Spurs interested in Bulls' Thomas?

[EricB]

Yeah if you can get talents like Thomas and Salmons and are able to somehow keep Manu and use the MLE on Splitter, this year and next looks MILES better.

If your able to get Thomas and flip McDyess, I wonder if that improves the chances of keeping Manu.

[lurker23]

Just for what it's worth, here are salaries for next year if Spurs do a Thomas/Salmons for expirings trade:

Duncan: $18,835,381
Jefferson: $15,200,000
Parker: $13,650,000
Thomas: $6,256,806 (this is the qualifying offer amount; I think the most likely scenario is that the Spurs offer him the QO (if they like him enough), Thomas is unable to find a better offer, and takes the QO, unless he wants the stability of a 3-5 year deal)
Salmons: $5,808,000
McDyess: $4,860,000
Hill: complicated, but ~ $1,000,000
Blair: $918,000
Hairston: $854,389

Total: ~$67,000,000 for 9 players

Then, do the Spurs feel they can afford to resign Manu for $6-8 million and Splitter for $3-5 million, plus 2-4 other minimum-type players? Hard to say. Best guess estimates would put that payroll at about $82 million, which is more than this year, plus with more luxury tax.

As a few have mentioned, this would likely yield trading RJ and/or McDyess and/or others, but there's only so much you can trim off the payroll that way.

[CGD]

Yeah if you can get talents like Thomas and Salmons and are able to somehow keep Manu and use the MLE on Splitter, this year and next looks MILES better.

If your able to get Thomas and flip McDyess, I wonder if that improves the chances of keeping Manu.

I almost think your have to...

[dbestpro]

My bet is that Houston bites on the Chicago deal if for no other reason than it might derail the Spurs a bit. All things being equal in the Houston trade between Ny and Chicago, I see them going with Chicago.

[FvckMavs]

My bet is that Houston bites on the Chicago deal if for no other reason than it might derail the Spurs a bit. All things being equal in the Houston trade between Ny and Chicago, I see them going with Chicago.

they won't get a first round from Chicago.

[MaNu4Tres]

Yeah if you can get talents like Thomas and Salmons and are able to somehow keep Manu and use the MLE on Splitter, this year and next looks MILES better.

If your able to get Thomas and flip McDyess, I wonder if that improves the chances of keeping Manu.

The only way Manu stays here, is if he's willing to take a paycut. It's that simple.

Being that it's his last lucrative contract of his life makes me believe he will take the bigger offer as long as that team is in playoff contention.

I have sources through a team that has made me aware their front office would be willing to offer Manu around 9-11 million a year this summer.

I doubt Spurs offer that.

The only way I can see Spurs matching that offer is if Manu goes 05' on everyone and helps lead us to the Finals or deep in the WCF.

[Flux451]

Back on topic, I'm not sure if I prefer Pargo or Salmons paired with Thomas. Salmons is the better player but his contract could make the Spurs pick between using their MLE and re-signing Manu.

Good point.

I think I would prefer Pargo. Not just because of contract issues, but if either pg's on Spurs were hurt he would be a great back up. I don't think Spurs should have to rely on Manu or Tony/Hill, depending on IR, to run all the PG duties. He has a scorer's mentality that needs to be controlled at times for sure, but would be an evident spark. I have a feeling he would play well with RJ too. .35 from 3pt is pretty decent, but I think the way he pushed the ball with Hornets would compliment certain players on our squad in a way Hill/TP can't.

I am mentally scarred with him hogging the ball in the 4th which lead to our win against HOrnets in the playoffs...don't remember which game. But I can get over it that.

[AFBlue]

I agree, there's basically zero doubt that talent-wise Thomas/Salmons is better than anything the Spurs could get involving resigning Bonner plus minimum/LLE talent. However, it's the financials that many of us are worried about. I'll put together a brief financial summary of this trade here in a second.

Your breakdown is much appreciated, and I understand that with normal salary growth (player raises) and expected use of MLE, it puts the overall team salary at or above where it is currently.

I guess I'm saying two things:

1) Owner committed to spending last year and if it means putting a championship-level team out there again next year, he's likely to commit again.

2) Spurs have opportunity to lower that overall team salary before lux taxes are assessed by flipping RJ and/or McDyess for smaller contracts.

I understand there is risk...but IMO, it's justified. Again, with the standard caveat that it's not my money.

[lurker23]

Just for what it's worth, here are salaries for next year if Spurs do a Thomas/Salmons for expirings trade:

...

Total: ~$67,000,000 for 9 players

Then, do the Spurs feel they can afford to resign Manu for $6-8 million and Splitter for $3-5 million, plus 2-4 other minimum-type players? Hard to say. Best guess estimates would put that payroll at about $82 million, which is more than this year, plus with more luxury tax.

As a few have mentioned, this would likely yield trading RJ and/or McDyess and/or others, but there's only so much you can trim off the payroll that way.

As others have said, if they flip McDyess for expirings preceding the Thomas trade, that takes that first number up there down to ~$62 million for 8 players, and lowers my best guess down to $78 million, which may be palatable.

That would leave the lineup roughly like:

Parker/minimum or draft PG
Hill/Manu/Salmons
Jefferson/Hairston
Duncan/Thomas
Splitter/Blair

[CGD]

Like I mentioned earlier, maybe the most value the Spurs are going to get from moving RMJ is a trade exception.

Salmons is a non-starter if you favor keeping Manu and bring in Splitter. Hopefully the Knicks win the Tmac sweepstakes thereby forcing the Bulls' hand somewhat.

[EricB]

Like I mentioned earlier, maybe the most value the Spurs are going to get from moving RMJ is a trade exception.

Salmons is a non-starter if you favor keeping Manu and bring in Splitter. Hopefully the Knicks win the Tmac sweepstakes thereby forcing the Bulls' hand somewhat.

Salmons would become the best shooting guard on the team if he was brought in.

[SenorSpur]

Back on topic, I'm not sure if I prefer Pargo or Salmons paired with Thomas. Salmons is the better player but his contract could make the Spurs pick between using their MLE and re-signing Manu.

The bottom line is that Salmons is clearly the better player over Pargo. He simply has better all-around skills.

[lmbebo]

I dont know where I read the david aldrige interview (project spurs?)

Said length might be an issue with the extension. I think spurs have no problem extending him for 2 years, but anymore is an issue.

I think getting Salmons helps soften that blow possibly. He in no way can replace what Ginobli has meant to this team. I can't imagine Ginobli wearing anything else but Silver and Black. But we might have no choice in the mater.

I think the organization is looking to either add young pieces to move forward with or established vets whose contracts are done with when Timmys is done.

[timvp]

Who would do this trade?



And would you do it if you had to give Denver a first round pick on top of McDyess for them to eat his contract?

[nkdlunch]

can't see that ESPN page. what is the trade?

[MaNu4Tres]

Salmons would become the best shooting guard on the team if he was brought in.

I think Salmons would start too.

Hill would run 10-15 minutes at back up point and 10-20 minutes at the wing.

[timvp]

can't see that ESPN page. what is the trade?

I put a screen cap now.

[TJastal]

The bottom line is that Salmons is clearly the better player over Pargo. He simply has better all-around skills.

Pargo duplicates what Hill does, and doesn't have near the defense or penetration that Hill does. He would be useless.

Salmons is a Finley sized SF that can actually play on both sides of the ball and kind of resembles the Finley of 10-15 years ago.

[EricB]

Interesting.

A Carter would be a decent backup point.

Salmons and Thomas starters.

Petro would get bought out and told goodbye.

Grahm and Allen, dunno what the they would do.

A 2011 draft pick? yeah, not a 2010 though.

[TJastal]

Who would do this trade?



And would you do it if you had to give Denver a first round pick on top of McDyess for them to eat his contract?

I would do that trade w/ the pick included.

[EricB]

Thats a very interesting trade if it were to be done. Im about 60% in favor of it.

[Flux451]

Graham on Artest. ha ha.

I would hate for Ian to leave before giving him a decent chance...good question.

I say no

[nkdlunch]

can't see the screenshot what is the trade?

[lmbebo]

ditto. Don't see the trade at all.

[FvckMavs]

Who would do this trade?

And would you do it if you had to give Denver a first round pick on top of McDyess for them to eat his contract?

If Denver really like Dice, they may do it even without the first round pick.