Top 30 Spurs Small Forward Free Agent Targets

[mountainballer]

I think trying to gauge interest in Sam Young is a good route to go. As SenorSpur mentioned, he is down on the depth chart now and has barely played. He could be had for Gee and a second round pick...which basically winds up being a trade for the pick as Gee would likely be waived and Memphis could pocket the savings.

Young is an option, especially considering how much the Spurs liked him in the 2009 draft. (reportedly they would have been in a dilemma if Young and Blair were still on the board)
however, a 2nd round pick won't be enough (Spurs pick will be in the high 50ies. not really intriguing). and the 1st rounder is to much. (other: the 1st rounder might be good enough to land a better player. like Blackjack mentioned Rush).
Spurs would need to get (buy?) a better 2nd rounder or trow in some more teaser. (De Colo?)

[mountainballer]

If the Spurs are really going to target one of the aforementioned wings, one guy stands out above the rest when it comes to being a "fit":

Rush would be perfect at this point.
unfortunately Rush just played his 1st game and it was one of the better he ever delivered for the Pacers.
(Pacers fans at Pacersdigest are raving about the "new" Brandon Rush)
add this to the fact how much Posey and Jones have struggled and how far George is away from being a reliable NBA player and Rush looks more or less indispensable for the Pacers.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't see any reason to trade to get someone now. It's not like Anderson's career is over.

Cheap vet seems the way to go if they are going to do anything. Hayes or Alan Anderson will do just fine as a placeholder.

[Bruno]

Anderson has been great. If Spurs do a trade for a SF, it should be a little trade and not a big one because it will create a logjam if Spurs add a too good players.

I think Spurs should follow three rules if they try to do a trade for a SF:
1) Don't trade a first round pick. Second rounds picks, De Colo's rights and cash are the only incentives that can be added.
2) Bonner, Neal and RJ can't be traded right now. I don't want Spurs to trade Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Dice, Blair, Hill, Splitter or Anderson for a SF. Gee or a TE is the only thing that can be used to match salaries.
3) Don't go over the tax.

1) implies that the player must be in the doghouse with his team.
2) implies that the player salary must be lower than $1,052,743 (125%+100k of Gee's salary).
3) implies quite nothing once 2) is respected.

I've suggested Donte Greene or Sam Young in an other thread because their salary is low enough to fit 2) and it's possible (I didn't say likely) that Spurs could get without giving a first round pick. I don't have look at all the teams but there are surely other names to throw in the conversation.
Rush isn't at all a realistic option to me since his salary is too high.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Anderson has been great. If Spurs do a trade for a SF, it should be a little trade and not a big one because it will create a logjam if Spurs add a too good players.

I think Spurs should follow three rules if they try to do a trade for a SF:
1) Don't trade a first round pick. Second rounds picks, De Colo's rights and cash are the only incentives that can be added.
2) Bonner, Neal and RJ can't be traded right now. I don't want Spurs to trade Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Dice, Blair, Hill, Splitter or Anderson for a SF. Gee or a TE is the only thing that can be used to match salaries.
3) Don't go over the tax.

1) implies that the player must be in the doghouse with his team.
2) implies that the player salary must be lower than $1,052,743 (125%+100k of Gee's salary).
3) implies quite nothing once 2) is respected.

I've suggested Donte Greene or Sam Young in an other thread because their salary is low enough to fit 2) and it's possible (I didn't say likely) that Spurs could get without giving a first round pick. I don't have look at all the teams but there are surely other names to throw in the conversation.
Rush isn't at all a realistic option to me since his salary is too high.

Thanks for the clarification.

I think Cartier Martin of the Washington Wizards is one to watch. If Josh Howard returns from injury as some say..he is expected to so in early December, he could be cut from the team.

[dbestpro]

I like the idea of Donte Green. At 6-10, 6-11 he can truly play SF or PF. If he works out as a 3 point shooter he eventually could give more merit in moving the contract of Bonner and definitely provides us more flexibility in height.

[Chieflion]

I am liking Gary Forbes, the 6 foot 7 rookie (listed), but somewhere near 6 foot 5 and a half, from the Nuggets, tbh. He is 25 years old, so it is not as if he is very old.

He has been playing really well at least offensively in his minutes. He plays about 13.7 minutes a game and averages 7.5 points a game shooting 51.4% from the field and 55.6% from 3. Clearly can score and shoot the ball with excellent efficiency.

The usual suspects are Brandon Rush, Wilson Chandler, Sam Young, Donte Greene and the likes, but I am really liking Gary Forbes in his limited showing as a rookie over some of these guys. It is not as if he is undersized either with his wingspan being a ridiculously large 6"11.25.

[ohmwrecker]

I just don't see a trade happening right now. Bonner and Neal are both restricted until Dec. 15th and nobody else is worth moving for what is most likely available out there. Unfortunately, the FA market is pretty slim too.

[SenorSpur]

I like the idea of Donte Green. At 6-10, 6-11 he can truly play SF or PF. If he works out as a 3 point shooter he eventually could give more merit in moving the contract of Bonner and definitely provides us more flexibility in height.

Agree completely. As I stated in another thread, I like Young a lot, but I have to admit that Greene would be the better choice.

Having an athletic, 6'10" SF/PF-type with 3-point range, who can also defend 3's and 4's, would be preferable than an unathletic, 6'10" SF/PF-type who can only shoot 3's. Such an acquistion could eventually make Bonner expendable.

[quentin_compson]

Donte Greene arrived at training camp overweight. He initially had the starting spot at the 3 for the Kings but quickly lost it to Casspi. So, on the one hand, his work ethic seems at least questionable at this point. On the other hand, the Kings could be looking to get rid of him.

[oligarchy]

I don't know if either team would do it.

Luc Mbah a Moute for Dejaun Blair.

[mountainballer]

well, the Bucks do it.

[dbestpro]

Luc Mbah a Moute is the closest thing there is to Bruce Bowen in the NBA. Once he settles with the right team it will be interesting to see who will have the better career.

[mountainballer]

even if Mbah becomes a defender as good as Bowen (which I highly doubt), he would still be Bowen without the 3pt shot. and Bowen without the shot wouldn't become the starter on a championship team. and that player wouldn't become Bowen.

[ohmwrecker]

I am not saying that these are necessarily bad ideas, but I don't think they make the Spurs a significantly better team. Blair's current struggles shouldn't be cause to make a new hole in the roster just to fill another.

[hater]

If we could somehow get M Pietrus. Dude isn't getting enough minutes in Orlando and would start on any other roster.

Bonner can be traded after Dec. So I would do Bonner + Hill or Blair for Pietrus. Yes I said it!

[mountainballer]

Donte Greene arrived at training camp overweight. He initially had the starting spot at the 3 for the Kings but quickly lost it to Casspi. So, on the one hand, his work ethic seems at least questionable at this point. On the other hand, the Kings could be looking to get rid of him.

getting Greene at this point would be a bit like getting Sjax in 2001. a young, talented but obviously troubled player who lacks discipline.
last years version of Greene would have been to expensive anyhow (at least a 1st rounder), but this years version of Greene is available for a fire sale price, he would be worth the risk.

[xmas1997]

I'm not sure what makes any of you think the Spurs are considering getting another player now.

[SenorSpur]

Luc Mbah a Moute is the closest thing there is to Bruce Bowen in the NBA. Once he settles with the right team it will be interesting to see who will have the better career.

Anybody know if Bhah a Moute is still in the Bucks rotation?

[Blackjack]

getting Greene at this point would be a bit like getting Sjax in 2001. a young, talented but obviously troubled player who lacks discipline.
last years version of Greene would have been to expensive anyhow (at least a 1st rounder), but this years version of Greene is available for a fire sale price, he would be worth the risk.

Agree, and throw Hedo in there as well. It took him putting on too much weight and falling out of favor in Sac for him to find his way to SA.

I'm a big fan of Anderson and I don't want the potential logjam that could preclude him from seeing as much time as I believe he and the Spurs need from him. But this injury really throws a monkey wrench into the whole thing: 6-8 weeks, unfortunate but not terrible; 8-April or May or longer, and the Spurs could be screwed if they don't find a suitable replacement.

I'm not sure Greene is the the right fit for short-term need, but he'd be a really nice get nonetheless -- though his Hotspot shot doesn't reveal the type of shooter most believe him to be and he's 6-9, not 6-11 (which is still more than fine).

This is why Anderson is and was so crucial to the Spurs' cause. They're extremely thin at a vital position/role and though it's dicey to put your faith in a rookie to get it done, it's still a better proposition than trying to find someone outside the program to come in and have the potential to fulfill the role as he potentially could.

Hopefully Malik's speech is able to light a fire under Gee and have him surprise us all.

[Mel_13]

Anybody know if Bhah a Moute is still in the Bucks rotation?

Yes. Averaging 25mpg and recently returned to the starting line-up.

[mountainballer]

But this injury really throws a monkey wrench into the whole thing: 6-8 weeks, unfortunate but not terrible; 8-April or May or longer, and the Spurs could be screwed if they don't find a suitable replacement.

Spurs are in a tough position. Anderson could be back at new year (very optimistic), end of January (realistic), or all star break/trade deadline (worst case). the problem is, we talk about a rookie, who has looked good, but has just played 6 games. conditioning was the major point of concern anyhow.
so, to the usualy questions about every rookie (how does he respond to a NBA season, how does he respond to play off pressure) you add the question when he will be available again and in what shape. and he will still just have 6 games of NBA experience instead of 40.
that's ok, if you've got an alternative to go with, if most questions turn out bad. Spurs don't have one.
sure, I also can see Manu play some games and minutes at SF. but do we want him do it for the next 30 or more games and then learn that he still is the only alternative at SF to finish the season and enter the PO?

IMO Spurs need to somehow get some security. a FA signings might help enough to cover the next weeks, but do we want a Simmons calibre player for 20-25 minutes for the whole season? Spurs can be patient till new year, but from then time will play against them. and they will be in a pretty bad negotiating position at deadline, if it becomes obvious that they are desperate for a somewhat proven wing player.

[ChumpDumper]

I'll take a Simmons caliber player if he doesn't need to use a walker to get around the court.