Noooo, Spurs re-sign Bonner

[Killakobe81]

If a company chooses to keep an employee they value, the do not cut his salary, unless you want them to be disgruntled as well. A slight raise was to be expected if the Spurs were gonna sign him. 4 years is a bit surprising though, as I would have expected 2 or 3 max.

Bonner is a hard worker, and he won't be expected to fill a big man role this year. Only to hustle on defense and hit 3 pointers. Rebounding and interior defense will fall to the other bigs...TD, Splitter, Blair, and Mcdyess, two of which I expect to be on the floor with Bonner at the same time, most times.

The Spurs ability to sign Splitter, and another player with the LLE is unaffected by this move.

Put your big boy pants on people and relax. The Spurs know what they are doing.

Believe.

Great post. I need to stay awaya from the NBA forum all the intelligent and STILL confident Spur fans are in here.

Again, part of why I cam here was the back and forth between the Spur and Piston fans.

Plent of Intelligent analysis and trash talk.

I JOINED when all the Kobe bashing and collusion talk started after the Gasol trade ...

I STILL believe in the Spurs as contenders (I predicted the Dallas win but I did not anticipate the Suns thrashing)

Spurs just need a SF and figure out the Parker/Hill rotation ...

[angelbelow]

Great post. I need to stay awaya from the NBA forum all the intelligent and STILL confident Spur fans are in here.

Again, part of why I cam here was the back and forth between the Spur and Piston fans.

Plent of Intelligent analysis and trash talk.

I JOINED when all the Kobe bashing and collusion talk started after the Gasol trade ...

I STILL believe in the Spurs as contenders (I predicted the Dallas win but I did not anticipate the Suns thrashing)

Spurs just need a SF and figure out the Parker/Hill rotation ...

I dont think thats a good post. Companies offer regular raises if the employee is effective and productive. Bonner is simply was not a major contributor last year and this year he appears to have an even lesser role.

The best companies are cut throat (see GE) and happily cut there bottom employees - in this case Bonner because he is not able to be effective during the playoffs, he is only good at shooting while being below average in areas like defense, rebounding, passing, etc. He also has no upside because he is unlikely to improve his skill level. I like Bonner and occasionally thought he would be an effective 4th big off the bench. At this point we have 4 bigs that I would rather see play over Bonner (due to a combination of veteran exp. in Dice, and upside in Blair and Splitter.)

I just don't see a point in giving Bonner a raise just because he knows the system. Just because he does - does not mean our defense is suddenly better or our offensive flow is suddenly better. Its true, bonner raise doesnt effect our ability to USE the MLE/LLE but will certainly make us think twice when were approaching the luxury tax because we have a 5th big and probably 12th man on the bench making 4 million. (For you guys think Adam Morrison, Luke Walton, Rads contract from before.)

[AFBlue]

Why?

Spurs couldn't have signed Wright because they did not hold his bird rights, and were only able to pay him from three possible "pots" of money; mid-level exception, or MLE ($5.7M), LLE ($2M) or vet min.

The Spurs have tabbed the majority of the mid-level exception for Splitter, so they would only have the LLE or vet min to offer Wright. Seeing as how Wright got somewhere around $4M/yr, it was impossible for him to be a Spur.

[The Truth #6]

Holt can throw away money. That's fine. His choice. But Pop don't outhink yourself. Recognize his uselessness and don't overplay him.

[TD 21]

I don't hate Bonner. I've actually defended him many times in the past, especially last season early on in the year when is production was quite good. But that was then and this is now.

I think where we are not finding common ground here is role and expectation. Splitter is here now, so that gives the Spurs four rotation bigs. Duncan should play 30min, Splitter 25, McDyess 20 and Blair 20. There are 96 available minutes on the front line...and that scenario would consume 95. The 5th big should only play spot duty and in situational lineups. That's why I'm saying Tolliver is a better option than Bonner. He's not as good of a shooter(he doesn't suck, as you suggest either...33% from the arc is serviceable), but he is quicker, a better rebounder, passer and at least has some upside. These are the types of thing one needs from an energy big. The fact that he could be signed at the minimum and not locked in to a long, expensive deal makes it an even easier choice.

There is no longer the same role here for Bonner...unless you are saying you want to take minutes away from Splitter/Blair/McDyess.

Exactly. It's not about whether he's a better shooter than Tolliver (he is), or whether he's more established and has a more advanced, thorough understanding of the system (he is and does), it's about what this means for the team and what it means is not good (as you've detailed).

Even if you (not you specifically, I mean a Spurs fan in general) wants to look at the bright side of this and go "the Spurs have five rotation caliber bigs, this will allow Duncan and McDyess the rest they need throughout the regular season and Bonner provides three-point shooting, which the Spurs lack", what about down the stretch and into the playoffs?

You know, when rotations are set. Who get's squeezed? My guess would be Blair. How is that good for the team? Particularly if he's an improved player next season, which he figures to be. Not only that, but it will also mean that a bona fide choke artist is in the Spurs playoff rotation. Bonner can't shoot under pressure and since he offers nothing else, he becomes useless.

Plus, why commit 4 years and $15 or $16 (I presume) million to him? Tolliver could have most likely been had for 1 or 2 years at a fraction of the cost, while alleviating all rotation concerns and stop Pop from playing mad scientist, not allowing guys to get in or stay in a rhythm and alienating probably at least one of McDyess, Splitter or Blair.

There were other reasons to be sure, but one of the reasons the Spurs took off after roughly two thirds of the way into last season was because roles had become clearly defined. Amongst the bigs at least, they're just re-creating that issue all over again.

[Whisky Dog]

What's funny to me is in his zeal to replace Robert Horry Pop has fallen on love with the exact opposite of Robert Horry and tried to fit him into the mold. It's so stupid it's comical - this has to be an ego thing because that is the only thing that can explain this level of stupidity.

[gospursgojas]

matt bonner sucks

[200 miles]

What's funny to me is in his zeal to replace Robert Horry Pop has fallen on love with the exact opposite of Robert Horry and tried to fit him into the mold. It's so stupid it's comical - this has to be an ego thing because that is the only thing that can explain this level of stupidity.

So this is what has transpired so far...

Pop & RC choose to keep this:



and they decide to let go of this:




Well if that's the case, then Pop should be on the list of "Real Men of Genius" on that stupid beer advertisement.

[Slinkyman]

The problem isn't Bonner, it's Pop. If Pop would stop playing bonner so much i think people would actually like Bonner on the team. The fact that he started last season and the thought of him starting next season is dreadful. It's possible that Matt Bonner is our starting center at the beginning of the season, that's Pop's fault!

[DesignatedT]

The problem isn't Bonner, it's Pop. If Pop would stop playing bonner so much i think people would actually like Bonner on the team. The fact that he started last season and the thought of him starting next season is dreadful. It's possible that Matt Bonner is our starting center at the beginning of the season, that's Pop's fault!

He only started 7 games last season. Mainly in the beginning because we had so many unfamiliar faces. Once everyone got a little settled in he was never our starting center.

[rayray2k8]

How much you wanna bet that lets say the spurs add Shaq with the LLE (which I highly doubt) and Pop SOMEHOW ends up putting a small line up during the season? 6 ing bigs and he's still in love with small ball!

[redzero]

Without Bonner, who on the Spurs would shoot 3's? Exactly.

[Seventyniner]

I'm still holding out hope that the 4th year is unguaranteed or a team option. Even 3 years is one too many, IMO, but wouldn't quite be so bad. It would also make Bonner's contract a good trade chip 3 years down the road.

[SenorSpur]

As someone stated earlier, if Bonner is the best the Spurs could get as a "stretch 4", the Spurs would be better off with a "stretch 3".

Bonner is nothing more than a scrub.

[ElNono]

lol @ 5th big... He was the first big off the bench when he was making $3.2m, what do you think it's gonna happen now that he got a raise?

[TJastal]

Without Bonner, who on the Spurs would shoot 3's? Exactly.

Manu, Hill, Temple, Anderson, Jefferson (if he signs), Hairston

[ffadicted]

Manu, Hill, Temple, Anderson, Jefferson (if he signs), Hairston

owned

[Sigz]

This is such a travesty.

[rmt]

Without Bonner, who on the Spurs would shoot 3's? Exactly.

In the playoffs, I'd rather Duncan or Parker take a big 3 than Bonner. They won't be scared or choke it away.

[Chomag]

I want my Bonner goggles! Maybe then the next 4 years wont be so painfull to watch.

[SenorSpur]

Without Bonner, who on the Spurs would shoot 3's? Exactly.

With Bonner on the roster, the Spurs STILL have no one who can MAKE 3's in pressure situations.

[SenorSpur]

I want my Bonner goggles! Maybe then the next 4 years wont be so painfull to watch.

Trust me, if they're anything like the previous years, it WILL be painful to watch.

[ace3g]

spurs

Spurs have re-signed forward Matt Bonner #gospursgo http://twitpic.com/250qdl

I guess it is official now

[ace3g]

mikefinger

Even after signing new 4-yr deal with #Spurs, Matt Bonner refuses to give up Pontiac Grand Prix. "It's a classic," he said.

[ChumpDumper]

I can't believe he ever fit in that car. Did he just take out the front seat and drive it from the back?