To make a trade or not?

[Dex]

I know that the general instinct is that when something seems broken, you need to try to fix it. That task is much easier said than done in basketball.

For people demanding a trade, let's take a moment to remember that part of the reason the Spurs are so disjointed is because of the huge personnel change that occurred over the summer. We all wanted new players and fresh blood and youth on the court, and that's exactly what we got. And while everyone wants to act like GMs in hindsight, I'd say 9 out of 10 people were perfectly satisfied with the additions of Jefferson, McDyess, and Blair before the season started.

Unfortunately, now we are seeing that wishful thinking usually doesn't pan out like it should. This is what happens when you take new players and put them in a new system. This is what happens when you take out guys who have playing together for years, and throw in guys that are either new to the team, or new to the game altogether.

Unless the Spurs can manage a trade of epic proportions to bring in a playoff-ready, game-changing player, one more swap isn't going to save the season. Putting in one more player, with half a season to figure things out, is doubtfully going to fix the holes in the Spurs defense or the droughts of the offense, but sure is likely to confuse things further. (Look at the Drew Gooden experiment of last season).

Sure, the Spurs should explore their options. All teams do. But like it or not, our best chance lies in this team getting it together and figuring it out, because I don't see the Spurs having the pieces to bring in a savior, even if they did have the desire.

[Capt Bringdown]

It doesn't have to be a binary, all or nothing decision. One player does not have solve all our needs. Even if we can get incrementally better, I think a trade is worthwhile.

For clearly, the window is firmly shut. It's time we turn the page on the big 3, for the rest of the league surely has - we are no longer a threat to anyone's championship ambitions.

We don't need time to "gel," the core of this team has been playing together for years. Pop's tinkering and micromanaging techniques are exhausted.

We might as well get what we can now, rather than wait until the off season. By then, the value of some of our assets will decreased even more.

[Obstructed_View]

Personnel aren't going to change this team. Not trusting or developing young players while relying on older players while limiting minutes while shuffling lineups while shortening rotations while integrating free agents while running 4 guard rotations on defense is going to have the same results with fifteen new players.

[exstatic]

With the "hard cap" coming, the Spurs will NEVER take on a contract like Brand's, especially since he now has a balky knee. I think Pop may have admired him, but it was pre-injury, and with a different cap situation than our current one.

I'm doubting that the Spurs make a deal.

[jjktkk]

Do you think they aren't?

No.

[jjktkk]

With the "hard cap" coming, the Spurs will NEVER take on a contract like Brand's, especially since he now has a balky knee. I think Pop may have admired him, but it was pre-injury, and with a different cap situation than our current one.

I'm doubting that the Spurs make a deal.

Besides Brand's huge contract, having 2 similar-sized players(Blair) probably isn't the way to go. I'd rather have a 7 footer, like Haywood for example. Of course theres not alot of skilled bigs available, but who knows maybe RC can work some magic.

[timtonymanu]

honestly a trade wont help this team. this team already has enough trouble gelling. imagine adding another player to fit in. the reality is we are stuck with what we got and we just have to deal with it. we have to hope the team is healthy and is gelling by the playoffs. can they still win? unlikely. but we'll see.

[Spursone]

From my perspective and as many have mentioned, it's all about lack of chemistry, guys are not coming together and rotations have been questionable at best. I don't claim to know much about the MONEY situation in trades, but I think if it's not going to be a MAJOR or a LEAGUE SHAKING DEAL than stay with what you got, hope for the best, stay healthy, maybe make it out of the 1st round, and wait for the SUMMER to shake this thing out.

EXPECT THE WORSE, HOPE FOR THE BEST!

GO SPURS GO!

[exstatic]

This FO has never been in this situation before. A situation where the team isn't faring well and they feel compelled to make a move. Forget about the Fakers, this team, as currently constructed, doesn't appear to be good enough to win its own division.

I hope they don't make a move that has long-term ramifications AND fails to improve them team.

Almost any move they make won't improve the team, because what they have to offer is scraps. You're not going to get a rotation player, let alone an impact player for Bonner/Finley.

Every team is now scrambling to prepare for the "hard cap" that the owners will likely force with a lockout in 2011. The Spurs FO is too smart to get suckered by a bad contract that runs 2 or 3 years past that date. Put players like Brand out of your mind right now.

[ElNono]

I have a sinking feeling that we're not going to make any trades...

[Obstructed_View]

I have a sinking feeling that we're not going to make any trades...

What could they possibly trade for that's going to help them? The Spurs have guys that produce and don't get floor time. Can't imagine there's going to be anyone that the Spurs can bring in who's going to flourish in an environment of uncertain minutes and random lineups. And the people being relied upon who aren't delivering have no shot of leaving, so there's no solution in sight.

I have a sinking feeling that by the time the trade deadline comes, it'll be too late for the guys that are still here to realize there's no help coming and buckle the down.

[ElNono]

What could they possibly trade for that's going to help them? The Spurs have guys that produce and don't get floor time. Can't imagine there's going to be anyone that the Spurs can bring in who's going to flourish in an environment of uncertain minutes and random lineups. I have a sinking feeling that by the time the trade deadline comes, it'll be too late for the guys that are still here to realize there's no help coming and buckle the down.

Smarter and more rugged players. Teams like New Orleans basically are done for the season. Let's see what they have there. Washington is kind of on the same boat. New Jersey also.
Truth be told, I'm afraid Pop is going to extend Finley before they even start talking with Ginobili. I'm tired of the softness of this team.
There's something to be said also about how valuable our expirings truly are if we can't make a move.

[Obstructed_View]

I agree with you that they obviously have no value if you don't move them (particularly the ones that aren't getting PT), and I really think the Mahinmi reaction in a year or two is going to make the Scola reaction look tame. Perhaps all the Spurs can hope for is to catch lightning in a bottle from a team chemistry standpoint and hope that Pop shows some logic and discipline as a result.

[dbestpro]

Lets trade coach (yes man) Bud for a chemistry set.

[portnoy1]

I would try to trade that gets back pieces. We could deal RJ and some expirings (not Manu) and I would try to get back Kaman and Battier in a 3 team trade. Im pretty sure the Rockets would do it (only if the Butler/Haywood deal went through). The Clippers??? thats the question now isnt it. If that trade did work we could have 2 solid big men in the post offensively/defensively and then when it came to the wings you would have Battier/Bogans shooting 3's whenever someone doubled off Parker/Duncan/Kaman. On defense you would always have a shotblocker in the paint, that way the spurs wing-defenders could force their men baseline to the help (not bonner).

[jjktkk]

I would try to trade that gets back pieces. We could deal RJ and some expirings (not Manu) and I would try to get back Kaman and Battier in a 3 team trade. Im pretty sure the Rockets would do it (only if the Butler/Haywood deal went through). The Clippers??? thats the question now isnt it. If that trade did work we could have 2 solid big men in the post offensively/defensively and then when it came to the wings you would have Battier/Bogans shooting 3's whenever someone doubled off Parker/Duncan/Kaman. On defense you would always have a shotblocker in the paint, that way the spurs wing-defenders could force their men baseline to the help (not bonner).

IMO, I seriously doubt the Clippers will move their best big man without getting back equal in value in return like high lottery picks, all-star caliber players, etc. The Spurs, nor the Rockets have that kinda of trade assets.