So what will we probably do with Jackson?

[Richie]

While Milsap and Jefferson are really good players, we'd have to offer a boatload just to land one of them, and I don't think either guy is a true cornerstone worth tying up our finances for the long term. What, are we going to give big Al 5 years for 70 million or whatever he's going to demand? Plus he's not a good defender, and isn't a great compe or. I still remember last year he essentially threw in the towel after game 3 of the first round. I also don't think Milsap is worth 10 mil per year for 4-5 years for our team. Considering we have a rebuild on the horizon, I'd rather retain financial flexibility unless we get some true cornerstone. I'd rather take a risk with Bynum than commit to big Al for the long term. Its just going to be another albatross contract ala RJ for a player that is never going to be a #1 on a contending team.

I think unless something spectacular happens where Dwight or Bynum (lol, imagine) decide to come to San Antonio, we will try to keep Jax for a 2 year deal, maybe 3 like has been mentioned. But nowhere north of 5 mil per year tbh. Keep our cap space open to make a big splash another time, instead of throwing it at guys like Al or Milsap

I see what you're saying, but are the Spus ever going to land a bigger free agent than the likes of Millsap?

Lets say we gave Millsap $60m/5 years, we will certainly not be in rebuilding mode for 2 of those years while Timmy is here, and maybe a player like Millsap can do more of the dirty work and even extend Timmys career.

The Spurs are going to be a bad team for a while after Timmy retires, surely if overpaying Millsap for a few years helps us get the most of the next couple years it's worth it? The question whether Millsap is actually good enough to do that is another debate, but IMO the Spurs shouldn't be thinking of the post-Duncan era when making decisions to win now.

You say we should save our cap for another time, but there are only 2 free agency summers left before Timmy probably retires. It's now or never.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Howard
Bynum
Smith
Jefferson
Millsap

Obviously Howard isn't going to come here, but there are a few talented bigs out there. The top 3 are probably out of reach but the big teams will be chasing them, I'd love to sneak in under the radar and grab Millsap. We'll probably have to overpay to get someone but could be worth it to make the most of Duncans last year or two

besides howard, none of those guys will put us over the top or something post duncan to look forward too...

hate him or love him, most ppl would want howard on their team even with the bull that comes with it, dominant big man are hard to come by, but his a clown

for al jefferson to succeed on the spurs, spurs need to return to the big man offense and he has to be the number 1-2 option on offense, then again the spurs can always go the very cheap route and just sign curry for the minimum, force feed him the ball, while the other 4 players on the court cover his/their defensive weaknesses....

[racm]

besides howard, none of those guys will put us over the top or something post duncan to look forward too...

hate him or love him, most ppl would want howard on their team even with the bull that comes with it, dominant big man are hard to come by, but his a clown

for al jefferson to succeed on the spurs, spurs need to return to the big man offense and he has to be the number 1-2 option on offense, then again the spurs can always go the very cheap route and just sign curry for the minimum, force feed him the ball, while the other 4 players on the court cover his/their defensive weaknesses....

Why would the Spurs want Al Jefferson when he's a middle class man's Duncan on offense and nowhere near him on defense?

[TDMVPDPOY]

Crazy to think of but you may be right, we might have one more le in 04 if he was here! I can see that. Hedo was some later on that year. 05 we won and 06 maybe, but he would be here over say who Finley? Finley was a SG I know but he played the three alot that year or so when POP went SMALL LOL. If Jax stayed here we would have one more le maybe.

did the spurs save any money not extending jax that year?
they still had to waste money signing scrubs like turgo, mercer to fill up roster spots...

[TDMVPDPOY]

Why would the Spurs want Al Jefferson when he's a middle class man's Duncan on offense and nowhere near him on defense?

who do you suggest the spurs sign? outside of howard, none of those guys are worth max or anything above 10m a pop...they are overrated scrubs

[therealtruth]

I knew it in the first month he was here and I even wanted to trade him for Jack at the time. I watched RJ for about a month and concluded that he needs to go. That was when Sjax first asked to be traded from Goldenstate. Only a few people here were interested. Pretty much everyone here wanted to keep RJ at the time and no one wanted anything to do with Sjax. I was told RJ is a better player for the team. LOL, total fools.

Even before he got here I knew his style of play didn't match the Spurs. Pop had this crazy idea he could change Jefferson into a player he wasn't. It was pretty much a gamble from the start.

[elemento]

If the Spurs let him go, then they will be thin at backup SF too, so I disagree with what you are saying. Especially when lots of team like playing small ball, and some of the most potent scorers in the NBA play either SF or small ball PF. SF is just as big of a priority as a big man is to put next to TD. If you let him go, then you are creating another hole there. Manu and Danny are simply not big enough to play SF on a regular basis, and if they have to defend guys like Lebron or KD then we would not be in good shape.

Well, we will have to agree to disagre then Ice, but it's ok. I want S-Jax back as well, as long as he asks a reasonable price and if it doesn't affect SA's ability to improve the front-court. For the next season, only Duncan is a lock to get back. Splitter is a RFA, Diaw has a PO, Bonner and Blair are gone. SA can't have the lux to pay 6m/year to a backup SF and go the the next season with a thin front-court. That would be a nightmare. In terms of priorities, a BIG > backup SF by a large margin. Before we start thinking about Durant or Lebron (and look, SA still has a pretty cable defender in Leonard to defend both), SA still have to think about defending Z-Bo, Kevin Love, Lamarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol and Blake Griffin. If SA goes small without Jack, Leonard will be the one defending Bron or Durant, not Manu or Green. Seriously, It's mandatory for SA to find better BIGs next off-season. It's ridiculous the amount of effort Duncan has to put defensively playing with stiffs like Bonner and Blair. I say let the market set the price for S-Jax.

[Richie]

who do you suggest the spurs sign? outside of howard, none of those guys are worth max or anything above 10m a pop...they are overrated scrubs

Any of the players I listed would be huge upgrades to the front court. Josh Smith even has an all defensive appearance to his credit.

[Raven]

the plaoffs will decide..

[spurspokesman]

Judging by what we paid Rj he has earned his 10 mil and deserves a contract extension. I think we wouldve got curb stomped against okc after game 2 hadn't been for jacks persistence and refusal to lay down to them. His toughness is contagious and thats a quality in itself that i believe willed the spurs to keep battling.

[Fireball]

Do not trade him this season - his impact on team at ude and defense (currently also his rebounding) are needed.
Extend him (2 years, 6-8 million per) during the season or after the season is over.

[Richie]

Do not trade him this season - his impact on team at ude and defense (currently also his rebounding) are needed.
Extend him (2 years, 6-8 million per) during the season or after the season is over.

6m-8m per year? Way, way too much. Nobody is doubting his positive impact on the team, but if he won't accept something like $6m/2 years we should let him go, upgrading the front court is a much more pressing concern and with cap room it's the place we need to spend the money.

[benefactor]

So to sum up this thread...we don't want to pay Jackson more than 3 million a year and want to go after Bynum, Al Jefferson and Millsap.

You greys never cease to disappoint.

[venitian navigator]

I don't see a team that can offer us as much as SJ value is...for our team.
And I agree with people saying he can't have a big value market, considering is past and his age.
The best way for everybody is to keep him...coming to the price, imho the range could be from 4/5 per year for three years or 5/6 per year for two years (I see no disrespect for both offers and that sholudbe fa ir considering we have to pay Manu with a sort of the same contract, and spend more money to probably keep Splitter, Neal and Blair).

As for the famous "big" we should add, sorry folks but I don't see in the open market any sort of (reachable...I'm obviously not considering Howard) player better than the ones we already have.

If we need a defensive big, Splitter is probably way better than all the free agents...given a decent amount of time.
Blair is young and a more than decent offensive player. If he start to play some defense and begin to play at a decent level, like some performances of the past year, he could be one the best option, considering the price.

I don't think that after re-signing our players (Manu, Jack, probably Splitter, Neal and Blair) we'll be under the cap situation.
But we will still have the exceptions and our first round draft choice.

[JR3]

I would like to keep him. He compliments this team really well. Not a better player you could get at 5-6mil. And from his perspective, not a better organization to be with.

[Sean Cagney]

did the spurs save any money not extending jax that year?
they still had to waste money signing scrubs like turgo, mercer to fill up roster spots...

That is all true, none of those bums worked out either.

[spurs1990]

Nov 19 2004

Keep Jack alive

[crc21209]

I sure hope they keep him. I think he fits with this team too damn well to get rid of him. I'd give him 2 years/$10-12 million....

[timtonymanu]

What do you think would be a good trade then?

We just got him back and you want to trade him? Jack is too valuable to this team's toughness to let go of especially for guys like M Williams or Tayshaun Prince. The only trade I would got for out of your trade machine fantasy is Varejao.

[SenorSpur]

I would like to keep him. He compliments this team really well. Not a better player you could get at 5-6mil. And from his perspective, not a better organization to be with.

Agree on both points.

[TD 21]

League sources said bluntly, that anything involving Varejao is also going to have to move out Luke Walton and his $6 million ending contract and return youth and draft picks. That might be too much to ask, so it’s more likely that Varejao stays where he is, but you never know how another team may view him, especially as the trade deadline gets closer. HoopsWorld


Granted, it's from HoopsWorld, so it should be taken with a grain of salt.

It doesn't make sense for this to be a deal breaker. They've got a low payroll and much of his salary will be gone by the deadline anyway. They could just buy him out at that point or let him walk at the end of the season.

If, by the off chance this is true though, then forget it, because that would require giving up Jackson (to make it work financially), in addition to those other assets and at that point, it just becomes too much.

[Ice009]

I would kick Varejao to the curb if you had to take Luke Walton back with him. That is disgusting, and we'd be giving away players for nothing in the scenario.

[Kool Bob Love]

I blame this thread for Sjax getting hurt.

[Kool Bob Love]

We keeping him now. out 4-6 weeks. you OP and everyone who posted in this thread.

[manustarting2gd]

Ditto. Stfu and u guys forgot who he replaced. Idiots. Talk about a jinx.