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Agreed spurs are set 1-4 .another pf/c is the only other way spurs improve that starting unit.gpurs need to bolster that bench and find a younger jax replacement
Ae people forgetting we swept the WCF with Splitter?
I mean holy . Last year it's Pop for not playing Splitter more, he's awesome, i hope he walks in FA to a team that will play him etc etc.
Now people don't want him back? Just very very odd.
Agreed spurs are set 1-4 .another pf/c is the only other way spurs improve that starting unit.gpurs need to bolster that bench and find a younger jax replacement
Umm don't forget that Tim and Manu (he's done for sure) will be a year older. Seriously you Spurs homers think that our Big 3 are eternal.
Another issue the past 2 years is the Spurs rotations have gotten too short when series have gotten "intense" where they can only trust 2-3 guys. That needs to be corrected.
Granted the Spurs were nearly 5 sec away from winning it all, but still.
Outside of Ginobili and Splitter
1.) Tyreke Evans
2.) Corey Brewer - backup for Kawhi
3.) Veteran backup PG that can mentor the other ones a la TJ Ford or Jacque Vaughn
Oh and while I'm still on the fence about Splitter, one thing is he did play in 81 games for the Spurs last season, can't take that away from him.
Side note:
Matthew R Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
It's June 30, and the Spurs haven't offered a qualifying offer to Tiago.
For Blair* I'd like for him to be replaced by Joe Ingles, Aussie SF
Splitters not going to improve, already pushing close to 30. He is cut from the same cloth as Bonner. Decent in the regular season, cant be counted on in the playoffs. Rasho had more toughness and heart than this guy. Hopefully they can sign him back for the same money as his last contract, cause that's what he's worth at this point.
Improving Splitter's issues has little to do with age. He can certainly be smarter about when he goes up to score and fix his tendencies. He was a lot better in Europe because he had a different mentality. He just has to get back to that. He's also more versatile on offense than he's seemed the last few years. Once he gets his jump shot back, he could be a VERY good offensive big.
Baynes isn't old for a big man at all. Most of them don't really have it figured out until they're 30. Same goes for Splitter.
Mad interesting, and borderline irresponsible, that they wouldn't give him a QO. They must have a good idea of what free agent they'd get. Even so, it wouldn't make sense not to tender Splitter. They can always retract the QO in the first couple of weeks of free agency if they need the space. They only way it would make sense not to tender him would be if they don't want him back and honestly fear he would sign his QO.
Splitter has been a pro since he was 12 or something, he peaked let's be honest.
Baynes on the other hand is a late bloomer so I'm hopeful.
There's a difference between peaking physically (which he pretty much has) and being the best he's going to be as a player. Splitter had a better game in Europe. If he got back to that, he'd be a better NBA player.
I'm not surprised. I think teams are less likely to overpay if he's not rfa. Spurs don't have to match and they can sign him right away. Also doesn't wrap up money, correct me if I'm wrong.
I see him getting asik money.
And it's going to suddenly happen in year 4? I don't see it.
He had 3 years to prove his worth, it didn't happen, let's just move on.
Think pop set the tone with all that blue collar talk, etc, etc.
1. Tyreke Evans
2. Andre Iguodala
3. Paul Millsap
*Tiago Splitter
Tyreke Evans
Thomas Robinson
Tracy Mcgrady
KIRILENKO
KIRILENKO
KIRILENKO
He's proven his worth over and over again. He's just not aggressive enough. If Pop gives him the word, he'll start. I think that's why he brought in the two big-men coaches.
Don't be alarmed with the lack of reporting with regards to Tiago and the QO. I'm confident they tendered the offer.
Tiago has his shortcomings, but 6'11" guys with a PER of 18.72 who make under 8 mil/year are relatively rare and not easy to come by. You don't just throw that away without a secure back up plan. I hope he'll follow the examples of Tim, Manu, and Tony and stay in San Antonio for less than max money. Assuming he does and Manu resigns for around 5 mil, these are the free agents I'd like the Spurs to land:
1. Brandan Wright. A long, lanky C/PF with a very good mid range jump shot and a high FG%. Very efficient offensive player. Has the highest PER and +/- numbers of any big men available who won't break the bank to sign. Started off slow in his career but seems to be hitting his stride now. Very efficient shot blocker who rarely gets in foul trouble. Mediocre rebounder. I feel like he complements Splitter perfectly: Splitter's the better defender against bigger, more traditional post-scoring centers (Memphis, Indiana, Golden State, etc.), and Wright would be the better match up against faster, more athletic small ball line ups like Miami, OKC, and Denver.
2. Mike Dunleavy SG/SF. I know a lot of people say he's a poor defender, but 4 consecutive seasons of very good +/- numbers for two different teams show that he's an asset when on the floor, especially as a back up who can be put in in good match ups. Excellent shooter from 3 pt and mid-range, and he's taller than Neal, Green, Manu, and Kawhi. He's a surprisingly good rebounder. His last contract with Milwaukee was for 2 years at 3.75 mil each, so again, it's plausible the Spurs could get him for something similar, and most likely, a bit cheaper... maybe for the Room Exception of 2.575 mil.
3. Shaun Livingston, PG. This would be yet another unglamorous choice. He's a good ball handler with good court vision who doesn't turn the ball over. Not a great jump shooter, but a clever passer. Plays D, has good height and length for the PG position. Reliable, not spectacular, but doesn't make mistakes-- the perfect 2nd string point guard. He made under 1 million last year, which means he can most likely be had for less than the Room Exception of 2.575 mil...
4. Al Farouq Aminu, SF. Incredible rebounder who at the Small Forward position rebounds at a higher rate than Al Horford, Tiago Splitter, and Blake Griffin. Good defender, with a 7'3-1/4" wingspan. Is taller and has a bigger standing reach than Kawhi Leonard. In his three years in the NBA his FG% has risen each year: .395/.411/ .475. Not a good jump shooter, often tentative about taking shots.
Splitter will be re-signed. R.C. has already basically guaranteed it barring some ridiculous offer being thrown his way. And let's face it, after the Finals, no team is going to offer Splitter much. At least nothing the spurs can't/won't match.
1) Millsap
2) Kirilenko
1. Howard (Won't Happen but he is a LOT better than he looked last season.)
2. West (Not as talented as Howard but also won't cost as much. But he has some fire which I like. Still won't happen.)
3. Tyreke Evans (He is still young and has a lot of promise. If he is willing to listen to Pop and really work at it I think he has the physical tools to become an All Star some day. And I think the Spurs coaching staff have what it takes to get him there because he definitely needs some work. The fact that he seemed to have regressed somewhat could make it easier to sign him for less than he may be worth after a few years under Pop's tutelage.)
Note: I still want Manu back IF we can get him on the CHEAP! The key here is that we should no longer count him as part of the big three and as a go to closer for most games. Certainly not in the next playoffs. We really need to find someone that can replace his role as a scoring closer. But over the course of an 82 game season I think he can still be a solid contributor and will help far more than hurt the team.
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