Richard Jefferson, the worst trade this team has ever done

[sandman]

I think the Scola trade could have cost the Spurs a championship. If you see how the Rockets played against the Lakers in last years playoffs, Scola caused problems for the Lakers bigs. Imagine a lineup now with Duncan, Scola, McDyess to matchup against Bynum, Artest, Gasol. That was the worst trade the Spurs have ever done, they gave up spare parts to acquire Jefferson.

Scola never played a single minute for the Spurs. What they lost was potential, because we will never know how he would have meshed with this team. I don't care what type of numbers he is putting up on a mediocre Rockets team with no true #1 or #2 player on the roster. It doesn't automatically translate into the same production for THIS team.

Have you not watched the NBA long enough to see how highly sought after role players don't produce at the same level when they move to a different team? Let's not even talk about how his rebounding, assist and FG% numbers have continued to decrease throughout the season, even though his minutes are increasing.

[elbamba]

You people are crazy. Jefferson is doing exactly what he is asked to do, play completely out of position. You want to blame someone, blame Pop who decided twice to go small last night and it did nothing but boost the confidence of Portland. Then when we brought back in the lineup to compete, they were cold and we did nothing but let the pg stand around and dribble before taking a contested jumpshot.

That game last night was not on Jefferson. People who think he can play PF are idiots. The only thing worse than watching Jefferson play PF is watching Finley do it. Ian or Ratcliff could have made a difference at the defensive end last night, but Pop is too pridefull to make the change. I blame the coach and not the players, the players are good enough to win, the coach right now is not good enough to know where his players need to play.

[Pauleta14]

Elton Brand does not cosign on this.

I'm not sure about Brand, he was REALLY impressive in LA...
I think that if you combine a new city/team/system/players...AND an early BAD injury, it's hard to know why he doesn't produce as expected..

I stand on RJ is leading overpaid players...

[Chieflion]

I'm not sure about Brand, he was REALLY impressive in LA...
I think that if you combine a new city/team/system/players...AND an early BAD injury, it's hard to know why he doesn't produce as expected..

I stand on RJ is leading overpaid players...

Gilbert "Quick trigger" Arenas also reports for duty.

[z0sa]

They don't even attempt to feed RJ the ball like he's some kind of offensive option. They never run their offense through him, and they rarely continue feeding him when he does hit. RJ must make more out of his touches but the truth is, the Spurs have not put him in a role where he is comfortable and it shows. The Spurs are also a lot less multifaceted because of his inability to work his game within the offense, and like many players a slump also affects his defensive intensity.

If the Spurs just fed him the ball more often, especially during these past 40 games when we were playing @ home against a majority of scrub teams, he'd be a lot more in the groove right now. Doesn't look like Pop and Tony will ever be using him to even half of his potential.

[Chieflion]

They don't even attempt to feed RJ the ball like he's some kind of offensive option. They never run their offense through him, and they rarely continue feeding him when he does hit. RJ must make more out of his touches but the truth is, the Spurs have not put him in a role where he is comfortable and it shows. The Spurs are also a lot less multifaceted because of his inability to work his game within the offense, and like many players a slump also affects his defensive intensity.

If the Spurs just fed him the ball more often, especially during these past 40 games when we were playing @ home against a majority of scrub teams, he'd be a lot more in the groove right now. Doesn't look like Pop and Tony will ever be using him to even half of his potential.

I don't whether it is just Pop or Tony. I do know he is not getting enough touches for a volume scorer. There was this one play where Jefferson passed the ball back to George Hill to "reset" the offense. I was like, "Oh come on, so George Hill is higher than Richard on the food chain? You gotta be kidding me."

[Pauleta14]

You people are crazy. Jefferson is doing exactly what he is asked to do, play completely out of position. You want to blame someone, blame Pop who decided twice to go small last night and it did nothing but boost the confidence of Portland. Then when we brought back in the lineup to compete, they were cold and we did nothing but let the pg stand around and dribble before taking a contested jumpshot.

That game last night was not on Jefferson. People who think he can play PF are idiots. The only thing worse than watching Jefferson play PF is watching Finley do it. Ian or Ratcliff could have made a difference at the defensive end last night, but Pop is too pridefull to make the change. I blame the coach and not the players, the players are good enough to win, the coach right now is not good enough to know where his players need to play.

I agree on that point, he depends on what he is being asked to do, but...

The thing that is REALLY not excusable, is all the "little things" he is supposed to bring, set screens, rebound, steal...

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A VERSATILE PLAYER !!

The fact that he doesn't produce enough offensively, is disapointing (understandable?), but the rest is INEXCUSABLE for a guy with THAT kind of contract!!!!

[Chieflion]

I agree on that point, he depends on what he is being asked to do, but...

The thing that is REALLY not excusable, is all the "little things" he is supposed to bring, set screens, rebound, steal...

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A VERSATILE PLAYER !!

The fact that he doesn't produce enough offensively, is disapointing (understandable?), but the rest is INEXCUSABLE for a guy with THAT kind of contract!!!!

He was brought in as an extra scorer. Nothing more. I wonder why all of you think he is going to be a do-it all man.

[Chomag]

RJ is another player that has all the tools but just lacks the mentality it takes to be a winner. IF you don't think he is soft minded then you are crazy. I'm not so sure about his desire either to pull from deep within himself to win.

He kind of just goes out there and goes into his motions and that about it.

[temujin]

Scola never played a single minute for the Spurs. What they lost was potential, because we will never know how he would have meshed with this team. I don't care what type of numbers he is putting up on a mediocre Rockets team with no true #1 or #2 player on the roster. It doesn't automatically translate into the same production for THIS team.

Have you not watched the NBA long enough to see how highly sought after role players don't produce at the same level when they move to a different team? Let's not even talk about how his rebounding, assist and FG% numbers have continued to decrease throughout the season, even though his minutes are increasing.

In fact what Spurs got in exchange for Scola was that great NBA player of Vasilis Spanoulis....

The Scola trade was the beginning of the end of the Spurs as the whole world has come to know them.

The Jefferson acquisition is anothe milestone.

And the walking of Ginobili will be the nail on the coffin.

[Bruno]

RJ has been a very good NBA players for years and he is still in his prime. He has no reason no to be good too with Spurs. I haven't given up on him. He just need to find his place with Spurs and it takes way more time than expected.

And @ the people ing about Scrubla. This guy is in Bonner's league when it comes to playing defense or being clutch. It would have been a nice player to have for $3M per year but he wouldn't have made a significant difference.

[Pauleta14]

He was brought in as an extra scorer. Nothing more. I wonder why all of you think he is going to be a do-it all man.

That's the way Pop introduced him!!!!

Explaining how smart he was, what a great sens of humor he has... (who care?)

He even CLEARLY said that it wasn't for his offensive production more than for his overall game that they liked him...
He talked about turning him into the defensive minded player he once was in NJ...

Try to find the quotes!! I remember clearly...

[Chieflion]

That's the way Pop introduced him!!!!

Explaining how smart he was, what a great sens of humor he has... (who care?)

He even CLEARLY said that it wasn't for his offensive production more than for his overall game that they liked him...
He talked about turning him into the defensive minded player he once was in NJ...

Try to find the quotes!! I remember clearly...

All that turned out be lies when I found some footage of him playing with the Bucks and some opinions from Bucks fans.

[ffadicted]

RJ has been a very good NBA players for years and he is still in his prime. He has no reason no to be good too with Spurs. I haven't given up on him. He just need to find his place with Spurs and it takes way more time than expected.

This says it all really. I was as excited as anybody, and still am waiting, but goddamn it it's time for him to show up and take it upon himself to perform

[Pauleta14]

RJ has been a very good NBA players for years and he is still in his prime. He has no reason no to be good too with Spurs. I haven't given up on him. He just need to find his place with Spurs and it takes way more time than expected.
.

I really admire your optimism...
Put his skills aside, what about his (winning?) mentality?
Even when Manu sucks, you can see he is fighting, trying things...

When RJ doesn't produces, he disappears the same way Tony did in his early years when he had a off game..

[Pauleta14]

All that turned out be lies when I found some footage of him playing with the Bucks and some opinions from Bucks fans.

So we agree...

You were saying you didn't understand why we all expect those things from him!
For an objective reason..

[rascal]

Yes... that's why i am a fan and not the GM of the Spurs !

But as the GM of the Spurs i would have never traded Scola !!!!!!!!!!! NEVER !

Then that makes the Scola trade a worse trade, even the fans knew that was a bad trade.

[rascal]

In fact what Spurs got in exchange for Scola was that great NBA player of Vasilis Spanoulis....

The Scola trade was the beginning of the end of the Spurs as the whole world has come to know them.

The Jefferson acquisition is anothe milestone.

And the walking of Ginobili will be the nail on the coffin.

No over paying Manu to a big contract will be the final nail in the coffin. Manu is on the rapid decline now.

[Bruno]

Put his skills aside, what about his (winning?) mentality?

RJ has spend a lot of years with a winning team and AFAIK, he hasn't been known to disapear for the playoffs.

It's also possible that he has some troubles with his back injury. Back injuries are tricky one. If it's the case, let's hope he will be in a better shape for the end of the season.

[sandman]

In fact what Spurs got in exchange for Scola was that great NBA player of Vasilis Spanoulis....

The Scola trade was the beginning of the end of the Spurs as the whole world has come to know them.

The Jefferson acquisition is anothe milestone.

And the walking of Ginobili will be the nail on the coffin.

Assuming that I completely missed your sarcasm...

The Spurs gave up a 2002 second round draft pick in 2007 for the Greek T-Mac that would never play for them.

Granted, Scola proved to be a valuable role player over the last few years, but at the time, 5 years after he was drafted in the second round, the Spurs gave up nothing other than potential.

They didn't give up the franchise player, or a high draft pick, either past or future. The impact this trade had on the ability of the franchise to overcome the bad decision of the trade was absolutely zero. They did not handicap themselves in any way, financially or draft-wise, by trading Scola to Houston.

They didn't bet the farm on Scola and then trade him away. He was a second round draft pick that never played for the team. They were not making personnel moves based on Scola potentially playing for them. He was a personnel move based on getting solid role players to support the Big 3, who incidentally, somehow managed to win three les after they drafted Scola.

I swear, some Spurs fans put the Scola trade immediately after getting DRob and Duncan in the lottery as the moments of fate for the franchise.

[Pauleta14]

RJ has spend a lot of years with a winning team and AFAIK, he hasn't been known to disapear for the playoffs.

It's also possible that he has some troubles with his back injury. Back injuries are tricky one. If it's the case, let's hope he will be in a better shape for the end of the season.

Didn't know about his injury (didn't recover?)...

+ as I just said in another thread ("Spurs really close to a deal?"), we are often mistaken about the real skills/level of a player, until he plays for our team and you can see him for 82 games...

I assume, RJ fits better in a team that runs like the Nets did (or like the Blazers), and that he depends on the flow of the game and relies a lot on his teammates... I don't know...

But I wasn't sarcastic when I said that I admire your optimism, I trying to find way to be myself, but it's REALLY hard...

I don't see what could change and suddenly makes him a perfect fit for the team...

[neboat]

RJ is horrible. I thought we were getting a nice player...but he is one of the most useless players on the team. He's like a poor man's corey maggette.

[alchemist]

... and Tony Parker!

29 year old Parker with a history of bad ankles....

[murpjf88]

Late in the regular season, he's mediocre at best. At first I thought he's going to make some improvements, but look at him now. He's content to cash in all the money that he gets from Holt and that's it. The sad part is, everybody thought that he's going to be the player that would put us over the hump.

No, not everybody. I was opposed of him from day 1.

[Pauleta14]

29 year old Parker with a history of bad ankles....

Yep..

And in the french media, he was talking about aiming a BIG contract he "deserves" in 2011... (when talking about maybe not playing for the NT next summer and rest his body)