Tiago: 'I want to stay'

[TDMVPDPOY]

splitter the modern day chris dudley...

[Ditty]

PnR

Yeah that is a nice skill he has by being able to roll hard towards the rim, but besides that he is average at everything else. Ginobili will probably retire this year or next year, and De Colo might be able to work with Splitter but he is not a starter for a quality team in this league and Parker will possibly be gone himself as I don't see him apart of the rebuilding project in two years. Pretty sure we can find a big man in the draft in the next few years who will be younger and possess as good skills as Splitter.

[Ditty]

I don't know if I'd say he's better than Asik, tbh..

Asik is terrible from an offensive standpoint, but he's arguably the best defensive player in the NBA..he's also a better rebounder than Tiago, IIRC..

Splitter will receive a similar contract though, especially since Asik has actually lived up to his contract, so far..elite pick&roll player, good rebounder, becoming better at finishing, good defensive player, mobile, good passer, intelligent player..those aren't skills you find in many bigs..

He still can't create his own offense on a consistent basis, and he's still soft at times, so any team that signs him should have a good pick&roll guard on the roster, along with a PF that can create for himself..

Splitter's value will ultimately depend on his playoff performance IMO..if he can continue improving and help the Spurs get the le(his performance is probably the x-factor IMO), I don't really give a what happens with him after this season, tbh..

+1 on the analysis of Splitter

Houston was desperate for a big man also, and Asik has elite skills as a defender.

Unless Spurs somehow sign, trade or draft another power forward which I don't see happening in the next 2 years I don't see how it makes sense giving Splitter more then $5 million a year. The last thing I want to see is paying a over 30 year old Tiago and Parker over $20 million combined in 3-4 years and getting the 8th seed every year and getting beat down by the Thunder

[td4mvp2k]

Bigger question is who Kawhi eats with?

Blair!

Nobody eats with Blair. Any time you turn your head or go to the bathroom, food is missing off your plate whenever Blair's around.

Isnt that Eddy Curry?

[AFBlue]

Good stuff. I think this was in question last year when he was being used exclusively as Duncan's back-up, but now that he's being featured more prominently and getting more minutes it makes for a mutually beneficial situation.

Like others have said, barring an offer from another team in the $12-15M/yr range, he'll be in a Spurs uni for a while.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

So who does Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard eat with? God, I'd feel terrible if it was room service by themselves.

[PingPong]

Nando (and Joseph + Baynes)?

Nando de Colo has a spanish(as splitter's wife) girlfriend and is french with portuguese origins. He is the one that fits better in the UN crew.

[chapnis]

I think they 'United Nations' came together because they got along and liked each other, not because they wanted it to be the most diverse group of players...

[Spursfanfromafar]

Disagree 8 mil per seems more reasonable

No way Splitter rejects free agency for 8 mill. It has to be atleast a $10 million per year contract considering the market value for big men in the league (see DeAndre Jordan, Javale McGee etc who have been signed recently after the new CBA).

[Spursfanfromafar]

And while the Asik-Splitter comparison is legitimate to a certain extent; Asik played as a No 4 big with the Bulls on a minimum contract. He was great defensively for the Bulls paired with Gibson, but he was recognised only by the stat crunching Morey and given the poison pill contract. His "real" value came in only after playing as the No 1 big for Houston and kind of justified his contract now. Splitter on the other hand has been far more productive with the Spurs, has been the No 2 big after Duncan and despite limitations has an awesome game for a modern day NBA center. He most certainly would sell for more than $8 million in the current NBA market that privileges big men even with limitations (see McGee/ DeAndre Jordan/ Robin Lopez). The Spurs would certainly recognise that and get a $10 million * 4 contract, in my opinion. Not a case of overpaying in my opinion as Splitter would be in his prime for the next 4 years.

[SpursIndonesia]

Yeah, 40 mil/4 years might be the fair market value for Splitter, but i think the Spurs can get away with around 36 mil/4 years offering, the money loss will be more than made up by being more happy playing for a contender and in great environment of likeable teammates. But i think Splitter will ask for non written, gentleman promise from the Spurs FO that he won't be traded unless with his approval/consent.

[Mal]

The price will be around 32-40 mln / 4 years. He`s good, and good bigs are being paid well.

[freetiago]

Of course he would say that if asked
hes a classy player
no one has ever said they want to leave
even a got like dwight coward still says he wants things to work out when we all know hes booking it first chance he gets

[Richie]

Sorry, not going to happen. Look at the cap analysis:

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...=1#post6317389

A fair analysis, there are just too many unknowns. For example, the salary cap could be over $60m as the Lakers just signed a $4bn TV deal with Time Warner. Furthermore, we could use our pick as a draft and stash, Manu could take a figure more like $5m and suddenly we've gone from having $5m to spend on a free agent to having $8m-$10m on one depending on the cap. Another option could be dumping Bonner on a team for our 2nd round pick, saving us $1m.

I personally think the most important thing is to get a quality big next to Tim and Splitter. While we all have hope for Baynes, odds are the guy won't be a major contributor. If we can find a way to scrape together $8-$10m for a player like David West it could be he difference between Tim having fresh legs in playoff time or not. Having a compe ive front line without Duncan (as a West/Splitter combo would be imo) would allow us to give him more games rest and keep his body fresher when he does play.

Obviously the front office will have done the calculations more thoroughly and spoken to Manu about what kind of salary he is expecting. If they think we will only have MLE type cap space in the summer then it's all a fairly pointless conversation, but squeezing just a couple million more in cap room for a new big could be a difference maker.

[Brazil]

but but I thought TP didn't like Manu and didn't want to pass him the ball

[exstatic]

Nando (and Joseph + Baynes)?

Toros crew, tbh

[DMC]

Bonner is Canadian... What's he got to do to get an invite to the UN dinners?

lol

[DMC]

UN crew:
Manu, Tony, Diaw, Patty, Tiago

Gasta Wannabe Crew:
Jackson, Green, Blair

Loners:
Duncan
Kawhi

Sandwich Crew:
Bonner
Coyote

What is a gasta?

[I. Hustle]

[skin]

A 32-36 / 4 yrs deal seems good for for sides.

[SenorSpur]

If we can find a way to scrape together $8-$10m for a player like David West it could be he difference between Tim having fresh legs in playoff time or not. Having a compe ive front line without Duncan (as a West/Splitter combo would be imo) would allow us to give him more games rest and keep his body fresher when he does play.

First off, I'm certain David West will be looking for something a bit north of $8-10 mil, if he can get it.

Secondly, and this is something that has been discussed ad nauseum on this board, West is a black hole offensively, poor rebounder and defender. He's not someone that would be a seamless fit into the Spurs system.

Finally, the Spurs do not need to foolishly look to free agency to bolster their frontline. They can and should look to the draft - and I believe they will. A young, emerging player like either Patric Young (Florida) or Gourgui Deng (Louisville) would be far better options. Either of these young guys would instantly be defensive upgrades over anyone else the Spurs currently have on their frontline - not named Duncan and Splitter. Besides helping to bolster the Spurs frontline for the future, each would come relatively younger and cheaper, which would help maintain some semblance of financial stability. This is a fact that not lost on a front office as astute as the Spurs.

That said, I'm all for the Spurs securing Splitter for the future. I believe something in the realm of 4 yrs, 32-36 mil should do the trick. The trick is the Spurs will have to cut some corners somewhere to secure Splitter at that price.

[Richie]

First off, I'm certain David West will be looking for something a bit north of $8-10 mil, if he can get it.

Secondly, and this is something that has been discussed ad nauseum on this board, West is a black hole offensively, poor rebounder and defender. He's not someone that would be a seamless fit into the Spurs system.

Finally, the Spurs do not need to foolishly look to free agency to bolster their frontline. They can and should look to the draft - and I believe they will. A young, emerging player like either Patric Young (Florida) or Gourgui Deng (Louisville) would be far better options. Either of these young guys would instantly be defensive upgrades over anyone else the Spurs currently have on their frontline - not named Duncan and Splitter. Besides helping to bolster the Spurs frontline for the future, each would come relatively younger and cheaper, which would help maintain some semblance of financial stability. This is a fact that not lost on a front office as astute as the Spurs.

That said, I'm all for the Spurs securing Splitter for the future. I believe something in the realm of 4 yrs, 32-36 mil should do the trick. The trick is the Spurs will have to cut some corners somewhere to secure Splitter at that price.

A couple point. First of all, I cant see how David West can command more than $10m. In 2008 when he was coming off a 21/9 season and signed for less than $10m. 2 years ago he signed for the Pacers for $20m/2yr after averaging 19/7.5. I doubt he'll be expecting to make a career high in earnings at 32 with declining stats.

Second, David West is an elite pick and pop player, the guy is one of the best mid range jump shooting big men in the game. Furthermore, the guy is a high IQ player. Byron Scott said he was one of the smartest players he has ever coached, that his BBIQ is "off the charts". Pop likes high IQ guys. Not to mention West is playing 34min/game for the best defensive team in the league, he can't be that bad a defender.

Lastly, Dieng isn't going to be on the board when we are drafting. And even if he is, what kind of minutes do you think Pop will give him? The whole point is to get someone who can play enough to sit Timmy outon back to backs and reduce his minutes when he does play. You think late first round rookie is going to impress Pop enough both offensivelyand defensively to get that kind of time? I wouldn't hold my breath.

Even if one of the guys you mentioned turns out to be a Hibbert, or even Deandre Jordan quality player in a couple years, who cares? Timmy and Manu will be retired and the championship window will be shut. Hibbert and Jordan only got 15min~ on bad teams as rookies, and you think we're gonna pick someone up who will be ready to step in and play 25min+ in the Spurs system with Pop? I'll be ecstatic if we can, but I doubt it.

[Obstructed_View]

I'm not saying Byron Scott is wrong, but I've never seen that much indication that David West has a high basketball IQ. Okay, yeah, I'm saying Byron Scott is a moron. Sorry.

[rascal]

He will stay. The spurs will bring back the entire team again next year.

[AFBlue]

He will stay. The spurs will bring back the entire team again next year.

Can't be so definitive on either point tbh.

Splitter's likely value is in the 8-10M/yr range, but it only takes one team to look at Splitter as the #1 center available without the injury concerns or primadonna at ude. I could see a scenario where a team throws $12M/yr at him to be "the guy", and that would put the Spurs in a tough spot.

As for the other guys, Ginobili and Diaw are virtual locks to be back. Mills is close to a lock.

The two biggest questions outside of Splitter are Jax and Neal. I have no idea what their expectations or actual market value could be.