Something to notice about Baynes is the unwinding o the signing:
- In mid December, rumors tarting to pop out about Euro teams wanting Baynes. Tel Aviv and Vittoria were the msot serious ones.
- Around December 20, these rumors were shut down. Ljubljana even posted a news on their website stating that Baynes would stay. A reliable report stated that Tel Aviv wanted to offer wanted to offer $200K for the buyout while Lubjana wanted $300K. The deal feel part for $50K since Baynes was ready to give $50K to pay the buyout.
- Nothing happened during 20 days. Not a single rumor and it seemed quite certain Baynes would stay in Slovenia.
- On January 9th, Spurs were reported to be close to signing Baynes and the deal was done in few hours. The buyout was reportedly $350K-$400K.
You can imagine a lot of scenario explaining these events but the most likely one is that Spurs weren't interested enough in Baynes to sign him in December but they were 20 days later. So, the big question is: What event(s) has(ve) pushed Spurs to change their minds in these 20 days?
My more recent word there was the Spurs were ready to pull the trigger 2 months ago, and decided to let a few Euro teams test the waters for what the buy out price was going to be because they thought if they went in first and as an NBA team that the Slovenes were going to (to use an Aussie term) bend em over the table on the buy out figure, as soon as Lubjana narrowly missed on 300, spurs came in on 350.
jobs right.
Last edited by Slomo; 01-17-2013 at 12:58 PM. Reason: Call me a Slovak and see what happens...
Wild guess, of course, but the Spurs might have originally intended to get Baynes in the summer, however, it is possible that at some point in December/January some euro team was close to getting him and offering him a long term contract, which would have prevented the Spurs from getting him when they wanted. So they had to rush in and get the deal done fast, even if they don't see him in the rotation for this season.
Isn't Lorbek said in the interview before that the Spurs are really looking for a center?
http://www.projectspurs.com/2012-art...th-lorbek.html
According Lorbek, the Spurs' first choice right now is a more physical center that plays 5.
Perhaps a health check of Blair suggesting that he is done and the fork can be stuck.
It would make sense and be a nice sneaky CIA-like scenario. In that case, Spurs could even had a pre-agreement with Baynes' agent to be sure that a deal with another Euro team wouldn't succeed.
Spurs might have offered less or the same in Dezember, Ljubljana tested the market, didn't find a better offer. Spurs get the deal or the raised their offer. might just have bebn a typical negotiation process.
Spurs raised the offer when they learned that Blair won't make the whole season. (has been mentionedby Spursfanfromafar)
Spurs prepare for a deadline move and need to cover the back up center position. (would a Splitter trade)
Pop wished for a center for Christmas.
Blair's physical collapse would explain it somewhat. If it got to the point that the Spurs were in the market for a Blair replacement, going hard after Baynes would still be cheaper than trying to trade for a decent big.
Another possibility: The Spurs and the Rockets were the "two Western Conference teams" interested in Baynes. Ljubljana was waiting for a bidding war between the Spurs and Rockets to develop. But the Rockets -- due to the good play from Omer Asik and the surprisingly effective play of Greg Smith -- decided they didn't need yet another big center, and instead decided to go with Patrick Beverley. With the market narrowing on Ljubljana, they lowered their buyout number and the Spurs swooped in to close the deal.
Aside from his size and rebounding, I'm most excited about this baby hook he has that keeps getting mentioned. Having just one half-decent move could earn him more minutes
That's a possibility even if Spurs gave up on Blair on December 13rd and he looked awful at that time. Something could have happened in these 20 days regarding Blair (Blair asking for a trade, a medical exam...).
It doesn't fit with the report that Lubjana was ready to let go Baynes for $300K to Maccabi:Another possibility: The Spurs and the Rockets were the "two Western Conference teams" interested in Baynes. Ljubljana was waiting for a bidding war between the Spurs and Rockets to develop. But the Rockets -- due to the good play from Omer Asik and the surprisingly effective play of Greg Smith -- decided they didn't need yet another big center, and instead decided to go with Patrick Beverley. With the market narrowing on Ljubljana, they lowered their buyout number and the Spurs swooped in to close the deal.
http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/...nd-baynes.html
I do like benfti theory. Another theory would be that Spurs targeted another player and when they realized, a couple of weeks ago, they couldn't get him, so they went with Baynes who was their plan B.
Knowing that he needs another big to round out a four man rotation, maybe Pop concluded that in no scenerio would Blair or Bonner be suited to play along side Diaw. He may have also eliminated the possibilty of advancing one of the 6'9" bigs that are now playing in Austin to fill the 4th spot. These things, along with the connections he has between the Spurs and people in the know considering Baynes' recent interest, may have prompted the Spurs to pull the string on this deal.
Orange Fanta is the way to go, no caffeine in it either. I gave up on the other fountain drinks, it's either too watered down or far too sweet.
Well, besides what has already been mentioned, all of which is relevant and seems like part of the story, the other thing that's happened over that 20 days is Tiago's insertion in the starting lineup. Pop had been keeping Splitter on the bench mainly to ensure we had a center on the court at all times. But when it became clear that the Spurs with a starting Tiago were a better team, but also that it was hurting the team to now not have a true center coming off the bench (the gnashing of teeth on ST about all those "mad scientist" small ball bench lineups do ented this well), I figure that was what created the impetus to sign Baynes when the Spurs did.
And then most likely the Spurs were in the position to sign him because of the smart maneuvering and positioning their scouting department did by staying abreast of his talks with other Euro teams and/or keeping in touch with his agent.
What I think is interesting, if not necessarily surprising, is the stark difference between how interested foreign players are in playing for San Antonio, versus American players. We seem to be a top destination for the former, while the later most often don't even give us the time of day. I guess you'd say that foreign players care more about the quality of the program and the chance to win, whereas American-born players are more about the lifestyle.
Which is the reason that only about maybe 25% of NBA players could ever play for the Spurs. I laugh at the pining of GNSF for idiots like Josh Smith or DeMarcus Cousins. Those are the exact types of paycheck/lifestyle players that could never play here.
By opposition to Nobel prize winners with great at ude like Sjax?
Pop is the first to admit toughness matters, it's basketball, some of you are going too far with the classy bs imo.
That's why the Spurs don't just draft based on raw talent, they also look at fit. Better a guy who blows dunks but doesn't sleep on defense.
Tbf, Jackson has been with Pop once already and those two are almost like father and son in demeanor.
There's being a tough guy and there's being a total headcase.
Sjax was a total head case in Milwaukee, Boris was on bad terms with his previous coach as well.
Meanwhile Bonner never had any issue with any coach...
I worry that De Colo has some Beno in him.
Funny u should mention father and son demeanor. Jax said this after the Wolves game :
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...-timberwolves/
Immediately upon seeing Popovich quick-stepping to an exit, a question flashed in the mind of veteran guard Stephen Jackson, whose two technical fouls against the Lakers four days earlier produced both his own ejection and a five-point possession for L.A.
“Is that my Dad?” Jackson wondered. “Am I Pop Jr.?”
“Any time a coach does that, you know what it means: Go out there and play harder, go out there and get this game, even if he’s not on the sideline,” Jackson said. “Every player loves a coach who goes to bat for him. You can’t get better than the way Pop does it.”
Anyone know when this beast will suit up for the Spurs?
does he have a nickname??
the Bayne train, or just Bane.
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