Snap Judgments on Each Player's Future

[Richie]

Competent centers of course..relatively speaking. But only if that center can hit free throws and not shrivel up in the playoffs, you know becoming a liability for his team.

I agree with chump, no way is 27 year old Tiago Splitter, after this playoff showing, netting you a top 15 pick in a draft stacked with 20-22 year old big men.

This, 100%. No way in do we get even a mid round pick for Tiago alone. We would need to package him with Neal and possbly next years 1st to have any hope of getting a late-lottery pick. Hopefully there is a player in the draft that the Spurs consider to be that valuable and there is a team willing to take the deal

[tesseractive]

Lorbek is an awfully skilled bigman. He has the whole package on the offensive end. The knock on him is a big lack of athleticism but it's doesn't really mean he will be as bad defensively as Bonner. He certainly isn't a strong defender in Europe but he isn't a liability either.

Thanks, Bruno.

[DPG21920]

If they reach to a Kawhi type situation, then I'd trust them to move Tiago as well.

I just think it's a lot easier to whiff on a big than a guard or swingman. And I don't see any bigs outside of the top 5 or 6 in this draft that I'm trading Tiago straight up for.

Agree, but I am talking about trading for talent. While I would like a big, if the Spurs feel they have enough depth (let's say sign Boris and Lorbek) where they don't desperately need a big, they can get a good pick (possibly) and draft a talent at any position. Again, the point is that I just disagreed with what I thought Timvp was saying about Tiago's availability in a trade.

[Bruno]

In your opinion, is he a better fit to start and play quality minutes next to Tim than Tiago?

Well, it depends on who else is on the roster. Lorbek is a good fit to play alongside both.

[ChumpDumper]

Fair point, and since I have been one of the bigger Tiago supporters (still am), maybe my perception of his value is skewed.

In ranking my desires, it's that Tiago stays with the team and is entrusted with an expanded role which includes time next to Tim. I am really just speaking to the point that if that is not in the cards, due to the questionmarks in his game you mentioned, his age and a perception of injury, he should be decently available in a high draft pick sceanrio trade.

The thing is if Splitter can just develop one go-to post move and a 12 ft jumper, he's about as complete a center as one would be able to get lower in the draft and a fine replacement for a retiring Tim.

Can he do it? That's the kind of questions RC and the rest of the GMs will be asking themselves. If the answer is yes, then only a young, athletic defender of a big man who can somehow stay on the floor with Duncan immediately is the only thing that really makes sense in return for Tiago.

Tall order.

[ChumpDumper]

So to speak.

[baseline bum]

Side note:Spurs meeting with Andre Drummond. Not that it means anything obviously, just due dilligence.

God if the Spurs trade for him I'll be pissed. I already made an awful trade for him in fantasy league last year when he looked like he'd be good.

[tesseractive]

The thing is if Splitter can just develop one go-to post move and a 12 ft jumper, he's about as complete a center as one would be able to get lower in the draft and a fine replacement for a retiring Tim.

Can he do it? That's the kind of questions RC and the rest of the GMs will be asking themselves. If the answer is yes, then only a young, athletic defender of a big man who can somehow stay on the floor with Duncan immediately is the only thing that really makes sense in return for Tiago.

Tall order.

If we think he can go from having one legit NBA offensive tool to having 3, I would be ecstatic. I would love for that to prove to be the case.

[Richie]

The thing is if Splitter can just develop one go-to post move and a 12 ft jumper, he's about as complete a center as one would be able to get lower in the draft and a fine replacement for a retiring Tim.

Can he do it? That's the kind of questions RC and the rest of the GMs will be asking themselves. If the answer is yes, then only a young, athletic defender of a big man who can somehow stay on the floor with Duncan immediately is the only thing that really makes sense in return for Tiago.

Tall order.

The guy is 27 and a pretty poor free throw shooter. If he doesn't have a jumpshot by now, I don't think he'll ever have one

[Mugen]

Agree, but I am talking about trading for talent. While I would like a big, if the Spurs feel they have enough depth (let's say sign Boris and Lorbek) where they don't desperately need a big, they can get a good pick (possibly) and draft a talent at any position. Again, the point is that I just disagreed with what I thought Timvp was saying about Tiago's availability in a trade.

I'd hope that the FO wouldn't consider Lorbek/Diaw/Blair as enough big depth to trade the only other rim protector they have besides Tim. I think they're deep enough at guard and swing positions to not leave a 37 year old Duncan as the only interior defender on the team.

[ChumpDumper]

The guy is 27 and a pretty poor free throw shooter. If he doesn't have a jumpshot by now, I don't think he'll ever have one

True enough. That skill is less important than the post moves, but he will likely never play alongside Duncan if he lacks that.

[angelbelow]

Can he do it? That's the kind of questions RC and the rest of the GMs will be asking themselves. If the answer is yes, then only a young, athletic defender of a big man who can somehow stay on the floor with Duncan immediately is the only thing that really makes sense in return for Tiago.

Tall order.

Good point. The Spurs don't have the pieces to acquire a player of that description. Therefore, I don't believe we have the luxury to trade a guy like Splitter.

[DPG21920]

God if the Spurs trade for him I'll be pissed. I already made an awful trade for him in fantasy league last year when he looked like he'd be good.

Spurs would likely have to trade into the top 5 for that and I can't see that happening unless Kawhi is on the table. Even then, that would be tough. Kawhi is pretty damn special right now and I am not that high on Drummond, but he's about the only big in the draft outside of Davis that has enough potential for anything crazy to happen IMO. I wouldn't do it, but I pretty much hate most college big men

[TD 21]

I'm with you on the vast majority of these evaluations, but like I said in my "Off season Game Plan" thread, even though there's probably nothing they can do to get past the Thunder going forward, they've made it clear the goal is to continue to attempt to contend for the final 1-2 seasons of Duncan's career. So with that in mind, they've got to look for ways to improve. Their best trade assets are Splitter, Blair, Neal and Jackson, because he has a big expiring contract. Bonner, he's not a trade asset on his own, but I don't think they'd have trouble including him in a package. All are useful players, most of which I'm a big fan of, but every last one of them should be on the table. Jackson, for his personality alone, would be extremely difficult to trade. They need more Jackson's as is, but if his contract is the difference between acquiring a player such as Smith, then I'm moving him yesterday.

As far as Neal and Blair, I disagree that you bring them back because they're cheap. More like, you trade them before they get significant raises a year from now, a la Hill. Particularly if Green is re-signed, how does Neal fit? Damn near all of us agree he shouldn't be a primary backup point for an entire season, but he's way overqualified to be a fifth guard (on a lot of teams, he'd be their sixth man; he's that good an off the bench scorer). As far as Blair, Pop obviously doesn't trust him (and rightfully so), but similar to Neal, he's overqualified as a fifth big. No way either would play the good soldier role for an entire season, in contract years, no less, if they were in such limited rolls.

I think they'll try to swing a significant trade to re-work the big rotation, but failing that, I still think Blair's gone for sure and there's a solid chance Neal and Bonner are too. Not quite sure how the big rotation works out, but I think we're looking at Mills/De Colo as the backup points next season.

[Mugen]

imagine how much worse this series would have been if we had RJ instead of Jack.

[Budkin]

We need some ing defense. We couldn't get stops at all when we had to have them.

[baseline bum]

Spurs would likely have to trade into the top 5 for that and I can't see that happening unless Kawhi is on the table. Even then, that would be tough. Kawhi is pretty damn special right now and I am not that high on Drummond, but he's about the only big in the draft outside of Davis that has enough potential for anything crazy to happen IMO. I wouldn't do it, but I pretty much hate most college big men

It would likely have to be something like Parker+Leonard for Portland's picks + overpaid Batum if Drummond slipped to 6. I'll pass.

[angelbelow]

imagine how much worse this series would have been if we had RJ instead of Jack.

too much would be different. Probably end up with 2nd seed and have to go through the Mavericks/Lakers. Not sure if we survive those series with the curse of RJ still plaguing our team.

[silverblk mystix]

The thing is if Splitter can just develop one go-to post move and a 12 ft jumper, he's about as complete a center as one would be able to get lower in the draft and a fine replacement for a retiring Tim.

Can he do it? That's the kind of questions RC and the rest of the GMs will be asking themselves. If the answer is yes, then only a young, athletic defender of a big man who can somehow stay on the floor with Duncan immediately is the only thing that really makes sense in return for Tiago.

Tall order.

He could develop those things-but they will not do him any good if the coach won't play him, won't allow him any mistakes when he does play him and especially if the coach continues to play players who suck ahead of him.

[mavs>spurs]

^to be fair to pop, it's kind of hard to play him whenever teams can employ "hack a splitter" strategy late in the game. why rely on someone and make them a heavy part of the rotation whenever you know you won't be able to rely on them come crunch time?

splitter needs to work on his free throw shooting, period. he shot 37% these playoffs.

[ChumpDumper]

He could develop those things-but they will not do him any good if the coach won't play him, won't allow him any mistakes when he does play him and especially if the coach continues to play players who suck ahead of him.

Splitter went from fair to stunningly terrible in the playoffs. I guess you have to pin it all on Pop, but damn, Splitter was just bad.

I just said he won't ever play with Duncan if he doesn't develop the jumper.

[EVAY]

wrong. Westbrook plays like that by design. WB/Durant = Fire/Ice. He is the engine of OKC and the #2 reason why they are in the NBA Finals.

Doesn't a combination of fire and ice result in water?

[Dex]

Goddamn, timvp, that avatar is depressing me. I hope you don't plan to keep it for long.

[EVAY]

No matter what happens, don't trade Kawhi.

Just don't.

[CGD]

In a way I wish it was next summer. With the rise of the Thunder in the west, you have to think this was our last real shot at #5 (but who know someone can get injured). I know its been said before about the window closing/reopening/closing, but Duncan's indication that he's good for 1 or 2 more years gives that certainty. I wonder if mgmt will make a serious move to make another run before TD's gone, or if they will just ride it out with what we have and make next year the real last stand. Lots of money comes off the books then.