This Tiago thing is getting me nervous.
Are there any chances the Spurs make a mistake and dont keep Tiago & dont get another big? Are they are left with cap space and no player to choose??
Thats in my mind for a while...
Pretty much. They love to "steal" talent from other teams overpaying. Mattews was actually undrafted and after only 1 season with the Jazz, Portland offered him a full MLE contract (the only MLE).
I think they will got after Pekovic first, then Splitter. Still, I don't think Splitter is going anywhere.
Pipe dream, tbh. If Asik, who has ZERO offensive skills, got what he got, Splitter is breaking the bank. Not sure what his MAX is going into his fourth year, but someone will likely offer it. He signs the sheet, and then waits for SA. If they don't match, he can put it on them. He wanted to stay, but they didn't match.
Nothing wrong with Portland's medical staff. Their front office has a propensity to ignore medical red flags and draft anyway. Oden, Roy, and Bayless ALL had medical red flags on their knees.
I'm with you. I also believe the Blazers will go after Pekovic first. As a matter of fact, it seems the front offices of the Blazers and TWolves have had some sort of running feud the past couple of years, trying the go after one another's free agents. This supposed "bad blood" was heigtened last summer, when the Wolves infuriated the Blazers by going after Nic Batum and all signs pointing to Batum leaving. In fact, Batum cautioned the Blazers NOT to match the contract. Yet, the Blazers did just that, matched the contract and kept Batum in the fold.
I have no doubt the Blazers will try and turn the tables on the Wolves this summer and seek to do what they do best: money-whip another team's free agent, in this case Pekovic. They'll likely throw a big money contract his way, complete with some sort of poison-pill clause that would hinder the Wolves from matching. However, I wouldn't underestimate that crackpot GM of the Wolves, David Kahn. He'll likely do anything to keep Pekovic away from the Blazers.
While all that could be going on, I trust the Spurs will be working to ink Splitter to a new contract. I also hope the Splitter will follow the long-standing example set by Tim, Manu and TP and not seek to get the biggest contract, but will be willing to take a bit less money in order to secure the best fit for his talents and most favorable fit for his cultural desires. He will get both by resigning with the Spurs.
Jefferson extended for 4 years 40 million.
Gee i wonder if Popped-Bumford will extend Splitter?
Not sure if I agree with this. Portland would be one of my first destinations. It's a very progressive, prosperous, clean city, and the bball facilities for the Blazers are second to none. Portland would be and is extremely high on my list of places to live, NBA player or not. It might be for knees that go to live there, but it's great for everything else.
Qestionable move imo, if they did sign Splitter. They already have Alderidge, and spent a lottery pick on Leonard. Signing Splitter could possibly stunt the development of Leonard.
By your reference to Leonard, as it pertains to the Blazers, I presume you mean Meyers Leonard.
Pretty sure that was last year.
if the Blazers want to pay over $12 million for Splitter, by all means have him. That said, I don't see Portland going after Splitter when Hickson's around (but he looks to be going bye bye)
We're a better team this year than last.
We stand a better chance of being in the Finals this year.
Aldridge said that he wants to play alongside a true center. So if the portland's FO wants to make him happy Pekovic is a way better fit than Splitter.
Yeah, Pekovic is more polished as a low post player compared to Splitter, and much more tougher especially in rebounding. But he's not really that elite & efficient in one important stuff, such as Splitter. He will get paid though, and he's still relatively young too (younger than Splitter i guess).
Yes Senor. Not our Kawhi Leonard.
Haven't watched a lot of Blazers games, but when I have, I've not seen much of Meyers Leonard - except shots of him on the end of the bench. Any thoughts on his development or the lack thereof?
I've only seen him last year when he was was playing for Illinois. Pretty good athlete, can post up and has a decent mid-range jumper. Can defend the rim pretty well. Raw, but talented.
If Manu or Tim goes into last season mode, I don't care to keep Splitter anyhow. I'd rather save money and rebuild. We have a good system, but like Chucky says, Jacks and Joes, not X's and O's.
Really? Splitter looks good because in Parker is ballin his ass off making everybody look good....Splitter sucks.
LMFAO... still hard to believe that actually happened
The Blazers getting Splitter wouldn't hurt their plans for the development of Meyers Leonard at all. The great thing about Splitter is that if Meyers Leonard did become good enough to start at center, the Blazers already know that Splitter is humble and professional enough to accept a bench role. Then they'd have one of the best back-up bigs in the league and altogether still have nice 3-man big rotation.
Splitter's approach to the game and his being willing to accept a role should make the Blazers want him even more.
That was done because they agreed (off the record) that he'd opt out to save them from the luxury tax. They removed a huge one time fee for the money distributed over time. Both parties helped each other.
If Batum was drafted by the Spurs, Spurs wouldn't have taken Hill. So it basically becomes - Kawhi vs. Batum. Who would you rather have?
Both guys are pretty good, but Batum is further along in the development curve and might have helped last year to get us over the top, so i don't think it has come out any better (though i can't say it was any worse either).
I dont see Portland making a high bid on players this season compared to previous seasons. If there is a need for Portland that we can satify, it is a "3 pt shooting forward". Their guards cant shoot a high % of 3's, so defenses collapse into the paint. Right now, they have 5 players who play more than 15 mins, the Spurs have 9. All 13 players on the Spur see "double" figure mins average per game. What Portland needs is a bench. They have starters, but lack a bench that can come in a hold a lead or help the starters extend one.
As for Splitter leaving, money will not be the reason he leaves. If memory serves me, he has been making big Euros for years. The reason he did not come over after the draft was money. He was offered close to 5 mil in Europe, whereas the Spurs could only pay slightly below 1 Mil. He contract also, called for a huge buyout. The contract ended perfect for the Spurs. He was free to come to the Spurs and we were no longer bound by the 1st round salary rules. Thus, Splitter was given 3 yr 10 mil to sign with Spurs. If money is a problem for Splitter, he has wasted quite a bit of the last 12 or 13 years. Portland and other teams may offer more but the one thing the Spurs have to offer is winning year after year. He knows Parker, Green, Leonard and De Colo are going to be around for several more years. With what we have in Adam Hanga, Lorbeck, Richards(?) and CoJo, we should be in playoffs from year to year. We may also find a big deep in the draft to begin the process over again. I think the time is close to trade whatever is need to get a couple of young players with potential. Even if it means Jax, Neal or Blair.
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