Pistons already receiving Calls about Troy Murphy

[flox]

So...he's a rich man's Matt Bonner?

Yes. More or less.

[8FOR!3]

So...he's a rich man's Matt Bonner?

Not only that but he's not as good a shooter and I don't think he gives any more effort on the defensive end. He's not worth giving Bonner + important pieces we would have to give up for him.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Can we please give up the idea that the Spurs are going to make a major trade? We aren't.

This team is TOP OF THE NBA (although many fans behave as if it's 10th in the West), it has chemistry, roster flexibility, and everyone's getting pretty good within the system. A major trade would dismantle that. Not going to happen.

[ShoogarBear]

He obviously rebounds better than Bonner, but I'm not sure that he ultimately really brings that much more to the table. Certainly not at that price.

[ChuckD]

Murphy doesn't board at DeJuan's rate, and doesn't shoot nearly as well as The Ginger. No reason to do this at all.

[flox]

Murphy doesn't board at DeJuan's rate, and doesn't shoot nearly as well as The Ginger. No reason to do this at all.

But you could combine the two into one player that only takes up one roster spot and eats less minutes/#pleasedon'tdothisSpursFO

[ShoogarBear]

Eats a lot more money, though.

[K-State Spur]

He's basically a better rebounding and (believe it or not) worse defensive version of Bonner, paid at premium.

With regards to the rebounding, Bonner is actually just as good as Murphy on the offensive boards, with the difference being felt on the defensive end.

However, considering that the Spurs are already one of the better defensive rebounding teams in the league, there's really no reason to pay a steep price (in terms of players, $, and cap space) for something that wouldn't be that much of an upgrade.

[Mel_13]

There's no way that the Spurs trade for Murphy on his current contract. Now if he gets bought out after he's traded from New Jersey, then the Spurs would likely be among several contenders interested in his services.

Marc Stein:

There would be unquestioned interest in Murphy if he went the buyout route and became a free agent -- starting with Orlando, Dallas and San Antonio -- but the Nets are hoping to swap him for a similar expiring contract before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. And Murphy naturally wants to land with a contender to end his run as the guy who has appeared in more games than any other active player (639) without tasting the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...t-demand-trade

[tuncaboylu]

It's obvious that we won't be involved in that trade. We will be involved in the hunt after the acquirer team buys Murphy out.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Out of curiosity, who are the better players expected to be bought out after the trade deadline?

Murphy's one, Tayshawn Prince might be too, who else?

I don't expect the Spurs to make a trade, but they'll def be in for a min salary bought-out veteran.

[Mel_13]

Out of curiosity, who are the better players expected to be bought out after the trade deadline?

Murphy's one, Tayshawn Prince might be too, who else?

I don't expect the Spurs to make a trade, but they'll def be in for a min salary bought-out veteran.

I was looking at that last night. Vets on bad teams in the last year of their contracts.

Some names that seem possible:

Jamario Moon

Anthony Parker

Seb Telfair

Quinton Ross

Josh Howard

TMac

Rasual Butler

Jason Kapono

Darius Songalia

Dan Gadzuric

Vlad Radmanovic

Jared Jeffries

Two more that don't seem very possible (their teams would have to have given up by the end of February), but would fit perfectly on the Spurs if they were bought out:

Shane Battier

Grant Hill

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Not an impressive list by any means. Guess Butler could be OK.

Battier, Hill and Prince are obviously the best, but highly unlikely to be bought out. Maybe it'd be for the best if the Spurs don't mess with the rotation in order to incorporate a player expected to play 20+ minutes for the playoffs, and just roll the way they've been all season. Arguably the biggest reason for the great start, along with health, is that Pop has set the roles and rotations unprecedentedly early and hasn't tweaked with what's clearly working, like he's used to in the past. Adding someone of the Battier/Hill talent would obviously be great, but how would it affect the way this team has gelled, trying to incorporate them mid-season? Could be fool's gold.

[5in10]

Marc Stein:

There would be unquestioned interest in Murphy if he went the buyout route and became a free agent -- starting with Orlando, Dallas and San Antonio -- but the Nets are hoping to swap him for a similar expiring contract before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. And Murphy naturally wants to land with a contender to end his run as the guy who has appeared in more games than any other active player (639) without tasting the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...t-demand-trade

IT would be nice to have someone to replace Bonner once playoffs roll around.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it's going to take at least one other team and a deep knowledge of cap-onomics.

Well that disqualifies the Spurs from working with the Raptors.

[Bruno]

A trade is basically impossible but signing him after a buyout is an option.

A healthy Murphy is a very good player. He would help Spurs but he would also create a logjam at PF/C. There is a point in a team were there is too much depth. A PF/C rotation with Duncan, Murphy, Dice, Blair, Bonner and Splitter is too deep.

[Seventyniner]

A trade is basically impossible but signing him after a buyout is an option.

A healthy Murphy is a very good player. He would help Spurs but he would also create a logjam at PF/C. There is a point in a team were there is too much depth. A PF/C rotation with Duncan, Murphy, Dice, Blair, Bonner and Splitter is too deep.

Would the Spurs try to move Bonner if they got Murphy, perhaps for a backup SF or true backup PG? I'm having trouble thinking of (non-contending) teams that would want Bonner, though.

Edit: running off the story that the Warriors' owner might want to trade Curry, could the following scenario play out: Spurs sign Murphy, then trade Bonner, Neal, and a pick to GS for Curry + filler? I think it's intriguing, though completely made-up and extremely unlikely.

[DMC]

How about Charlie Murphy?

[DesignatedT]

Grant Hill? I'll take him in a heartbeat.