Marcus Williams(the one we drafted in 2007)

[TD 21]

This notion of having Duncan, McDyess, Bonner, Blair AND Splitter in the front court next season is not realistic. Too expensive and not enough playing time. If Splitter signs, McDyess is more than likely going to be traded. There's an outside chance that the Spurs just won't re-sign Bonner, but I doubt it. They're obsessed with having a stretch four, plus he is and will be cheaper than McDyess and then there's the case of role definition. Blair figures to improve in the off season and McDyess, even with his struggles this season, is still better than a fourth big. Bonner, on the other hand, that's ideally what he is, despite Pop's insistence on having him higher on the depth chart than that.

I don't follow your line of reasoning here. Why do you think this is so and what do you expect they'll try to get in return?

In return, I suspect they seek out a team with cap space that can flat out take him off their hands, maybe for a future second round pick or something else minor and if not that, then for a partially guaranteed contract. One I know off the top of my head is Jones (of the Heat).

[Mel_13]

In return, I suspect they seek out a team with cap space that can flat out take him off their hands, maybe for a future second round pick or something else minor and if not that, then for a partially guaranteed contract. One I know off the top of my head is Jones (of the Heat).

OK.

We'll see, but I doubt any team with cap space will be interested in taking Dice's contract and reducing the funds available to chase FAs.

I believe Miami is more likely to cut Jones and increase their cap space than to trade him. Trading for Dice instead of cutting Jones would decrease their cap space by roughly 3M.

While it may be very difficult to find a team to take Dice's salary off the books, he could be traded for players to fill other positions of need.

It's also possible that they keep Dice and find a cheaper version of Bonner like Steve Novak or Brian Cook.

[TD 21]

OK.

We'll see, but I doubt any team with cap space will be interested in taking Dice's contract and reducing the funds available to chase FAs.

I believe Miami is more likely to cut Jones and increase their cap space than to trade him. Trading for Dice instead of cutting Jones would decrease their cap space by roughly 3M.

While it may be very difficult to find a team to take Dice's salary off the books, he could be traded for players to fill other positions of need.

It's also possible that they keep Dice and find a cheaper version of Bonner like Steve Novak or Brian Cook.

A lot of teams won't get what they want and will be desperate. Good teams are always looking for veteran bigs who know how to play, plus McDyess has only one guaranteed year remaining.

You're right about the Heat and Jones, he was just an example off the top of my head.

He could be traded for that and if he is, it'll be an inexpensive depth player or two, similar to the Nesterovic for Bonner and Williams deal in '06.

That is possible and ideal, but I doubt it happens. How much will Holt pay? McDyess is more expensive than Bonner and would he accept potentially being relegated to fourth big status?

[Mel_13]

A lot of teams won't get what they want and will be desperate. Good teams are always looking for veteran bigs who know how to play, plus McDyess has only one guaranteed year remaining.

You're right about the Heat and Jones, he was just an example off the top of my head.

He could be traded for that and if he is, it'll be an inexpensive depth player or two, similar to the Nesterovic for Bonner and Williams deal in '06.

That is possible and ideal, but I doubt it happens. How much will Holt pay? McDyess is more expensive than Bonner and would he accept potentially being relegated to fourth big status?

Time will tell. The answers to these questions will still be greatly affected by how far the team goes in the playoffs and how individual players perform. Based on their histories, it's possible that Dice shines and Bonner comes up small.

To me, the Manu extension supports the notion that when Holt went all-in last summer it meant that he was committed for at least two seasons deep in the luxury tax. Since we don't see the books, there's no way to know exactly how deep he's willing to go. Let's hope for a long playoff run with lots of sold out home games to improve Holt's bottom line.

[TD 21]

Time will tell. The answers to these questions will still be greatly affected by how far the team goes in the playoffs and how individual players perform. Based on their histories, it's possible that Dice shines and Bonner comes up small.

To me, the Manu extension supports the notion that when Holt went all-in last summer it meant that he was committed for at least two seasons deep in the luxury tax. Since we don't see the books, there's no way to know exactly how deep he's willing to go. Let's hope for a long playoff run with lots of sold out home games to improve Holt's bottom line.

Unfortunately, I think this decision will be more based on finances rather than playoff performance. The reality is the Spurs are obsessed with having a stretch four, Bonner fills that role, is affordable and knows the system. Novak is really a three (only a four in specific match-ups), Cook is worse than Bonner and if the Spurs signed either, they'd be the fifth big, meaning they wouldn't be in the rotation. Personally, I'm all for this, but I'm not the one making decisions. My gut is they keep Bonner and trade McDyess if Splitter signs.

For a team that values the three point shot greatly, I doubt we see a rotation featuring only three three point threats and only two of which are high percentage shooters.

True, we don't know how deep Holt will go, but I get the sense that the Spurs won't significantly increase their payroll, even though they're a Splitter signing (assuming they keep McDyess), a wing defender upgrade and health away from probably at least making it back to the finals.

[mogrovejo]

No, he was in China, but he came back to the Toros a few weeks ago. If the Spurs really wanted him, they could have signed him.

Yeah, he came back the 24th and the Spurs signed Gee the 28th. I still think the Spurs are behind this. He turned down $100K to play Summer League and the training camp for the Pacers. Nobody really likes to play the D-League playoffs that much.

I would like to see Duncan, Splitter, McDyess and Blair, but it's not happening.

That would be too much slowness and not enough shooting.