McDonald: Spurs weigh Mahinmi’s fate

[Mel_13]

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.

Haislip's cheap, but there's no evidence he's serviceable. I'd bet he's not in the NBA next season.

If Bonner shoots as well this year as he did last year, he'll be paid well above the minimum. He may be a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick.

[itzsoweezee]

If Bonner shoots as well this year as he did last year, he'll be paid well above the minimum. He may be a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick.

i think you're dreaming. the spurs way over-paid that dude. if he was a shotting guard, maybe. but a big man has to do something, anything, besides shoot threes.

[DPG21920]

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, where to start with this....

Blair I agree with. He is still an unknown, and there are still long-term injury concerns, but he is under contract and early signs are good.

I still don't know how you can say that about Haislip when: 1) I can say with a certain degree of confidence that you have never seen him play and 2) that he has sucked something fierce with the Spurs so far. He has been one of the worst players, if not the worst.

It is not Bonner's fault the team is over the tax and has no bearing on his market/production value. He is being paid fairly for his skill set.

[Spurs Brazil]

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..

Agree

I hope Mahinmi shows he can play but I don't see the Spurs paying $1.8 million for the 6th big

[Russ]

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.

There is this fellow named Splitter my Laker friend . . .

[Russ]

I hope Mahinmi shows he can play but I don't see the Spurs paying $1.8 million for the 6th big

I think we finally have a winner.

[Allanon]

Allanon, where to start with this....

Blair I agree with. He is still an unknown, and there are still long-term injury concerns, but he is under contract and early signs are good.

Agreed.

I still don't know how you can say that about Haislip when: 1) I can say with a certain degree of confidence that you have never seen him play and 2) that he has sucked something fierce with the Spurs so far. He has been one of the worst players, if not the worst.

I don't think he's sucked any worse than Bonner or Mahinmi. To me, he's still feeling out the NBA game. He's used to the Euro game, he'll need some time to adjust. I personally think he'll get more PT than Bonner this year.

It is not Bonner's fault the team is over the tax and has no bearing on his market/production value. He is being paid fairly for his skill set.

That's really a matter of opinion. Some guys like you hold Bonner in high regard, while others, like myself think he's a stiff. If you would like to see Bonner taking up another $3 million on the Spurs salary, that's cool. I personally wouldn't pay him any more than the vet minimum. But I'm just a fan; we'll see what the Spurs decide to do.

[DPG21920]

Look at the numbers, Bonner has been way more productive offensively and defensively than Haislip this preseason. Mahinmi has shown much more ability. Not really even up for discussion.

You can say what you will about Bonner, but he per minutes stats justify his salary.

[Mel_13]

i think you're dreaming. the spurs way over-paid that dude. if he was a shotting guard, maybe. but a big man has to do something, anything, besides shoot threes.

I guess we'll find out next summer.

In the meantime, you may want to take a look at salaries around the NBA. In the crazy context of NBA salaries, Matt Bonner is not overpaid.

[AFBlue]

There is this fellow named Splitter my Laker friend . . .

First...I don't think the Spurs can or will factor Splitter into their decision to extend Mahinmi because they just can't operate under the assumption that it will occur.

If Splitter doesn't come and the Spurs decided to let go of Mahinmi, do they just bring back Ratliff, who will be a year older?

Second...even IF Splitter comes over, I don't see how he'll start out on the depth chart ahead of Mahinmi without ever playing a game in the Spurs' system. Mahinmi, if kept, would most certainly not be the 6th big on next year's team.

[Allanon]

Look at the numbers, Bonner has been way more productive offensively and defensively than Haislip this preseason. Mahinmi has shown much more ability. Not really even up for discussion.

You can say what you will about Bonner, but he per minutes stats justify his salary.

Like I said, that's cool if you like Bonner, I just disagree. With the number of offensive guys already on the Spurs, I think Haislip is a better option than Bonner.

I think Blair+Haislip would make a 10x better duo off the bench than Bonner+Blair.

[Mel_13]

First...I don't think the Spurs can or will factor Splitter into their decision to extend Mahinmi because they just can't operate under the assumption that it will occur.

If Splitter doesn't come and the Spurs decided to let go of Mahinmi, do they just bring back Ratliff, who will be a year older?

Second...even IF Splitter comes over, I don't see how he'll start out on the depth chart ahead of Mahinmi without ever playing a game in the Spurs' system. Mahinmi, if kept, would most certainly not be the 6th big on next year's team.

Splitter is so far ahead of Mahinmi now, it is a virtual impossibility that Ian can catch him in one year, if ever. If Splitter comes next year, he immediately moves ahead of Ian on the depth chart.

[Allanon]

Splitter is so far ahead of Mahinmi now, it is a virtual impossibility that Ian can catch him in one year, if ever. If Splitter comes next year, he immediately moves ahead of Ian on the depth chart.

I agree with Splitter, he's way ahead of every one of the Spurs big men save Duncan.

[AFBlue]

Look at the numbers, Bonner has been way more productive offensively and defensively than Haislip this preseason. Mahinmi has shown much more ability. Not really even up for discussion.

You can say what you will about Bonner, but he per minutes stats justify his salary.

I'm not saying Bonner is overpaid, but Haislip's deal is for two years. So he's got the full year, IMO, to prove that he can be the perimeter-oriented big to stretch the D.

If he can prove that, in practice at first then in game situations, the subtraction of Bonner's one talent seems plausible.

It's a big IF given what we've seen from Haislip so far, but it's very early in the game to count him out.

[Spurs Brazil]

And about Haislip I think the Spurs regret giving him a guaranteed contract

[Mel_13]

Like I said, that's cool if you like Bonner, I just disagree. With the number of offensive guys already on the Spurs, I think Haislip is a better option than Bonner.

I think Blair+Haislip would make a 10x better duo off the bench than Bonner+Blair.

I'm telling you, I've seen the guy play. Haislip is an NBA player in name only. Spurs bet on a longshot, it's not gonna pay off.

[Mel_13]

I'm not saying Bonner is overpaid, but Haislip's deal is for two years. So he's got the full year, IMO, to prove that he can be the perimeter-oriented big to stretch the D.

If he can prove that, in practice at first then in game situations, the subtraction of Bonner's one talent seems plausible.

It's a big IF given what we've seen from Haislip so far, but it's very early in the game to count him out.

Only the first year is guaranteed.

[DPG21920]

Like I said, that's cool if you like Bonner, I just disagree. With the number of offensive guys already on the Spurs, I think Haislip is a better option than Bonner.

I think Blair+Haislip would make a 10x better duo off the bench than Bonner+Blair.

Ok, but why do you disagree is the question? How can you back up what you are saying?

Have you watched Haislip play with the Spurs?

[AFBlue]

Splitter is so far ahead of Mahinmi now, it is a virtual impossibility that Ian can catch him in one year, if ever. If Splitter comes next year, he immediately moves ahead of Ian on the depth chart.

I'm not saying Mahinmi is more talented than Splitter right now or even with a full year of development. I'm saying that it's doubtful Pop will immediately insert Splitter into the lineup if he has another viable option that knows the system.

You obviously disagree, so we'll leave it at that.

[Mel_13]

i'm not saying mahinmi is more talented than splitter right now or even with a full year of development. I'm saying that it's doubtful pop will immediately insert splitter into the lineup if he has another viable option that knows the system.

You obviously disagree, so we'll leave it at that.

ok

[HarlemHeat37]

Based on the 3 NBA games + exhibition game + scrimmage I've seen this month..Haislip is a significantly worse shooter than Bonner, worse handles than Bonner, worse defender than Bonner, about the same rebounder as Bonner..there's nothing he does better than Bonner, other than dunk..except he won't even be able to use that skill if the rest of his game doesn't allow it..

[AFBlue]

Only the first year is guaranteed.

I know. Which is why he'll be given the full year to display those skills he supposedly picked up in Europe. If he doesn't, no big loss.

If he does, he presents a viable, cheap option for the Spurs to consider for that perimeter big. And this one may be athletic enough to not be a defensive liability.

[Mel_13]

I know. Which is why he'll be given the full year to display those skills he supposedly picked up in Europe. If he doesn't, no big loss.

If he does, he presents a viable, cheap option for the Spurs to consider for that perimeter big. And this one may be athletic enough to not be a defensive liability.

We'll see.

I don't think he's got the whole year. The Spurs can trade him after Dec 15th. If he hasn't shown them anything by then, I think they'll look to move him in a tax-saving transaction.

[Allanon]

Ok, but why do you disagree is the question? How can you back up what you are saying?

Have you watched Haislip play with the Spurs?

I disagree because I've been watching him play in Europe. I've been watching quite a bit of Euroball the last 2 years or so. I've seen him in like 2 pre-season Spurs game, not much. But to me, he just has to adjust to the NBA game.

His athleticism and defense in my opinion are far superior to Bonner. He's not as good of a straight up shooter as Bonner but I think he shoots better than Bonner with defense on him. Bonner is much better at wide open shooting.

[DPG21920]

Well, I guess I cannot argue with your opinion, but I disagree on everything you have said about Haislip.

I am not saying Bonner is a world beater, but he is fairly paid and has proven himself much more than Haislip on both sides of the ball.