No one was willing to give Manu 10 million per year in his prime what makes you think someone would in his twilight?
In a normal market, you're right. But I wouldn't call this market normal, given the number of teams with MAJOR cap space.
All it takes is LeBron and Wade re-signing to leave teams scrambling for options B-Z. And I guarantee someone's option will be to look at Manu for a short-term, high-dollar contract.
Not saying it'll be prohibitively enough to lure him away, but it may be more than the Spurs would ideally like to spend.
I've got news for you. If Manu bolts, and let's say your other scenario comes to fruition and Splitter doesn't show, the Spurs will forced into rebuilding. A Manu defection, which if he gets a crazy offer will be understandable, will devastate the franchise. That, alone, will signal a time for change, as the Spurs will clearly be stuck in that dreaded "zero zone of mediocrity."
In fact, they're already there. If they sit back, stick they're heads in the ground and pretend otherwise, then they'll be rolling with the same roster of declining, overpriced, talent they have now. Even if they can elect to slowly plug in a piece part or two gradually, as they've done, that will only prolong the sickness. If they stay mediocre for very long, they'll start feeling the pinch at the gate.
Or they can blow it up and aggressively start the process by adding young, athletic, inexpensive players, via draft and free agency, around their core of TP, TD, Hill, Blair & Hairston. Again, if you're going to lose games, it's far better to do so with young, cheap, developing talent, that plays hard and has great upside.
Either route they choose, when you factor in the changing financial landscape and limited assets they currently have, the process of remaking the roster will be a daunting one. Of course, had they elected to start the process last week at the trade deadline, they'd be a bit further along in that endeavor. However, that is another story alltogether.
I'm going to take the smae view I took with Scola. Until he gets here, I won't stress over it. That way if he never comes,, I won't have to be all depressed. Although I do admit that I always felt the Sprus would find a way to get Scola. But once I read where the team heads didn't think that both Scola and Timmy could coexist I knew something other than talent was a strumbling block.
What I find weird is that, in 2004, when Pop had a hard-on for Rasho Nesterovic, he flew to his native Slovenia and showed up at his home to start the free agency period. He even went so far as to court Rasho in his native Serbian language.
in 2006, when Pop had a hard-on for Nick Van Exel, he flew across country during the all-star break, to convince him to sign with the Spurs. All this despite the fact that NVE was done as a player.
Last season, when they had a hard-on for Drew Gooden, Pop knew that several teams desired his services. To gain an edge, Pop flew cross-country to Sactown to sell him on the Spurs' wares.
To think he did all this for these players, but instead he chose not to court Splitter in the same fashion is unforgivable. I agree with you in that it does demonstrate a hint of arrogance.
You forget the same red carpet treatment from Pop with Damon Stoudamire, and IIRC, Michael Finley also.
Hard to believe he is the best center in europe. European leagues are weaker than the NBA but I didn't think they were that weak.
god isnt even lubing it up anymore, were all rimmed out
This is an understatement here.
Even if Manu defects and Splitter declines, the Spurs still have TD and Parker. With Hill, Blair, first round pick, MLE and the possibility of additions through trade (RJ and Dice expiring) I'd say the Spurs can still put together a compe ive squad.
You and I actually may be speaking the same language (TD/Parker plus mostly young fillers), but you call that a "blow up". My definition of a "blow up" is the Spurs trading Parker for young talent, picks and expiring contracts...basically putting to rest any chance that Duncan has at another ring.
That's something I don't see as likely with Duncan still in a Spurs uni.
Not defending TJastal but wasn't Fisher's daughter being cared for by a NY doc at the time? I seem to remember that being stated during one of the Jazz games when his daughter's condition became known. I thought when the Jazz released him to care for his daughter that it was a caring and gracious gesture on their part. I would have thought that Fisher would then go to NY or the vicinity in order to be near the doctor that performed the surgery on his daughter. But shortly there after he signed with the Lakers and I thought to myself - "Did the NY doc have a LA facility or was moving to LA? Maybe Fisher didn't need to relocate to the NY area and only needed a competent doc to oversee her recovery and care. Since he was gettting that in NY why leave Utah? The fact that he signed with the Lakers so quickly and didn't seek medical care from the original doctor didn't add up to me. Maybe it was just mere cir stance. Maybe not but I didn't ever seem to recall him addressing that point and anyone who questioned his motives were pretty much shot down as insensitive people. Guess we'll never really know why he didn't go to back to NY and went to LA instead.
But I guess this is a good example of "what goes around comes around". Since Boozer screwed the Cavs by going to the Jazz after promising them he would resign with the team the Jazz are repaid with Fisher getting his release with no compensation to the Jazz and going to one of their main WC rivals.
Last edited by NFGIII; 03-17-2010 at 02:12 PM.
uh oh. better don't tell a Slovenian that Serbian was his native language.
And after all the insistence of being on the lakers and ditching the jazz organization, Fisher ended up flying her to New York for treatments anyways.
Ah, you beat me to the punch, NFGIII. Thanks for the background info on Derek "I used my daughter's illness excuse to play for the lakers!" Fisher. What a classy guy.
I pray you're right. I'd hate to lose Manu.
If Splitter is EVER coming it will be next year. If doesn't show at this training camp we (as fans) should forget about him.
It may be as simple as Splitter not wanting to come over in the teeth of a work stoppage in 2011, and there WILL be a work stoppage in 2011.
Even if Splitter comes we still need to add another legit big to the roster. How else do the Spurs plan to get through a healthy Lakers squad? Duncan and Dice getting a year older plus Splitter is not enough. Even though Duncan can play lights out any given game, if we add another big that can play decent D, run the floor, it would allow TD the time to rest that he needs. Blair is a monster but is undersized against competent 7 footers. Bonner.. I just hope he's gone next year. One option to seriously consider to get this big is maybe trading TP. He's our only tradable asset right now. I'm not a TP hater, he's won a lot of games for us, however all those minutes and French play are wearing him down, and the fact that Hill is coming along nicely make it an option IMO. RJ will mostly likely be here, nobody wanted him last week, nobody will want his contract next year either. With Hill and a traditional PG running the point it may allow RJ to emerge out of the funk he's in. Spurs got 2 years with Duncan, it's not about till death do us part with players, it's about putting together a team than can challenge for the le. Does the FO have the cojones to do it??! The Lakers going big when nobody else is (Spurs small ball) was smart. in Lakers..
Spurs play a 4 men rotation. 5th big isn't in the regular rotation anyhow.
if Spurs have Tim-Splitter-Dice-Blair, any other big wouldn't see many minutes. or do you bench Blair? Dice? Splitter?
I guess all agree that Blair should play at least 25 minutes. and Dice shouldn't play less than 20. and Splitter at least 20. if you have a decent 5th big, you see him play 15 MPG either. so what's the goal? Tim would play 15 minutes? I agree he should get rest, but any somehow compe ive Spurs team needs him to play 25-30 minutes.
so, the only option to solve this would be to trade Dice for another big.
Its a bit of a warning sign that Splitter doesn't block many shots. He is either too slow or doesn't jump well or both and that won't translate well in the nba which is a much quicker game than the foreign leagues.
Splitter may be getting too much hype here.
You have 2 bigs on the floor at all times, so yes, bench Dice, sure you can trade him but what do you really expect back for him? LaMarcus Aldridge?! Only if it's a Lakers-Memphis trade..
Having another legit big, will leave some hope for the Spurs after Tim retires.
Maybe so...But he is without a doubt better than anything the spurs could draft next season or get via FA for around MLE. The spurs are not that far off from being a top 3 NBA team again. I for one will never say he will be an all-star type player, but I do believe he has the skills to be a solid 5 in the NBA for a long time.
Splitter is not much of a shot blocker, but neither is a guy like Scola. Would you accept him on this team?
Hey, maybe we'll luck out and RC will send him an email telling him he doesn't block enough shots.
With the right pieces and chemistry that's true, but right now.. it's fugly!!
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