Possible FA targets?

[ElNono]

Maybe the Spurs are doing all that to scare RJ into playing harder. It'd be nice if amnesty actually cost the player something. Did you know Michael Finley is STILL being paid by the Mavericks?

There's no scaring RJ. He got paid. Whether he plays for the Spurs or anybody else, he's getting his. Ain't guaranteed contracts great?

[Spurs Brazil]

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
Boki Nachbar is returning from Europe still w/ great rep for shooting well, working hard: Raptors, Nets, Knicks, Spurs, Sixers checking in.

[jiggy_55]

SPURS EMERGE AS SUITOR FOR BUTLER:
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/1...or-for-butler/

@daldridgetnt David Aldridge

Spurs making a big push for Caron Butler. Check out the HangTime Blog, on NBA.com: on.nba.com/cQBz1w

[DPG21920]

I just read that and I don't get it. I know based on previous reports (meaning years ago) that the Spurs have always loved Caron. He was always one of the most underrated players in the league, but it definitely appears his best days are behind him. All things being equal would I rather have him over RJ, yes, but I don't get the "strong" interest from the Spurs at this point in the game.

Be that as it may, at least Caron is tough. He won't play like a complete soft, scared & dumb player. That alone makes him better than RJ.

[Mel_13]

I just read that and I don't get it.

Anonymous source=player agent.

[DPG21920]

I'm not falling for the same thing I just pointed out , but this is more direct. Normally it's mentioned in passing (A source says the Heat, Bulls, Clips, Spurs & .... are interested). This is a headline directed specifically at the Spurs.

[jiggy_55]

I'm not falling for the same thing I just pointed out , but this is more direct. Normally it's mentioned in passing (A source says the Heat, Bulls, Clips, Spurs & .... are interested). This is a headline directed specifically at the Spurs.

That's why I pointed it out and posted the link, otherwise it woulda been the same old news we'd seen before that the Spurs had called and checked his interest, etc.. This is bluntly saying the Spurs are making a hard push for him

[Mel_13]

I'm not falling for the same thing I just pointed out , but this is more direct. Normally it's mentioned in passing (A source says the Heat, Bulls, Clips, Spurs & .... are interested). This is a headline directed specifically at the Spurs.

The size of the headline doesn't make the source any more reliable. The purpose of the headline is to generate clicks.

I'll believe any of this when:

1. It's reported by Ludden (or Woj).

2. One of these FAs, or his agent, meet with RC or Pop.

Until then, I'll expect the 2011-12 Spurs to be the 2010-11 Spurs minus Hill and Dice. New players will Leonard, a minimum salary big, and maybe a minimum salary backup PG.

I remain open to pleasant surprises.

[The_Worlds_finest]

I remain open to pleasant surprises.

Spurs are 1 player away from their 5th.

[DPG21920]

The size of the headline doesn't make the source any more reliable. The purpose of the headline is to generate clicks.

I'll believe any of this when:

1. It's reported by Ludden (or Woj).

2. One of these FAs, or his agent, meet with RC or Pop.

Until then, I'll expect the 2011-12 Spurs to be the 2010-11 Spurs minus Hill and Dice. New players will Leonard, a minimum salary big, and maybe a minimum salary backup PG.

I remain open to pleasant surprises.

I am in the exact same boat except I think DA has a little more credibility than most (although he has never been someone to break any kind of Spurs news).

[TDMVPDPOY]

Spurs are 1 player away from their 5th.

all we need is a fkn big to play center....


if the spurs do amnesty, i doubt they going to use the full MLE on anyone...

[benefactor]

I am in the exact same boat except I think DA has a little more credibility than most (although he has never been someone to break any kind of Spurs news).

That's what I was thinking. He's much more reliable than all the so called experts at ESPN. I agree with Mel though...I'll wait until I hear it from Woj before I buy into it fully. News about the Spurs from Woj basic = news about the Spurs from Ludden.

[portnoy1]

all we need is a fkn big to play center....


if the spurs do amnesty, i doubt they going to use the full MLE on anyone...

We have a Center, more specifically one that can play with Duncan. His name is Tiago Splitter. Pop for some reason wont play him. If I am holt and want to start selling more tickets and winning, I tell RC to get brutal with Pop by trading all the players he misuses and force him to play defensive players.

[TheMime]

...

[spurs10]

The Butler hype probably does involve his agent wanting to get top dollar for him. If he was coming here in reality it would certainly mean the end of RJ, don't you think?
SF is not our greatest concern. I'm hoping they already found a PF of significance and want to get someone to to share the 3 position with Leonard. Everyone knows our greatest need is a 4/5....Pop and RC surely do. Since we can dream, I'm hoping Utah and us swap Jeffersons.

[jjktkk]

We have a Center, more specifically one that can play with Duncan. His name is Tiago Splitter. Pop for some reason wont play him. If I am holt and want to start selling more tickets and winning, I tell RC to get brutal with Pop by trading all the players he misuses and force him to play defensive players.

Who are these defensive players that you speak of?

[ace3g]

ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
ESPN sources: NBA team execs and coaches can start having contact w/players (and free agents) starting Monday at 10 AM ET. However ...

ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Same restriction in place since WEDS, when teams and agents could start talking, STILL in place: No oral or written agreements on contracts


ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Coaches/players will be able to have contact at practice facilities come MON but coaches still can't oversee on-court workouts til camp FRI

[Agloco]

Nene.

Dunno if the salary will work, but he should be at the top of the list if it does.

[Agloco]

Spurs are 1 player away from their 5th.

More like 2.

[gospursgojas]

Caron and Rj are both on the decline physically...only thing is Caron has a shot to lean on. Rj hit some shots early in the season but still never looked pure. Caron has a post game. I would love to replace Rj with Butler.

[Spurs Brazil]

I'd rather play the young guys at SF (Anderson/Leonard) and pay the MLE to a big man.

Memphis killed us in the paint and we'll be back with the same guys. It doesn't make sense.

[jjktkk]

I'd rather play the young guys at SF (Anderson/Leonard) and pay the MLE to a big man.

Memphis killed us in the paint and we'll be back with the same guys. It doesn't make sense.

The Problem is what starting caliber bigman can the Spurs realistically sign, or trade for?

[TD 21]

Pretty sure he was referring to having a replacement lined up before using the amnesty.

Yeah, maybe he was. Nevertheless, my point remains. If they have a chance to trade Jefferson and acquire a starting big, he's gone, whether they have a another veteran SF under contract/a deal lined up with one or not. It would be too good to pass up.

The difference between these rumors and the "Parker to the Knicks" rumors were, these ones are rational, provided Jefferson is disposed of. The Parker ones never made sense.

You can say this is just an agent trying to drum up interest for a client, but who would he be fooling? It's not like the entire league doesn't know the Spurs have Jefferson/Leonard/Anderson as SF options, need a starting PF and have limited financial resources with which to work with.

[Obstructed_View]

The Problem is what starting caliber bigman can the Spurs realistically sign, or trade for?

The three day thing for restricted free agents could be a blessing. Blow your collective wad on an offer for Marc Gasol and then if Memphis matches, you can still try going after David West.

Keep in mind, I have no idea if either of those is financially possible, and there's no way to mention trade scenarios until we actually know what the trade rules are going to be.

The reality is probably that the Spurs are going to need to find a Dice type, someone who can start in a pinch but otherwise is second team if Splitter and Duncan turn out to be an effective starting combination.

[ChuckD]

The three day thing for restricted free agents could be a blessing. Blow your collective wad on an offer for Marc Gasol and then if Memphis matches, you can still try going after David West.

Keep in mind, I have no idea if either of those is financially possible, and there's no way to mention trade scenarios until we actually know what the trade rules are going to be.

The reality is probably that the Spurs are going to need to find a Dice type, someone who can start in a pinch but otherwise is second team if Splitter and Duncan turn out to be an effective starting combination.

We have no cap room. We have the MLE, in either it's 3M or 5M form. My guess is we only have 3M, since we were a taxpayer last year. Their agents would laugh.