ESPN Insider Free Agent Forecast

[MannyIsGod]

Tim Duncan will flourish in ANY offensive scheme we run. You can take that to the bank shot. (rimshot)

Thinking parker will be on Kidd's level in 2 years is absolutely WRONG. For one, the type of games they play are not the same. They may play the same position, but Jason Kidd is a pure creator, Parker being a scorer. A Parker comparison to Allen Iverson is much more realistic than one to Jason Kidd. While I do not believe that a Kidd acquisition will do very much to raise the level of Tony's game, I don't agree that it will stunt it. Parker will still be one of our better scoring options behind TD, therefore would still get lots of touches in a Kidd/Parker backcourt.

What this would do would be to increase the effectiveness of players such as Manu and Jax, who would thrive an an offense at higher speeds and more motion. I can already picture the backdoor lobs from Kidd to Manu and I get giddy about it.

I honestly do prefer the thought of a O'neal coming here, or even moreso Brand. But this is just looking less and less likely. Brand is restricted, and Oneal just doesnt' seem like he wants to leave Indiana. Perhaps I'm wrong, but no one here has any better information than anyone else, so we're all just basicaly guessing based on hearsay.

I do know one thing, I see acquiring Kidd as a fur superior option to bringing in Kandi and Magette. I don't see a need for Magette, we have a very capable wing rotation as it is.

[MannyIsGod]

BTW, size on the perimeter is overrated as far as defense goes. If the majority of teams out there want to settle for pull up jumpers based on the fact that their 2 guard has 3 inches on our 2 guard, let them.

They want to post us up? Didn't you see the how well the spurs defened guards that posted up on our guards by letting tim slide over and zone up?

This team will be tops in defense again not because athletcism or size, but because every player on it understands the philosophy and trusts the rotations.

give the coaching props for that.

[scott]

Thinking parker will be on Kidd's level in 2 years is absolutely WRONG.

Why?

Because Jason Kidd's level of play will never decline? Because Tony Parker has peaked?

Jason Kidd isn't even the best PG in the league anymore. Stephon Marbury is. And it's really not even something that is in question anymore.

Tony Parker in his prime may never be as good as Jason Kidd was in his prime- but we aren't in the hunt for a Jason Kidd in his prime. We are in the hunt for an already peaked out 30 year old.

[MannyIsGod]

I guess I should have specified more.

What I meant was that tony parker in 2 years will not be on Jason Kidds current level. I'm not to sure he will be at the same level as Jason Kidd in 2 years either, but that remains to be seen how much consistency Tony can develop.

Saying Starbury is the leagues best PG is debateble now, but I still go with Kidd because of how much Kidd makes players around him better. Marbury can become unstopable, but Kidd will bring out the best in players like a RJ or Kittles.

I honestly think RJ is FAR from all star talent, and the leauge will find as much out if Kidd bolts from NJ.

[scott]

Thinking parker will be on Kidd's level in 2 years is absolutely WRONG.

That's the flawed thinking that people need to get away from. Tony Parker doesn't have to amount to what Jason Kidd was 3 years ago, or is now.

You can only compare Tony to the next best alternative. Unless we cryogenically freeze Jason Kidd for a few years, we aren't going to get him at his current level in two years.

In two years, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd will be at the same level. Take that to your bank shot Manny!

[Marcus Bryant]

I wouldn't mind waiting for Kidd's game to decline as a Spur.

[scott]

Just as I'm sure you wouldn't have had a problem with Chris Webber being injured as a Spur.

[MannyIsGod]

Hey, i'm not advocating getting rid of a TP. I'm advocating getting Kidd this summer if we have no better option.

KANDI IS NOT A BETTER OPTION

I don't think it will hinder us in any way, and I do think it will make us a better team. TP may = JK in 2 years, that remains to be seen, but I do think one thing is for sure.

JK + TP + TD = Steve Kerr's second hand of bling bling.

Yes, we'd have to change offensive styles, but ****, thats not a bad thing. We do what we do now out of nessecity, not out of joy.

[scott]

We are in agreement that Kandi is not a better option. I have never suggested he is.

JK + TP + TD = loss to the Lakers, IMO. JK + TP + TD + PJBrown might be a different story. O'Neal and Brand are obviously the best options, however. It would be foolish for the Spurs to make Kidd their top option when O'Neal and Brand are available.

[MannyIsGod]

amen.

I wonder how the we'd get PJ for that low, unless we promise him some Ancira or Chiropractor endoresment contracts.

[Marcus Bryant]

Just as I'm sure you wouldn't have had a problem with Chris Webber being injured as a Spur.

Webber's injury with Sacto has no bearing on the likelihood that he would have suffered an injury as a Spur.

TP
MG
SJ
CW
TD

That would have been horrible.

[MannyIsGod]

I don't give a about CW.

I'm glad we didn't get him because I wanted david back.

Somethings are more important to me in sports, having david always wear silver and black was one of them.

Looks like it payed off too didn't it?

[Jimcs50]

Kid, when he was 21 was a below average pointguard. TP will be better than Kidd when he is 24. No stinkin Kidd!!!

[Marcus Bryant]

It's always been Kidd and a big. PJ Brown and Juwan Howard would be the likely targets. Nothing spectacular but you don't need spectacular when you just added Kidd to your team.

The same holds true for Payton.

The case for Olowokandi :vomit is that he is what the Spurs would need to defend SO'Neal. Beyond that one could argue that Olowokandi could thrive playing alongside a dominant player like TD on both ends of the court. The guy has 'Free Agent Bust' written all over him. 43% career FG shooting as a 5? Questionable work ethic. Injured. Man he is looking like an Adonal Foyle-esque big man with a fat contract and a limp game just waiting to happen.

[Marcus Bryant]

I also enjoy how some of those who are so critical of Malik Rose's contract as ready to see the Spurs blow $60 mil on :vomit Olowokandi.

[scott]

I'd much rather see Malik Rose starting at the 5 than Kandi.

What are some role player Big Men available this offseason?

If we are starting Malik at the 5, we will need someone to be the first big off the bench- or is that Willis? Even so, we'd need another because Willis couldn't handle the load on his own.

[scott]

Peja Drobnjak?

[Marcus Bryant]

Yes.

Two more:

Tyrone Hill
Elden Campbell

[Marcus Bryant]

Damn, Elden had a solid 2001-02 season and then it was all downhill from there.

Pop has a good relationship with Hill (Tyrone not Bob). He could work. Might even have a little $$$ over to add someone else.

[MannyIsGod]

Hmmm, not to enamored with Hill, but he is a solid defender.

God, I'd be in heaven with Kidd Brown offseason.

[Marcus Bryant]

Hmmm...Hill wasn't looking too good either in 2002-03. Hill or Campbell might make sense should the Spurs (unfortunately) lose Willis.

[Marcus Bryant]

Hill has a decent J and basically is a Pop-kind-of-player = smart player, is a vet (or acts like a vet like TP), won't complain, wants to win, etc...

[MannyIsGod]

Isn't there also a chance of a sign and trade for claxton? Perhaps thats where we bring in a big

[Ghost Writer]

Marcus Bryant, if the Spurs get your boy Kidd, they won't also be able to afford Elden Campbell or PJ Brown unless they also trade Tony Parker.

Don't act like you were copmfortable with the front office doing nothing during the Holt-ing Pattern. Winning the le was unexpected by all fans with a realistic outlook on this season.

If we hadn't won the le, there would be extreme urgency to find a second star for Duncan, even if that player was not a true Robinson replacement like Kidd.

Fortunately, winning the le proved that it could be done with Parker at the point and validated the theory that Robinson should be replaced with another star big man.




P.S.

Admiral, I don't want Kidd, but I'm not stupid enough to think Tony Parker is on his level. If we can't get a big man replacement for Robinson, then maybe we should look at a sign-and-trade for Kidd using Parker. But we'd still have to find a starting quality big who could block shots, possibly in the Keon Clark mode.