Yahoo: Spurs to use amnesty on RJ!

[objective]

-double post-

[DesignatedT]

Meh give kudos to the F.O for going all in the past 2 seasons trying to realistically use their assets to field the best team possible. They were willing to spend the money and considering all the realistic possibilities, Jefferson was one of the few realistic ways they could enhance their talent level.

That being said, Jefferson never was and didn't effect their rebuilding process post-Duncan era ( Their cap was going to be all used up w/Manu-Tony and Tim locked up anyway), so I don't understand all the fuss.

Spurs tried to go all in and it didn't work out, it happens in sports.

Fortunately enough, the Spurs are able to get rid of the bad fit earlier than anticipated. This will allow them to shake things up again this year and use all their assets to shove all-in perhaps one last time.

[objective]

Am I the only one who doesn't understand how Caron Butler would fit on this team? He's most effective on isolations -- sets the Spurs don't run and shouldn't run when any of the Big 3 is also on the court.

Amnesty-ing RJ to give Butler a full MLE deal is like hoping maybe your other hand won't get burned by touching the same hot stove.

I don't want any other SFs on the team to be honest, except maybe Grant Hill because his deal would so short.

Caron Butler's kneecap did the Dougie.

How can he be what he was now that he's going to be what, 32 by end of year?

Josh Howard has been a s of himself since his injury.

The only benefit I truly see with Butler is that I'm confident he wouldn't be soft and no-hustle like RJ. RJ became a negative to even have on the court, I would hope Caron wouldn't be.

[Ice009]

Fortunately enough, the Spurs are able to get rid of the bad fit earlier than anticipated. This will allow them to shake things up again this year and use all their assets to shove all-in perhaps one last time.

Earlier than anticipated? They should have tried to trade him after his first month here. They should have been shopping him since then IMO.

There was only two or three people here that said it very early on how much of a crap fit he was. Everyone else on this board at the time said we had NO IDEA what we're talking about. Nearly everyone else was late to the party, including the Spurs FO. I may have been a little too early to the party though.

[objective]

and for people who make excuses for RJ because of the system or his role, something I've posted before but now with new stats:

The most annoying thing with RJ on this board is when people make excuses for him over his role and how he used to be a 20 point scorer when he was featured.

Ron Harper changed his whole career around based on being a role player. Harper was a big scorer like RJ. His first 8 years, he averaged about 19 points a game. He went to Chicago to be a big scorer in the absence of MJ. But he was a terrible fit and then MJ came back and there was even less need of a scorer.

So he changed his entire game to become one of the best role players in the league. This was a guy who in his last year in LA was getting 17.8 FGA per game. The years of the Bulls les? 6.3, 5.3, 8.1. So stop crying about the system and touches. His game changed.

Ron Harper did it. Richard Jefferson didn't. I don't know if it's because he's too soft or too lazy or not smart enough, but he has zero excuses. He's being paid more than enough to play his ass off with intelligent plays and tough defense without being a top 2 option.

Jefferson is a disgrace and the writing was on the wall before his contract was ever signed, too bad a lot of people including the Spurs refused to read it.

bottom line: touches or no touches, lobs or no lobs, RJ didn't or couldn't do the other things that would help the Spurs chances. NO EXCUSES.

[objective]

Earlier than anticipated? They should have tried to trade him after his first month here. They should have been shopping him since then IMO.

There was only two or three people here that said it very early on how much of a crap fit he was. Everyone else on this board at the time said we had NO IDEA what we're talking about. Nearly everyone else was late to the party, including the Spurs FO. I may have been a little too early to the party though.

Exactly.

The facts were there for all to see.

This is the sort of multi-million dollar screw-up that could cost someone in the front office his job. Lindsay better watch his back, because RC is bulletproof.

[DesignatedT]

RJ is gone. Let it go.

You would think this would please everyone.

[dallasmaverickslose]

Glad this underachiever is out. Hopefully we can grab Shane Battier to take over at SF. Probably one of the better defensive SFs available.

[Laredoart]

Well, RJ is out and that is good. In the other hand if we sign a Defense First SF that way he can show Leonard the ropes of the NBA, then if we sign Butler or Howard then we can send them with MC, Blair or Bonner(Even if I believe that POP is not letting Bonner go) then we can make a trade with somebody that needs a SF for a BIG MAN.

[MaNu4Tres]

There was only two or three people here that said it very early on how much of a crap fit he was. Everyone else on this board at the time said we had NO IDEA what we're talking about. Nearly everyone else was late to the party, including the Spurs FO. I may have been a little too early to the party though.

Everyone could tell he wasn't the ideal Bowen fit here the first year, not just 2 or 3 people.

And the Spurs' F.O wasn't completely off base for the fact that the new restructured deal saved them over 20 million last season and at the same time, it allowed them to field the most talented team possible considering the realistic possibilities.

I guarantee you if the realistic SF options included a Caron Butler or Josh Howard last year, they wouldn't have tipped Jefferson to opt out to restructure him. Instead, they would have most likely let him expire or traded him for expirings of much inferior talent and signed different talented SF. But talented realistic subs utes for Jefferson weren't realistically available last off-season and the Spurs' brass didn't want to throw in the towel and waste one of the big 3's last years by electing to go with a Bobby Simmons at the starting SF spot. Combine that theory with the fact that Jefferson's restructured deal saved them over 20 million last year, it was a heady move for the Spurs. IMO

Going back to the 09-10' season, Spurs weren't willing to trade his expiring to take back unwanted salary for multiple years (that was going to be the only realistic offer for Jefferson-- teams with unwanted salary in order for them to shed cap space after the 11' season). Sorry but your dreamland scenario, where Spurs should have traded Jefferson's 14 million dollar contract in 10' for Dwight Howard or LeBron wasn't going to happen.

[loveforthegame]

Good news. Let another team worry about him now.

Hopefully the Spurs have someone lined up now.

[Ice009]

Going back to the 09-10' season, Spurs weren't willing to trade his expiring to take back unwanted salary for multiple years (that was going to be the only realistic offer for Jefferson-- teams with unwanted salary in order for them to shed cap space after the 11' season). Sorry but your dreamland scenario, where Spurs should have traded Jefferson's 14 million dollar contract in 10' for Dwight Howard or LeBron wasn't going to happen.

I didn't say resigning him was a bad move. It was obviously a prearranged move to save them from paying the luxury tax. I never said it was a bad move, we had no other choices at the time so it was the best move they could make to stay in contention. I wanted him gone before it came to that though.

There would also have been other players they could have traded him for that were better fits on the team even if they did have bad contracts with multiple years left on them.

And where did I say anything about getting back a player of Dwight Howard's caliber for RJ's expiring contract? Don't go making stuff up. I just wanted back a player that fit better on the team that wasn't such a soft player. Sjax would have been OK with me, even with remaining years on his contract. That's the type of replacement I was after. I know you couldn't get anyone great with RJ's expiring.

Plus, as a bonus you could have used the amnesty option on that player right now if they didn't work out.

[lefty]

@FakeCoachPop


Finally found the receipt on Richard Jefferson. Luckily the NBA return policy is customer friendly.

[Seventyniner]

@FakeCoachPop


Finally found the receipt on Richard Jefferson. Luckily the NBA return policy is customer friendly.

FakeCoachPop is awesome. Can't wait to see what he thinks of TJ Ford and (?)Caron Butler.

[MannyIsGod]

Spurs best shot at a good big is already on this team. If Tiago doesn't deliver, then this team is toast but they're better off rolling the Dice (see what I did there?!!?!) with Splitter and taking a chance on a free agent SF.

Its a huge long shot, but its the best they have.

[Dex]

lol RJ finding out he is getting dumped on Twitter

[lefty]

lol RJ finding out he is getting dumped on Twitter

Oh yeah

[Danny.Zhu]

I prefer Battier.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Well, RJ is out and that is good. In the other hand if we sign a Defense First SF that way he can show Leonard the ropes of the NBA, then if we sign Butler or Howard then we can send them with MC, Blair or Bonner(Even if I believe that POP is not letting Bonner go) then we can make a trade with somebody that needs a SF for a BIG MAN.

dumb.

nobody would sign with the spurs just to be a trade chip. doing that to a free agent right after signing them would immediately sink the spurs rep as a class franchise and completely obliterate their reputation in the eyes of every single nba player ever.

dumb dumb dumb.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

very little discussion being geared towards tayshaun prince on here. probably the best defensive option out there, i realize there hasnt been much buzz concerning him and the spurs out there, but in my eyes he and caron, with battier next, are head and shoulders above all other options.

howard: irrelevant for a couple years by now

carter: oh my lord don't get me started. he would be rj 2.0. same d, same effort, same stats probably, he would just need 5 more shots a game to get em.

[NickiRasgo]

I have some question. Haven't read about the amnesty but what is the advantage and disadvantage of using amnesty to a player?

Another one, if RJ didn't opted-out his contract last offseason, he's a free-agent this offseason right?

[Spurtacus]

Bye RJ. Thanks for nothing.

[NickiRasgo]

Ok I'm backreading, so the advantages could be:

-We can use Full MLE.
-We can pay lesser so I hope that some team could sign him almost half of his contract annually.
-We could land Butler, better than RJ I think.

If Spurs fail to get Kaman, Oak, Thompson, or Ty Thomas, they sould look to deal players for picks and start the rebiuld. Next years draft is very strong and will have lots of bigs who can be stars.

Im sure Tim, Manu and TP can all bring in a high first rounder....I would rather trade them get value and send them out in style than watch them flounder and we end up getting the 22 pick a likely role player at best.

, see if Okl would take Tim give us a first rounder and Serge and or Harding/ Maynor. Okl be fav in the West, Tim may get another ring and we get good young talent to start rebiuld.

Manu to Houst, for Patterson, future picks.....they get a leader who can do it all we get a young PF with upsided and picks.

TP to Tor for Davis, Calderon and a first rounder.....We get a young defensive big, a solid pg and future picks

I rather see a losing Spurs with the Big 3 rather than trading one of them for picks. They should retire here.

[DPG21920]

Is no one else just really shocked they amnestied RJ? Anyways, with him gone, even with no other additions I feel the Spurs can be better off than they were last year (not necessarily with regular season wins, but better shot at a playoff series win). I feel this way because it will force Pop to play someone with energy and hustle at the SF spot and that is what they need. I also am hoping Tiago plays because they will be better defensively because of it. Those things right there will make them better, even if it's not nearly enough to truly contend.

[Ice009]

Do you think if we package Dice's contract with Bonner and Blair, would that get us a serviceable big man? or a more realistic package would be Dice and Blair, getting rid of Bonner would be a bonus.