Spurs Taking a Hard Look at James Jones

[xtremesteven33]

There have been no reports that Butler is even on the Spurs radar.

Sounds like a typical CIA Spurs signing....

[timvp]

As of right now, my stance is:

1) If the Spurs are bringing back RJ, I'd prefer James Jones. He's a better risk/reward candidate and could simply play the role of spot-up marksman.

2) If the Spurs aren't bringing back RJ, Rasual Butler has to be next target. He's durable, he's an above average defender and he's a somewhat proven starter. I wouldn't want Butler to start, but in an emergency, he's a much surer option than Jones. Without RJ on board, I'd look at Butler and then Matt Barnes. Jones would be down the list just because you can't count on him and he's too much of a specialist to start.

[mountainballer]

agree on both points. as much as I like Jones, he isn't a good option for the starting SF.

another thought: if the Spurs can't bring back RJ, wouldn't a trade Dice for a starter quality SF be the next plan. (something like Dice for Martell Webster?)
I highly doubt we can get Butler with the money that's left.
(I was thinking from the moment of the Bonner re signing and the Splitter signing, that Dice is the odd man out and is a decent trade asset)

[xmas1997]

I think Dice would be a good specialist off the bench. He did well against Dirk too.

[coyotes_geek]

agree on both points. as much as I like Jones, he isn't a good option for the starting SF.

another thought: if the Spurs can't bring back RJ, wouldn't a trade Dice for a starter quality SF be the next plan. (something like Dice for Martell Webster?)
I highly doubt we can get Butler with the money that's left.
(I was thinking from the moment of the Bonner re signing and the Splitter signing, that Dice is the odd man out and is a decent trade asset)

The problem with trying to trade Dyess is that he's likely to just retire if he gets sent to some crappy team. I really don't see him having much of trade value at all.

[Thomas82]

The problem with trying to trade Dyess is that he's likely to just retire if he gets sent to some crappy team. I really don't see him having much of trade value at all.

But couldn't that team buy him out though?

[coyotes_geek]

But couldn't that team buy him out though?

They could, but why on earth would they want to do that? What's the point in giving up a player to acquire a guy you're just going to buy out?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Barely? One is a 40% three point shooter (which is very good), the other is a 36% three point shooter (which is just okay). Butler is not a very good defender, either.

Durability isn't overly important for this role. Even if one went down, the Spurs would still have Anderson, Hairston and (if he sticks) Gee to turn to. I think the biggest concern is to either get very good defense or very good three point shooting out of this role and Butler provides neither; Jones at least provides one.

That's not at all a red flag. While it is an astounding stat, it's irrelevant for the role he'd be playing.

With the ridiculous money being thrown around this summer and the role Butler has played the past two years (generally starting and averaging double digit points), I'd be surprised if he's not outside of the Spurs price range. I agree that he's a better player than Jones, but the Spurs need specifics.

And players never shoot better here in SA with Tim, Tony, and Manu creating open looks for them...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Just give Anderson and Hairston the playing time instead of acquiring Jones.

Anderson isn't a small forward.

[Seventyniner]

They could, but why on earth would they want to do that? What's the point in giving up a player to acquire a guy you're just going to buy out?

Salary dump, of course. That's why Charlotte traded Chandler for Dampier, right? And buyouts immediately after trades happen all the time, see Brent Barry, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Antonio McDyess (lol), etc.

Then again, McDyess's contract is fully guaranteed for this season and partially guaranteed for 2011-2012, so the team would have to be really desperate to dump salary to view him as an effective means of saving; his contract is worse than a run-of-the-mill expiring contract.

[coyotes_geek]

Salary dump, of course. That's why Charlotte traded Chandler for Dampier, right? And buyouts immediately after trades happen all the time, see Brent Barry, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Antonio McDyess (lol), etc.

Then again, McDyess's contract is fully guaranteed for this season and partially guaranteed for 2011-2012, so the team would have to be really desperate to dump salary to view him as an effective means of saving; his contract is worse than a run-of-the-mill expiring contract.

A team looking to give away a quality SF on a reasonable contract so that they can shed payroll can find a better contract than Dyess'.

[RiverwalkParade]

Jones + Barnes and resign RJ and the SF spot would be locked up with all kinds of goodness

RJ plays well off the bench with Manu and Hill (saw that last year), plus has a full year of experience in the systems and should have more confidence this time around

Barnes can start and will play the Bowen role of locking up the perimeter

Jones gives spot minutes to keep spacing honest and keep teams from doubling down low.

Barnes for the rest of the MLE
Jones for LLE
RJ forwhatever keeps them under the lux tax threshold.

[coyotes_geek]

Jones + Barnes and resign RJ and the SF spot would be locked up with all kinds of goodness

RJ plays well off the bench with Manu and Hill (saw that last year), plus has a full year of experience in the systems and should have more confidence this time around

Barnes can start and will play the Bowen role of locking up the perimeter

Jones gives spot minutes to keep spacing honest and keep teams from doubling down low.

Barnes for the rest of the MLE
Jones for LLE
RJ forwhatever keeps them under the lux tax threshold.

I don't think there's a need for the Spurs to bring back RJ and use both the LLE and MLE remainders on SF's. Having Hairston or Gee as 3rd string SF is fine.

And no thanks to Barnes. Dude is a cancer.

Bring back RJ, get Jones or Butler, go look for a vet big.

[Seventyniner]

A team looking to give away a quality SF on a reasonable contract so that they can shed payroll can find a better contract than Dyess'.

You're right about that. It's possible, just not realistic. I was just nitpicking.

[coyotes_geek]

You're right about that. It's possible, just not realistic. I was just nitpicking.

It's all good.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Jones + Barnes and resign RJ and the SF spot would be locked up with all kinds of goodness

RJ plays well off the bench with Manu and Hill (saw that last year), plus has a full year of experience in the systems and should have more confidence this time around

Barnes can start and will play the Bowen role of locking up the perimeter

Jones gives spot minutes to keep spacing honest and keep teams from doubling down low.

Barnes for the rest of the MLE
Jones for LLE
RJ forwhatever keeps them under the lux tax threshold.

like it

[Kermit]

Hasn't Barnes said on several occasions that he has no interest in playing for the Spurs?

[Ditty]

Jones + Barnes and resign RJ and the SF spot would be locked up with all kinds of goodness

RJ plays well off the bench with Manu and Hill (saw that last year), plus has a full year of experience in the systems and should have more confidence this time around

Barnes can start and will play the Bowen role of locking up the perimeter

Jones gives spot minutes to keep spacing honest and keep teams from doubling down low.

Barnes for the rest of the MLE
Jones for LLE
RJ forwhatever keeps them under the lux tax threshold.

get me barnes and butler and call it an offseason

[Kindergarten Cop]

Hasn't Barnes said on several occasions that he has no interest in playing for the Spurs?

I think this is just speculation. I have heard several people claim that the Spurs have little interest in signing him due to the fact that we have brought him in for a look on several occasions without offering a deal - but I think this is also merely speculation. Why would they continue to bring him in if they weren't interested in signing him and why would he visit if he had no interest in playing for the Spurs?

[callo1]

I'll take a 31 year old Tmac on the cheap, let RJ walk, and have enough $ to add another piece. Tmac is still only 31, and we know he has played far fewer games than most his age due to his past playoff exits

We don't need a 2005 Tmac, we need a guy with length that can stretch the floor and hit some threes, and Tmac has essentially become that guy, with the occasional ability to still go off at any given moment.

for the $ and the experience it makes sense. I bet the guy could resurrect his career under Pop.

[Mr Bones]

Seven pages and 178 posts about James Jones. Whoa.

[HarlemHeat37]

Meh, if you go downstairs, you'll find threads with 300 pages about calf tats..this is nothing..

[Spurs Brazil]

IraHeatBeat
Spurs apparently showing interest in James Jones, who can get nothing more than the minimum for a Heat return at this point.

[Obstructed_View]

Anderson isn't a small forward.

It's a halfway decent bet that Anderson and Hairston can do more with the position than Finley or Bogans.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's a halfway decent bet that Anderson and Hairston can do more with the position than Finley or Bogans.

I don't disagree with you there, but that still doesn't make Anderson a starting quality SF...