey, but this one, after Oct 31, would likely be pretty tempting.

[AFBlue]

I think they'll pick up Mahinmi's option for the same reason they're considering bringing back Bonner...he has a unique skill set that the Spurs likely can't get elsewhere at the same cost.

Mahinmi still has value to this team because he knows the system and brings something to the table that the Spurs need...an athletic big man that can run the floor, post up, block some shots and grab some boards.

The promise of that player should be enough to get the Spurs to bite for one more year. From there, it's all about Ian making the most of his opportunities...of which there should be plenty this year and next.

[Darkwaters]

I think they'll pick up Mahinmi's option for the same reason they're considering bringing back Bonner...he has a unique skill set that the Spurs likely can't get elsewhere at the same cost.

Mahinmi still has value to this team because he knows the system and brings something to the table that the Spurs need...an athletic big man that can run the floor, post up, block some shots and grab some boards.

The promise of that player should be enough to get the Spurs to bite for one more year. From there, it's all about Ian making the most of his opportunities...of which there should be plenty this year and next.

No, they signed Ratliff to do all those things too. And Ratliff makes about the same amount of money as Mahinmi, but without the rookie mistakes. And don't give me the "made of glass" routine either...they're both china dolls.

[HarlemHeat37]

Ratliff isn't an athletic big that can run the floor or post up at all..

[CGD]

If they don't pick up his option, you can pretty much write him off as a Spur. There will be a ton of teams with cap room next year, and one of them will almost certainly make Ian an offer. , a team without cap room could steal him with a fractional MLE offer if the Spurs aren't willing to pay him a salary slot of $1.75M, a team like CHA and Larry Brown, who have been drooling over him.

I don't think its over at all. In fact because Ian is a unknown quan y, the Spurs will be in the best position to negotiate with him next summer. I wouldn't be surprised if the Spurs don't extend him and then pick him up for cheaper when he's a free agent.

[MaNu4Tres]

Ratliff isn't an athletic big that can run the floor or post up at all..

Either is Mahimni. Mahimni is athletic who's best at facing up on the offensive end, opposed to posting up. Mahimni is more skilled offensively but Ratliff is more savvy and smart defensive player. Something Spurs need.

Mahimni also runs the floor adequately but his problem is when he's the recipient of passes. He runs like he's uncoordinated and has trouble catching balls on the move and fluidly finishing strong around the rim. The only positive that you can get out of him running the floor well is getting back defensively in transition.

[itzsoweezee]

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.

completely agree

[HarlemHeat37]

Either is Mahimni. Mahimni is athletic who's best at facing up on the offensive end, opposed to posting up. Mahimni is more skilled offensively but Ratliff is more savvy and smart defensive player. Something Spurs need.

Mahimni also runs the floor adequately but his problem is when he's the recipient of passes. He runs like he's uncoordinated and has trouble catching balls on the move and fluidly finishing strong around the rim. The only positive that you can get out of him running the floor well is getting back defensively in transition.

Ratliff is definitely a better player than Ian, and he's a more useful option at this point, that's not my point..Ian is potentially a much more versatile player though, which is why I believe he's different than Ratliff, and could potentially give us more..

Ian, even as raw as he is, has shown that he's a better offensive player than Ratliff without question IMO..obviously Theo has him beat everywhere else though, and he's definitely more reliable right now, and probably will be for this entire season..

[MaNu4Tres]

Ratliff is definitely a better player than Ian, and he's a more useful option at this point, that's not my point..Ian is potentially a much more versatile player though, which is why I believe he's different than Ratliff, and could potentially give us more..

Ian, even as raw as he is, has shown that he's a better offensive player than Ratliff without question IMO..obviously Theo has him beat everywhere else though, and he's definitely more reliable right now, and probably will be for this entire season..

I think you misunderstood what I meant Harlem. I agree totally on your notion that Ratliff is definitely more reliable right now and will be for the year most likely. 48moh had a great article on how dominating Ratliff's interior defense is. It's been obvious as well with Pop playing Ratliff in the rotation with the main rotational players the last two games. I was just stating that Mahimni doesn't really have a post up game and him running the floor well doesn't necessary correlate to easy buckets on the offensive end.

[TIMMYD!]

Knowing Pop and his love for projects, they'll pick up the option.

[Darkwaters]

Ratliff isn't an athletic big that can run the floor or post up at all..

At this point neither is Mahinmi.

[itzsoweezee]

Knowing Pop and his love for projects

that's a joke, right?

[NFGIII]

Based on the comments here I tend to believe that the Spurs will pick up the option on Ian simply since bigs are always in demand and hard to come by. He still is improving (according to the coaching staff), young (22) and shows so much potential. Hopefully they do and Holt continues to spend $$$ in order to keep a compe ive team on the floor.

Though I'm not completely sold on Ian who is out there that we can get to replace him? Theo's gone next year and we all know what Bonner is here for and that isn't rebounding or D. We need bigs in this league in order to compete.

In the short term - pick up the option - but in the long term I'm in a wait and see mode concerning Ian.

[exstatic]

How's he supposed to progress when he's the 6th big, and will likely be modeling a suit for 60-70 games this year?

Tim
Dice
Blair
Rat
Bonner
Ian

I'm making my call now

Hill - option picked up
Ian - option declined
Malik - cut

[Thompson]

How's he supposed to progress when he's the 6th big, and will likely be modeling a suit for 60-70 games this year?

Garbage time and back-to-back games. Ratliff or Haislip might alternate games in a suit, with Hairston probably in Austin (though perhaps they could use Hairston for back-to-backs as well, with Manu in street clothes). As Mahinmi rounds back into form, he might get more time as his play warrants. I think they'd be crazy not to pick up the option, you won't find a player like him for that price in free agency (and Ratliff will probably be gone next year, won't he?).

[Interrohater]

Yea, it seems to make too much sense to pick him up right now on the cheap. With so much money out there next year, his stock is going to go up just because he's a young 7 footer with potential and he'll be too pricey. I say pick up the option now, that way you have him for cheap, or you make a profit by trading him to a team that's hurting and get a couple of picks and maybe a decent roleplayer.

[AFBlue]

No, they signed Ratliff to do all those things too. And Ratliff makes about the same amount of money as Mahinmi, but without the rookie mistakes. And don't give me the "made of glass" routine either...they're both china dolls.

Ratliff is old, fragile (will use it because it's true) and signed to a one-year deal. This "fate" being discussed is for next year, not this one.

[Mr. Body]

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.

I can only imagine how large the x-ray machine must have been to fit Blair's enormous butt behind.

[Interrohater]

I can only imagine how large the x-ray machine must have been to fit Blair's enormous butt behind.

The Cowboys Stadium bigscreen comes to mind

[Allanon]

Ratliff next year will be 37
Dice next year will be 36

They'll hang 'em up pretty soon so the Spurs gotta look at the younger guys:

Mahinmi
Haislip
Blair
Bonner

Haislip and Blair are probably keepers. Bonner is probably gone after this year unless he takes a huge pay cut.

So with only 3 Big Men (Duncan/Blair/Haislip), the Spurs would need to keep a guy like Mahinmi. They probably are taking their time with his option because they want to keep their options open in case the right Big man comes along for a good price. If nothing better comes along, I suspect Ian will be a Spur for a few more years.

[DPG21920]

How can you say Haislip is probably a keeper? Bonner take a huge pay cut? He does not make very much at all. His production is on par with his salary. Blair probably a keeper? The Spurs have him locked up already for multiple years.

[MaNu4Tres]

How can you say Haislip is probably a keeper? Bonner take a huge pay cut? He does not make very much at all. His production is on par with his salary. Blair probably a keeper? The Spurs have him locked up already for multiple years.

He's a Laker fan. He doesn't know any better.

[Allanon]

How can you say Haislip is probably a keeper? Bonner take a huge pay cut? He does not make very much at all. His production is on par with his salary. Blair probably a keeper? The Spurs have him locked up already for multiple years.

Sorry, didn't clarify:

Blair is a keeper because he's already under contract for multiple years
Haislip is a keeper because he's dirt cheap and serviceable

Bonner makes $3 million. With the Spurs over cap, I suspect he's going to have to take the Vet minimum to stay. I wouldn't pay $3 million for Bonner; he'd have to take at least a 50% paycut if not the minimum.

[Allanon]

He's a Laker fan. He doesn't know any better.

Very true.

[AFBlue]

Ratliff isn't an athletic big that can run the floor or post up at all..

Either is Mahimni. Mahimni is athletic who's best at facing up on the offensive end, opposed to posting up. Mahimni is more skilled offensively but Ratliff is more savvy and smart defensive player. Something Spurs need.

Mahimni also runs the floor adequately but his problem is when he's the recipient of passes. He runs like he's uncoordinated and has trouble catching balls on the move and fluidly finishing strong around the rim. The only positive that you can get out of him running the floor well is getting back defensively in transition.

Disagree about Mahinmi not being a post-up big. I'd say 90% of his offense is generated in the post and whether he ends up with a "face up" drive or a baby hook across the lane, he starts with his back to the basket. Ratliff, on the other hand, has literally no offensive game.

As for Ratliff being a more savvy defensive player, I agree...which is why he'll start out the season ahead of Mahinmi on the depth chart. But again, Ratliff's deal is for one year and Mahinmi's option decision is for next season. Perhaps it'll be good for Mahinmi to learn the ropes from Ratliff and at some point (this year or next) surpass him on the depth chart.

Either way, the point is that Mahinmi is more of a complete offensive player, which combines with his athleticism and defensive (shot blocking) potential to make his skill set a unique one for this squad.

Because of that unique skill set, I think his option gets picked up for next year with the hope that he steps up and turns the corner defensively. And I believe that he'll be given plenty of opportunity to prove himself throughout the season.