No Splitter?

[Mr Bones]

Did anyone see the part of the article that said "it won't be easy" for Real Madrid and Ettore Messina to get Splitter? I'm not seeing where this article garners this kind of reaction. Maybe I just don't see Splitter as the "backstabber" many make him out to be.

The only reason I can see Splitter staying in Europe is he just simply wants more money. The first time around for the Spurs was difficult because Tau Ceramica's offer was far and away the better of the two (not the Spurs fault that they were handcuffed by the rookie pay scale) and he also wanted to be near his terminally ill sister who has since passed away. With the Euro weakening significantly and considering that the Spurs are now able to offer him the MLE and a concrete role on the team, I like our chances. The only thing that concerns me is there seems to be a lack of a contingency plan if Splitter does decide to stay in Europe.

Thanks for being the voice of reason in this thread.

[ElNono]

Any idea how much that is or would that be if he gets resigned?

The CBA limits the buy out amount a club can pay to a foreign club to $500,000. (Here's an example from Ricky Rubio and the Wolves)

[ElNono]

doing some quick research, i found a 2008/2009 list that says the highest paid euroleague player makes about $6.8 million.

Is that euros or dollars?
And yes, ultimately it's up to Tiago.

[024]

Is that euros or dollars?
And yes, ultimately it's up to Tiago.

i converted the euros into dollars.

[MB20]

Let´s cross our fingers Real Madrid gets Pekovic instead.

Regarding the 6.8 million...those figures are usually after taxes.

[ElNono]

i converted the euros into dollars.

Thanks...
Well, then MLE is at $5.8 million this season. I don't know how that's going to change next season. I'm fairly sure it probably is going to be lower in the next CBA, if there's a MLE at all. I think owners wanted to get rid of it.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

The article even states that it's Splitter's dream to play in the NBA (and I've never read otherwise other than in this forum). He remained overseas the past 2 years for 2 reasons:
1) to stay near his sick sister (she has since passed)
2) he was offered 4 times the rookie scale (which is still less than MLE)

Things to consider:
1) Other teams want him because he IS good
2) We can now offer him the MLE which is a current pay increase
3) He has a clause in his contract where he has a small buyout this summer if he comes to an NBA team... but a large buyout if he changes to a different Europe team (otherwises he finished up his final 2 years of his current contract)
4) He can join us this summer under the current CBA for MLE. He should know that if he delays at all anymore, he'll be under the new CBA and the MLE may not even be available to sign him (or severely reduced).

Very good points. I strongly believe that he will be in a Spurs uniform next year. This guy is not a scrub player. He is going to make a big impact on our team and provide us with the solid big man to take us back to the top.

[Sigz]

Splitter sucks.

I'd rather have Rasho and Nazr.

[Penya]

Tiago's buyout for an European team is astronomic (it's not official, but it's said to be 8-10M€).
With that money and the money that they had to use to pay his salary, they'd spend about 14-16M€. And with that money they can sign 3 Euro stars. Doesn't make sense.

Tiago will be a Spur next year.

[AFBlue]

I don't think this post changes much of anything.

We all knew that Splitter is one of, if not THE most valuable big man in Europe. So, it's not surprising that teams with deep pockets want to go after him.

As the article says, it all depends if Splitter ultimately wants to end up in the NBA. If he does, then this is the right time...when the Spurs have the $$ to make him a compe ive offer to most Euro clubs and can guarantee him a pretty significant role.

I think this will be effectively communicated to him by the Spurs FO when they begin negotiating this summer.

[Johnny RIngo]

I don't think Splitter's the savior that everyone thinks he is but anything is better than watching Bonner start or Pop revert to smallball lineups.

[NFGIII]

I think what's going to happen if he gets offered more than the MLE or whatever portion of the MLE the Spurs were going to offer, then they'll shrug it off like last summer and basically say the same thing: "Good for him he got a good deal".
It has to bother RC that they're being used as leverage too...

Not much they can say if they still are hoping that he may come over later. Pretty much is a no win situation for the Spurs. And what would Holt have to say about this? If I'm an owner it would be hard for me to watch my FO draft foreign players only to have they leverage me for more money in Europe. I would probably forbid any more foreign draft picks in the future unless I got some kind of iron clad guarantee from that player.

I wonder what the NBA owners think of this situation. I bet they aren't too happy about what they are seeing and reading about this. They have got millions on the line every year and drafting a quality player would help the bottom line as well as making them more compe ive. So if they draft a player then I think they should be able to get him into the NBA. If he has a current contract in Europe then they can work something out in the short term or within the terms of the current contract. Point being if any player puts their name in the draft pool then I think they should be held accountable and honor that committment (for lack of a better word). If they don't then I think they should be penalized by being banned from the draft pool for X number years - I'll let the NBA figure out the length of time involved - and not be able to sign a contract with any NBA team after the X number of years has elapsed. They must re-enter the draft. And that would go for all players that enter their name into the draft pool. So people like Kobe and Ferry must play for the team that drafts them and not tell the NBA "If so and so team drafts me then I wont play for them". Fine, then you wont play in the NBA for X number of years then. Go to Europe or some other place and have a good time there. When you come back then you can enter into the draft pool and play for the team that drafts you. If you don't like that then have a good life doing whatever you want to do but it wont be playing NBA ball.

I know some will think that a bit drastic or even illegal. We do live in a free enterprise system and people should be able to do what they want. That's true to a certain extent - but there are noncompete clauses in many work force agreements limiting your ability to move to a compe or within a geographical area for a certain time limit thereby restricting your right to work for whomever you want to - but the major sports - NHL, MBL, NFL, NBA...etc aren't based on the free enterprise system to the extent that say a grocery store or a retail outlet are. They are more like a cartel. Point is - while you can open up most any business so long as you meet the legal requirements not just anyone can be part of the NBA because they want to.

If Splitter uses the Spurs as leverage in order to get a more lucrative contract in Europe then the Spurs have wasted a draft pick for nothing. Maybe Splitter intended this to happen. I doubt it but then again maybe not and this is just what happened. The Spurs are out a draft pick with no compensation - no nothing. Zippo - Nada - Zlich. Based on the amount of money needed to run a franchise these days that is a big hit to the Spurs or any team for that matter. There should be consequences for any player that enters the draft, gets drafted and then decides not to play in the NBA for the respective team that drafted them.

Just think Spurs fans about what would have happened if TD decided that he wanted to play for a team that was on the coast - like Orlando, Miami or LA instead of coming to SA? He then pulls a "Ferry" on us so we end up drafting another player. I can almost tell you that the Spurs would now be playing in another city ( that almost happened wven with TD here) and you can forget about those LOBs.

There is too much money at stake for the players to dictate where they initially play. After their rookie contracts are over they have every right to go where they choose or where the mnoney is being offered. But in the beginning I think they need to play for the team that drafts them.

Off the soap box.

[Penya]

Chris_Peterson, Real Madrid spent last summer about 300M€ (soccer and basketball sections).
The country is screwed, but they spend a lot of money.

[NFGIII]

Tiago's buyout for an European team is astronomic (it's not official, but it's said to be 8-10M€).
With that money and the money that they had to use to pay his salary, they'd spend about 14-16M€. And with that money they can sign 3 Euro stars. Doesn't make sense.

Tiago will be a Spur next year.

I hope so and with this piece of info it looks better for the Spurs. Of course their have been owners who just throw money to the wind and this could happen with Splitter. But that buyout for a Euro team is pretty steep. and IIRC the buyout to go to the NBA is approx. $1 Mil. And IIRC also the Spurs can contribute $500k max towards the buyout. Big difference between the two.

[diego]

O!!!

BEULLER


THERE IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC CRISIS IN SPAIN

THERE ARE NO "DEEP POCKETS" OVER THERE

[/B]

right, and the us economy is doing just fine, no debt problems there...
that 300M euro RM spent on their soccer and basketball teams doesnt even include the salaries, just the buyouts of the players... and FYI those teams are international products, they dont depend on spanish fans to make revenue

[TJastal]

I don't think Splitter's the savior that everyone thinks he is but anything is better than watching Bonner start or Pop revert to smallball lineups.

If Splitter is signed, it will probably take a good 2-3 years just to get used to the nba, then maybe at that time he might start to make some solid contributions.

Isn't really gonna help Tim Duncan in the final few years much. And I don't think Splitter really cares about the financial aspect as much as people are making out. He is going to be much more interested in what type of situation he is going to be in, and with the spurs currently being in a 'win now at all costs mode' in the final window of Duncan's career he is NOT going to want to comei into a pressure cooker and rather he'll wait another two years until Duncan retires then reconsider at that point.

So all this Splitter hype is going to amount to is a pile of beans.

[AFBlue]

I hope so and with this piece of info it looks better for the Spurs. Of course their have been owners who just throw money to the wind and this could happen with Splitter. But that buyout for a Euro team is pretty steep. and IIRC the buyout to go to the NBA is approx. $1 Mil. And IIRC also the Spurs can contribute $500k max towards the buyout. Big difference between the two.

Signs point to Splitter being in SA next year as this is his best opportunity to cross the pond, but that doesn't make it a sure thing.

Unlike last time when $$ was the issue, this will be all about how comfortable Splitter is with leaving the life he's had for the last 8-10 years, playing for a team he knows in a league that he knows. Leaving as an established player to somewhere he'll have to prove himself.

I'm not saying Splitter doesn't want these things (new challenge, play on biggest stage, etc.), but I don't think you can count out that aspect.

I will say this is definitely the make-or-break summer for Splitter as far as his window to play for the Spurs. Should be an interesting off-season to say the least.

[TJastal]

Not much they can say if they still are hoping that he may come over later. Pretty much is a no win situation for the Spurs. And what would Holt have to say about this? If I'm an owner it would be hard for me to watch my FO draft foreign players only to have they leverage me for more money in Europe. I would probably forbid any more foreign draft picks in the future unless I got some kind of iron clad guarantee from that player.

I wonder what the NBA owners think of this situation. I bet they aren't too happy about what they are seeing and reading about this. They have got millions on the line every year and drafting a quality player would help the bottom line as well as making them more compe ive. So if they draft a player then I think they should be able to get him into the NBA. If he has a current contract in Europe then they can work something out in the short term or within the terms of the current contract. Point being if any player puts their name in the draft pool then I think they should be held accountable and honor that committment (for lack of a better word). If they don't then I think they should be penalized by being banned from the draft pool for X number years - I'll let the NBA figure out the length of time involved - and not be able to sign a contract with any NBA team after the X number of years has elapsed. They must re-enter the draft. And that would go for all players that enter their name into the draft pool. So people like Kobe and Ferry must play for the team that drafts them and not tell the NBA "If so and so team drafts me then I wont play for them". Fine, then you wont play in the NBA for X number of years then. Go to Europe or some other place and have a good time there. When you come back then you can enter into the draft pool and play for the team that drafts you. If you don't like that then have a good life doing whatever you want to do but it wont be playing NBA ball.

I know some will think that a bit drastic or even illegal. We do live in a free enterprise system and people should be able to do what they want. That's true to a certain extent - but there are noncompete clauses in many work force agreements limiting your ability to move to a compe or within a geographical area for a certain time limit thereby restricting your right to work for whomever you want to - but the major sports - NHL, MBL, NFL, NBA...etc aren't based on the free enterprise system to the extent that say a grocery store or a retail outlet are. They are more like a cartel. Point is - while you can open up most any business so long as you meet the legal requirements not just anyone can be part of the NBA because they want to.

If Splitter uses the Spurs as leverage in order to get a more lucrative contract in Europe then the Spurs have wasted a draft pick for nothing. Maybe Splitter intended this to happen. I doubt it but then again maybe not and this is just what happened. The Spurs are out a draft pick with no compensation - no nothing. Zippo - Nada - Zlich. Based on the amount of money needed to run a franchise these days that is a big hit to the Spurs or any team for that matter. There should be consequences for any player that enters the draft, gets drafted and then decides not to play in the NBA for the respective team that drafted them.

Just think Spurs fans about what would have happened if TD decided that he wanted to play for a team that was on the coast - like Orlando, Miami or LA instead of coming to SA? He then pulls a "Ferry" on us so we end up drafting another player. I can almost tell you that the Spurs would now be playing in another city ( that almost happened wven with TD here) and you can forget about those LOBs.

There is too much money at stake for the players to dictate where they initially play. After their rookie contracts are over they have every right to go where they choose or where the mnoney is being offered. But in the beginning I think they need to play for the team that drafts them.

Off the soap box.

So what about Derek Fisher deciding he didn't like his team and basically walking out of his contract with the jazz? Allen Iverson basically did the same with the grizzlies. If actual contracts aren't being fulfilled and the league (read: Stern) does nothing about it, why in the world would the nba start enforcing new policies on players who haven't even signed a contract yet?

[Penya]

No the Economy in Spain and Europe isn't "doing alright" get your head out of your ass

And you're talking SOCCER Vs FOOTBALL

LOL

Money isn't a problem for Real Madrid.
The point is that with 14M€ they can gat Splitter. Or 3 stars. If they had to make a choice... Think about it.

[stnick2261]

How do stats like these normally translate to nba production? If there is such a comparison or study.

http://www.euroleague.net/compe io...ayer?pcode=CBY

I don't think Splitter's the savior that everyone thinks he is but anything is better than watching Bonner start or Pop revert to smallball lineups.

According to Hollinger... On average, switching from the Euroleague to the NBA does the following to a player's pace-adjusted per-minute stats:

# Scoring rate decreases 25 percent
# Rebound rate increases by 18 percent
# Assist rate increases by 31 percent
# Shooting percentage drops by 12 percent
# Overall, player efficiency rating drops by 30 percent

Splitter’s projected per 30 minute NBA stats:
Points: 11.12
Rebounds: 7.39
Assists: 2.88
FG%: 49%

If he plays 40 minutes a night:
Points: 14.79
Rebounds: 9.83
Assists: 3.83
FG%: 49%

[TJastal]

According to Hollinger... On average, switching from the Euroleague to the NBA does the following to a player's pace-adjusted per-minute stats:

# Scoring rate decreases 25 percent
# Rebound rate increases by 18 percent
# Assist rate increases by 31 percent
# Shooting percentage drops by 12 percent
# Overall, player efficiency rating drops by 30 percent

Splitter’s projected per 30 minute NBA stats:
Points: 11.12
Rebounds: 7.39
Assists: 2.88
FG%: 49%

If he plays 40 minutes a night:
Points: 14.79
Rebounds: 9.83
Assists: 3.83
FG%: 49%

So basically he'll be Antonio McDyess minus the defense. Gotcha.

[NFGIII]

So what about Derek Fisher deciding he didn't like his team and basically walking out of his contract with the jazz? Allen Iverson basically did the same with the grizzlies. If actual contracts aren't being fulfilled and the league (read: Stern) does nothing about it, why in the world would the nba start enforcing new policies on players who haven't even signed a contract yet?

Good points - I wasn't thrilled with what happened there either. I believe that you should honor your contract and abid by the terms. If not then don't sign it. But it was my thoughts concerning the behavior of those players and the consequences their decisions have upon NBA teams. You are correct that it would be difficult to put into place new policies when old ones aren't being enforced. But my concern was that draft picks - especially 1st rounds ones - can have such an impact on the fortunes of a team. And to lose one in this manner is tough to swallow and I believe that there should be consequences for players that do that. Based on the economics of pro sports if you commit to being drafted by a pro team then I think you should own up to it.

But I dream.

[AFBlue]

So basically he'll be Antonio McDyess minus the defense. Gotcha.

What defense is McDyess providing?

And isn't Splitter known as a pretty solid post defender? I know he doesn't block alot of shots, but I read he's pretty solid on the low block. Is that wrong?

In my mind, Splitter's defense and 7ft presence will be as important or more important that the offense he brings...at least initially.

Can someone comment on his defense that has seen him play alot?

[santymrc]

No the Economy in Spain and Europe isn't "doing alright" get your head out of your ass

And you're talking SOCCER Vs FOOTBALL

LOL

Real Madrid has a lot of sports in their club, its not like NBA teams that are a one dimensional club (just Basket).
Their revenues comes from differents sports and they have a budget larger than some countries, so, get your head out of your ass. They do have more money than the Spurs to spend it will come to Splitter to choose between the two, theres no way the Spurs are going to get him just for MLE.

[TJastal]

What defense?

And isn't Splitter known as a pretty solid post defender? I know he doesn't block alot of shots, but I read he's pretty solid on the low block. Is that wrong?

In my mind, Splitter's defense and 7ft presence will be as important or more important that the offense he brings...at least initially.

Can someone comment on his defense that has seen him play alot?

If the spurs only wanted a solid post defender they would have kept Kurt Thomas.

And there's nothing special about being 7 feet tall if you can't block a shot. And the guy isn't exactly bulky, he's going to get shoved around in the paint like a foam mannequin.