Former Spur: Tiago Splitter

[TD 21]

Can't see it being more than one. They're limited financially and you got to think that they won't want to completely bury Hairston, Gee and probably the 1st round pick, which I expect to be an SF, considering their glaring need going forward at that position and the fact that a bunch of SF's should be available right around their pick.

Whoever that veteran player is will replace one of Bogans or Mason. The other replacement will likely be either the 1st round pick (depending on if it's a senior like James, Pondexter, Robinson, etc.) or Hairston (depending on if it's a more raw player, such as George, Hayward, Babbit, Ebanks, etc.).

[Blackjack]

Unless there's just some no-brainer pick that falls to them at 20, you've got to believe that's a pick for a wing. And if they believe in that player enough to spend the money on the pick and select the kid, it'd be hard to see him not play.

So I agree with your take; I'm just trying to wrap my head around what they'll do at the moment. It doesn't seem like they'd carry 15 players and everything I've heard with my own ears and what I've been told by people I trust, is that Hairston is in the Spurs plans moving forward. So if that's true, and maybe it is or isn't, that's three wings: Jefferson, Hairston and their first-round pick right there.

I view Temple as a 1/2 that's a capable wing defender -- given certain matchups -- but he'll probably fill the vacated Mason role-- third-string point and bench scorer. So that's three players at the point: Parker, Hill and Temple.

The frontcourt will hopefully consist of Duncan, Splitter, 'Dyess, Blair, a vet-min. and/or a D-League eligible player. ('Tres believes Mahinmi will be back ... so maybe he fills the fifth or sixth big, depending on how many they keep.)

So that takes the roster to 11 or 12 and we've yet to address the shooting guard: Manu . . . Well, that would make it 12 or 13 and that probably means they'd have room for one or two more players without carrying 15. Maybe Bell and/or Gee? Something like that is what it looks to come down to; if I crunched the numbers I could be a little more accurate but I think that's pretty much the gist.

[TD 21]

Well I'm not saying not play at all, just not in the regular rotation. If they draft George and Hairston looks more ready to contribute than him, which is not inconceivable considering the experience gap between the two, then I could see Hairston being the fourth wing in the rotation.

I wouldn't describe Temple as a "bench scorer". Even though he did a nice job offensively, I got that sense that he was playing above his head. Hopefully I'm wrong though.

I'm predicting that they'll lure Tolliver back into the organization to be the fifth big and fill the stretch four role (even though he's not exactly an established knock down shooter), similar to how they did Gee, by offering a little more than his current team will, whether that's financially, or security wise (guaranteeing him a season, maybe even two).

1st round pick I'm assuming will be George, James or Pondexter.

Wing shooter, I originally thought Bell or Evans; now I'm thinking Cook or Butler.

If I had to guess at this moment with limited information, I'd go with...

Starters: PF- Duncan, SF- Jefferson, C- Splitter, SG- Hill, PG- Parker

Bench: SG- Ginobili, PF- McDyess, SG- Cook, PF- Blair, SG/SF- Hairston, SF- George or SF/PF- James, PF- Tolliver

Inactive: SG/PG- Temple

If they carry fourteen, I'd expect either Gee or the 2nd round pick to make the cut.

[Blackjack]

That's basically what I'm thinking; and I didn't mean Temple was going to be looked at as a scorer, only that he'd kind of take Mason's role (and that Mason's responsibilities -- 3-point shooting and third-string point -- will be divvied up between Temple and the 3-point shooter they acquire on the wing -- I should have been more clear on that).

[TD 21]

I see. Makes sense.

If they trade for Cook and draft George, then they really would be thin as far as defensive wings go. They'd have Hill, who's more guard than wing and Hairston, who even if he cracks the rotation I can't see playing a ton of minutes.

That's why I could see the draft pick being somewhat intertwined with the other wing player they bring in. So for example, maybe if their plan is to acquire Cook, they draft James instead of George, since he's the more noted defender of the two.

[MaNu4Tres]

I'd be surprised if the Spurs don't acquire some type of veteran wing, even if it is a young player like Cook. The lack of quality options on the wings caught up to them last season and while I agree that Hairston, Gee, etc. shouldn't be buried behind minimal types like Bogans, it would be foolish to not have one more established player ahead of them, both for depth purposes and because neither is established. I understand you can't become established without opportunity, but for a team trying to win a championship they can't put all their eggs in one basket in this regard. The Spurs need someone better than Bogans and what Mason gave them this season.

I'd be surprised if Butler signed for the minimum. He just made almost $4 million this past season, is right in the prime of his career and averaged double figures points. Plus, even though he's not starting material, he did start the past two seasons for the most part. There's no reason he couldn't at least get the LLE.

Agreed 100% with everything said.

I do believe Spurs will go after Bell or Butler with the remainder of their MLE after Splitter, but I don't think they will dig any deeper into the free agent SG/SF wing pool if those two choose to go different routes. I know they've liked Dorell Wright this past trade deadline and he could be a target for the remainder also. I just don't think they will carry two or more veteran wings next year like they did this year. Pop had a very hard time managing the situation between Mason, Finley and Bogans.

[Manufan909]

Agreed 100% with everything said.

I do believe Spurs will go after Bell or Butler with the remainder of their MLE after Splitter, but I don't think they will dig any deeper into the free agent SG/SF wing pool if those two choose to go different routes. I know they've liked Dorell Wright this past trade deadline and he could be a target for the remainder also. I just don't think they will carry two or more veteran wings next year like they did this year. Pop had a very hard time managing the situation between Mason, Finley and Bogans.

How was Bogans involved? I know the other two whined and moaned to be let go. I wish Mason had been waived/traded the same time Fin left. But Hairston would not see a huge increase in minutes even then, kinda like Ian with 3-deep frontline this past season. Or maybe he would Manu/Tony/RJ/Hill/Bogans for the smalls would have been disastrous.

[Manufan909]

Hey Bruno, according to this video Tiago had a mid range jay in 07, did he go away from that as his post game became more advanced?

And many thanks for putting up the url for the site with a massive amount of Euro games. LP, costing too damn much. They could have a meh quality site for those who never watch four games at once or whatever.

I'm only halfway thru my first game (Caja vs. Lagun), but Splitter does indeed seem to be all that and a bag of chips. The Euro game is a bit slow for my tastes, but I want to watch all the free games involving Splitter or Colo that I possibly can, so it.

After Tiago got a monster block, the commentator switched from Spanish to English, only to say "not in my house!!!!!".

[Bruno]

Hey Bruno, according to this video Tiago had a mid range jay in 07, did he go away from that as his post game became more advanced?

Tiago role has change a lot after Scola left the team but he still has a mid range jump shoot. For example, he is significantly better in that area than Blair. It's just that he isn't great or even good at hitting midrange jump shoot.

[mogrovejo]

It was announced today he won the MVP award:
http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=67420
Expected and fair.

[Spurs Brazil]

It was announced today he won the MVP award:
http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=67420
Expected and fair.

Brazil media is reporting this news a lot but nothing new about him coming to San Antonio. His only quite is he'll keep playing hard to win the Spanish League Tournament

[Maddog]

Anybody have any sense of a timeline as to when we might hear something yea or nay?

[TimmehC]

Anybody have any sense of a timeline as to when we might hear something yea or nay?

Pretty sure the Spurs have to wait until Caja's season is over to start talking to him. Also, the MLE won't be available until July 1st.

[Bruno]

Spurs don't have to wait the end of the season to talk with Splitter or his agent.

I wouldn't be surprised if they still haven't talk with them. It's even possible that Splitter still has made his choice but that he wait the end of hsi season to make his choice public.

We will know more about Splitter just after the end of his season. It will be in early or mid June depending on how far they go in playoffs.

[Mel_13]

Anybody have any sense of a timeline as to when we might hear something yea or nay?

Spurs don't have to wait the end of the season to talk with Splitter or his agent.

I wouldn't be surprised if they still haven't talk with them. It's even possible that Splitter still has made his choice but that he wait the end of hsi season to make his choice public.

We will know more about Splitter just after the end of his season. It will be in early or mid June depending on how far they go in playoffs.

FWIW, back in 2008 we started hearing rumors that Tau would make a big offer in mid-May. The announcement that Splitter had signed a new contract came out at the end of May, but before the end of the Spanish League playoffs.

If he has already decided to leave Spain or to stay with his current team, it seems likely that we'll know shortly after the playoffs are over. If he plans on looking at options with other European teams, we could have a much longer wait.

I would imagine that the Spurs will insist on a decision before July 1st so that they can pursue other MLE targets if Splitter stays in Europe.

[robot89]

His game is about to start
http://acb360.orange.es/partidos/LACB/54/312

[TIMMYD!]

Just from watching the first 5 minutes of this game, I can already tell Splitter is going to help Tim a lot if he comes over. He's always in a great position on defense and is pretty mobile for a big guy.

[EmantheSpursFan]

He doesnt dominate the ball for being an MVP thats a really good sign

[Cane]

That was a pretty nifty pass that Tiago made to the baseline for his teammate.

[PBEEZY]

His post defense is good when he doesn't gamble

[TimmehC]

Nah, some of us are at work and curious about how he's doing. De Colo's playing right now too.

[PBEEZY]

Yeah, just about 10 minutes in and he's already made about 3 or 4 really nice passes.

.

Yeah he is a willing passer from double teams doesn't try press the issue, although he probably won't be seeing many double teams in the NBA. One aspect of his game that i've been impressed with thats hard to notice with youtube videos is his movement, on offense and D, he seems to have a high enough basketball IQ to know what spots on the floor to roam to and he's much quicker than i expected. That said it's hard to measure he's level of talent from only watching a couple of minutes in 1 game.

[ffadicted]

It's time for Splitter to ing stop this Popovic, he's raping lol

[taps]

Splitter passing out of double team looks solid.

I like what he does away from the ball, seems to screen well in a lot of different offensive situations

[scottspurs]

and 1 was sick