LOL, that is the way I took it to. Why couldn't Splitter play next to Duncan? He would be a very good fit next to Duncan. Plus, it would mean MUCH less of small ball. Splitter is a legit seven footer who can move, I think he would help Duncan out a lot.
Honestly, I read yesterday's Splitter article because someone linked it to me. I didn't know it was E-N. But I clicked on it and read it ... the first time I've gone to the site since their butthurt ass got all lawyered up ... and I gotta be honest.
I'll check the links more often.
Give him the full MLE for 5 years. The odds of his value exceeding that number in short order are greater than him being overpaid. If he wants to lock himself into a number that low long-term, when he's potentially capable of making a lot more within' a couple of seasons, let him do it.
See, that's what most people might think.
But I was listening to the most recent Project Spurs podcast with those guys who sound 12 with nasally lisps and the youngest sounding one was complaining that Splitter was too small to play center and a variety of other ridiculous things that weren't even reasonably true.
So if a guy who should be well versed on the Spurs goes and hosts his own podcast gets the basics wrong like on how big Splitter is, then I don't think much of the average fan's ability to grasp the obvious. After all, plenty of well respected posters here even bought into the anti-Scola hype and the Bonner brilliance.
Pretty much my sentiment. I don't have much doubt in his ability to be a worthy recipient of an MLE deal, given the position he plays, so I don't have much of a problem given him 4 or 5 with a player option in the final year.
Just look at what a decent Big costs you these days. He's worth a MLE or near MLE contract, he'd actually be hurting himself asking for more years -- I'd want to be free from my contract after 2-3 years when I about 28, in my prime and capable of securing more cash on the second contract. That's what he's got to still be looking towards: the second contract.
Spot on TD
They have to pay him either way, it shouldn't matter if it takes the full MLE, give it to him..
Splitter is by far the best player the Spurs could realistically acquire with the MLE anyways, they won't find a better option..money should NOT be an issue here if the Spurs still want to win..
The Spurs at least have a few players that could POTENTIALLY fill the roles of athletic wings(Hairston, Gee, Temple, maybe a 1st/2nd round pick), but there is no possible option that they could get to play the role Splitter would play here, so it's a no-brainer..
I realize spending somebody else's money is easy, but I will be very disappointed if money is the reason Splitter isn't on the team..
I can't see money being the reason Splitter is not on this team. I'm confident that the Spurs understand the situation that you just detailed and I fully expect them to oblige Splitter's request/demand.
It's not like this is stunning either. Maybe people didn't think it would be five years or were hoping they could get him for less than the full MLE, but all along we heard he was likely to command the full MLE for at least three seasons.
As I said earlier, if he wants to limit his earning potential in his fourth and fifth seasons, let him.
Interesting that Buford said "we have a pretty good starting center". Actually, it's not so much interesting as it is stupid. The inference, that is. If he needs some time to get acclimated, that's fine, he doesn't have to start from day one, but at some point next season, so long as he's not a total flop, he should be the starting four or five.
Why would they start two old, immobile bigs together? One of whom prefers to and is better suited to coming off the bench at this stage of his career. Then the flip side is they'd have two young, inexperienced (at least in the NBA) bigs coming off the bench together. Sure, there's plenty of mixing and matching throughout the game, but this is foolish. Duncan needs a young, mobile, multi-faceted, legit number two big who's 6-11 or up big next to him primarily. That would make the minutes he does play less arduous than they are now.
Only the Sporting News, so that they can quote more than two sentences of it in their articles.
Offer him the MLE for 5 yrs and get that signature. He's the best centre outside the NBA and just lifted his Baskonia team over a Barca team that was being described as one of the best teams ever to grace Europe.
It's Splitter time, make it happen.
+100000
Who cares how much it costs!? Splitter IS nba ready now and could be the piece that the Spurs need to put them over the top.
Because of that article of Manu about Splitter, I am now 60% sure he'll wear a Spurs jersey next season
Ginobili wants to play with Splitter
By Jeff McDonald
It's been three seasons since Manu Ginobili last saw Tiago Splitter play in person. He's eager to see the big Brazilian now — and preferably in a Spurs uniform.
"I've heard he's developed his game so much over the past couple of years," Ginobili, himself an international icon with Argentina, said Tuesday. "I'm dying to see him. I'd love to see him play with us."
Ginobili might soon get his wish. The Spurs are widely expected to sign Splitter sometime soon after free agency opens on July 1 — an expectation general manager R.C. Buford calls "presumptuous."
Splitter, the Spurs' 2007 first-round draft pick and centerpiece of Caja Laboral's 2010 Spanish League le, is now widely acknowledged as the best big man in Europe. He was recently named MVP of the Spanish League's regular season and Finals, a double feat last accomplished by Arvydas Sabonis in 1994.
Finally coaxing the 6-foot-11 Splitter from Europe has become the front-burner issue of the Spurs' offseason.
As currently constructed, the Spurs could offer Splitter, 25, a deal starting at the mid-level exception, about $5.5 million or so. He could make more money to stick around Spain, so the Spurs will likely have to make up the difference with a long-term contract.
One rival NBA executive surmises it will take five years and a total package worth between $25 million and $30 million to entice Splitter away from Spain's money.
Presumptuous or not, it is expected that the Spurs will ultimately pay it. Ginobili, for one, wouldn't mind.
Good post. I totally agree. I am not sold on Splitter being our saviour, but I do agree with this post.
Normally I would be scared to commit that long to an unknown player, but you are right on. Near 7 footers with his potential are hard to come by. Even if he does not work out for us, there are always people willing to take a chance on a player like that.
You are overrating Splitter. He is not going to be that much of a difference maker to put the spurs over the top.
How is he "unknown"?
The fact of the matter is that this guy is an MVP in Spain, the 2nd best bball league after the NBA. I am sure he will need time to adapt, but he should most definitely be a success even in his 1st year. He's played for years at a top level at club and international levels, there's no reason at all his talent won't translate into the NBA. Signing him for 5 years at that amount would be great.
Also, most teams in the NBA would love to have him at that price. Their are a bunch of moron 7 footers getting paid 10million+ for doing jack .
I just hope he he is not a bust, like the RJ trade has been thus far... Im sure he can live up to the billing.
You could be right but I hope your wrong. Splitter is a very nice piece for this team and I think he will make a big difference. I would much rather see him cleaning the boards and giving Timmy some help down low than to see Bonner standing at the three point line! We all know that Tim has been over worked these past couple of seasons (especially early on) and bringing Splitter over could help to relieve some of that work load.
If he joins us we will have a good big man combo if he will play pretty much like he did in europe!....
So maybe the contract extension for Ginobili might have played a big part in bringing Splitter in, looking back at it...?
i see what he did there...Because of that article of Manu about Splitter, I am now 60% sure he'll wear a Spurs jersey next season
Ginobili wants to play with Splitter
By Jeff McDonald
It's been three seasons since Manu Ginobili last saw Tiago Splitter play in person. He's eager to see the big Brazilian now — and preferably in a Spurs uniform.
"I've heard he's developed his game so much over the past couple of years," Ginobili, himself an international icon with Argentina, said Tuesday. "I'm dying to see him. I'd love to see him play with us."
Ginobili might soon get his wish. The Spurs are widely expected to sign Splitter sometime soon after free agency opens on July 1 — an expectation general manager R.C. Buford calls "presumptuous."
Splitter, the Spurs' 2007 first-round draft pick and centerpiece of Caja Laboral's 2010 Spanish League le, is now widely acknowledged as the best big man in Europe. He was recently named MVP of the Spanish League's regular season and Finals, a double feat last accomplished by Arvydas Sabonis in 1994.
Finally coaxing the 6-foot-11 Splitter from Europe has become the front-burner issue of the Spurs' offseason.
As currently constructed, the Spurs could offer Splitter, 25, a deal starting at the mid-level exception, about $5.5 million or so. He could make more money to stick around Spain, so the Spurs will likely have to make up the difference with a long-term contract.
One rival NBA executive surmises it will take five years and a total package worth between $25 million and $30 million to entice Splitter away from Spain's money.
Presumptuous or not, it is expected that the Spurs will ultimately pay it. Ginobili, for one, wouldn't mind.
just throw the MLE at him
look we did overpay for rasho at one point, how bad can splitter be?
So if the Spurs sign Splitter with the MLE does that mean we can't re-sign Bonner?
No not exactly.....
Considering how much scrub big men earn in the NBA the MLE for Splitter would be just right. He hasn't proven anything but he is a versatile player who can flourish in the NBA.
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