Yahoo: News on on a potential Tiago Splitter offersheet

[Splits]

He had a double-digit plus/minus in every Spurs win in the first 2 series. He was positive against Memphis in all 4 games, and definitely defended well against Memphis, whose bread and butter is inside play. You don't have to get 'your numbers' to be productive. He was an asset out there. If Bonner would've posted those kind of double-digit productions in previous seasons, maybe we would've had #5 much sooner.

I'll be the first to tell you he has a lot of areas to improve, but you can't just diss what he gives this team because he doesn't rebound well or doesn't have a jumper. He plays the rugged center role that you need against certain teams, and it's a role Tim would need to play if Tiago wouldn't be there.

Not dissing his value or suggesting Bonner, just think there are cheaper options to do the defensive work. The fact is we will play against teams where we need the "rugged center", and he is probably a primary reason we swept both LA and MEM. Without him, we probably don't sweep both those series, but we don't lose them either.

It is fair to assume the road goes through OKC and MIA next year, both of which go small and minimize Tiago's strenghts to the point he isn't even on the court when it matters most. And we need another playmaker more than we need an all-around polished big. Cheaper guys, the 6 or so I listed before, can do the dirty defensive work when it's needed. I'd love to have both, and perhaps the FO can make that work by getting Manu to take $5m or less and amnestying Bonner, but if it comes down to a choice of bringing back Splitter vs. getting a defensive replacement + a perimeter playmaker, I go with the latter.

[Chinook]

LOL lets not ing go WAY overboard here.

He certainly got considerations for the WCF MVP in my book. I think he'd've had a similar impact against the Pacers.

[Baam]

The comparison to Bonner is well taken, but let's not get carried away with Baynes. Baynes didn't see anything but garbage minutes in that series.

He started a game on Dwight and the Lakers only scored 4pts in like 8minutes.

[objective]

When Duncan and Splitter were on the court together in the playoffs, the Spurs defense and +/- was great. And it's no coincidence that Duncan's best season in years comes when he's paired with legit big.

Splitter's deal isn't what would keep the Spurs from making deals. It's crap like paying Bonner 4 million when they could have bought him out for 1 million is what will keep the Spurs in neutral while other teams improve, some drastically.

[MannyIsGod]

He certainly got considerations for the WCF MVP in my book. I think he'd've had a similar impact against the Pacers.

Yeah I don't know about that. I believe thats going way overboard. I thought he had a good series but MVP? No ing way. The Spurs still win that series without Tiago even if its harder.

[ElNono]

He had a negative plus minus in the Lakers series and was the worst player on the team, Bonner and Baynes did much better.

For some reason basketball-reference doesn't have the first game, where he was indeed -6. He posted +12, +11 and +31 in the next 3 games.

Thanks for the correction.

[ElNono]

Not dissing his value or suggesting Bonner, just think there are cheaper options to do the defensive work. The fact is we will play against teams where we need the "rugged center", and he is probably a primary reason we swept both LA and MEM. Without him, we probably don't sweep both those series, but we don't lose them either.

It is fair to assume the road goes through OKC and MIA next year, both of which go small and minimize Tiago's strenghts to the point he isn't even on the court when it matters most. And we need another playmaker more than we need an all-around polished big. Cheaper guys, the 6 or so I listed before, can do the dirty defensive work when it's needed. I'd love to have both, and perhaps the FO can make that work by getting Manu to take $5m or less and amnestying Bonner, but if it comes down to a choice of bringing back Splitter vs. getting a defensive replacement + a perimeter playmaker, I go with the latter.

Well, i'm with objective here... I find it much more damaging to pay $4m for a guy that won't likely see the floor, than $8m for a guy that I know for a fact will help Tim be fresh when the playoffs roll around.

[Splits]

For some reason basketball-reference doesn't have the first game, where he was indeed -6. He posted +12, +11 and +31 in the next 3 games.

Thanks for the correction.

Those are the point differentials between the 2 teams, not the individual player +/-

[Splits]

Splitter was -6, -4, and +11 against the Lakers before going down with an injury and missing G4. Still don't think he had a horrible series against them, +/- is deceiving, but I stand by my prior assessment that for what he adds to the Spurs he isn't worth $8m+ per.

[ElNono]

Those are the point differentials between the 2 teams, not the individual player +/-

DOH!!!!

Completely missed that. /facepalm

[Uriel]

If $8.5M - $9M is all Portland offers, I will be very surprised if the Spurs don't match.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

2 years left in the Duncan era. Tiago may not be posting the numbers people want to have, but he is valuable for the Spurs. System or locker room wise, he's better than most of the bigs in the market.

But if the Spurs has a chance to go after West, might as well let Tiago walk and grab West for 2-3 year deal. Once Tim hangs the jersey, the Spurs can really go in to rebuilding mode.

[buttsR4rebounding]

This is exactly the kind of contract that I predicted Splitter would get offered in November. This is a no-brainer for the Spurs to match. Two facts that get lost in the static are that 1. he is a wonderful compliment to Duncan since his strengths are exactly what Duncan needs (i.e. defend the PnR, guard bigs that like to bang, etc.) and 2. his emergence brought the Spurs back to a top 3 defense. This is the market and the Spurs will pay it absent of some blockbuster move that is unlikely to happen.

[SenorSpur]

For everyone wanting the Spurs to pass on Splitter, consider what options the Spurs have to replace him with.

[Baam]

If we get Ellis, Kirilenko and some picks in a Splitter sign and trade that would be a good off season in my book.

[Russo21]

Please don't match an offer for Splitter

[baseline bum]

I'd be happy to get Splitter back for 3 years, $25 million.

[AFBlue]

For everyone wanting the Spurs to pass on Splitter, consider what options the Spurs have to replace him with.

Significant cap space and potentially a sizeable trade exception if they can work out a S&T. It's all about opportunity cost.

Spurs made the wrong decision with Jefferson a couple years ago in that regard, but then made the right one with the Hill-Kawhi swap (didn't have a replacement for Hill then either, but it worked out for the best). We'll see which way they go this time around.

[Russ]

I'd be happy to get Splitter back for 3 years, $25 million.

Splitter became a starter this year and whole team seemed to gel, especially defensively.

This year's team and the prior few teams were like night and day in big games.

Granted, it fell apart for Splitter a few times in the Finals because he played nervous and scared. I don't think we domestics realize what a big deal it is for foreign players to be in the NBA Finals the first time. (Look at Gasol a few years ago.) But I think he'll play tougher and more confident next time. And if they re-sign Splitter, there probably will be a next time.

Splitter is the type of player you won't really notice till he's gone.

[TheGreatYacht]

Spur fan expecting a good big to sign for the MLE per par.

Wrong. We're expecting Manu Ginobili to retire or play for the veteran's minimum. Us non-homer Spurs fans are also expecting Tiago Splitter to take a $15 Million 3 year deal.

Yeah, but we were all hoping he might've at least given us a little discount...

Exactly. Spurs should let him walk and offer their remaining cap space to a quality big like David West or Al Jefferson.

Portland just received Thomas Robinson from Houston. Are they still going to want Splitter ?

Wow, this sucks balls. I wanted Thomas Robinson.

It was the Finals. Although we had a marvelous run, winning the west means very little to me, sorry. If we find our way back into the Finals, chances are the Heat will be there. Are we just going to bench Splitter once again? An $8 million a year player needs to be on the court when it matters the most.

This. Doesn't do you any good to play well if you can't get to the finish line. Typical Tiago Splitter folding in the moment.

I think Tiago not playing like crap would've made a lot of difference in the finals. Everyone wants to bash Manu for his poor play but honestly Tiago was a big letdown. He should've bullied the Miami bigs. I love Tiago and hope he stays, but he's GOT to improve his presence around the rim.

Just like I said.

Fickle? That game 6 loss still hurts just as much as it did that day. Nothing has changed. What I saw out of Splitter in the Finals was plain awful. He shrunk when it mattered the most. Whether we won or lost that series, I felt Splitter needed to be let go if was going to get this kind of money (which I expected).

Thank you.

I don't want him to return for that kind of money. Look I know he is a very solid piece. But I believe the Heat are a lock to be in the Finals again next year. If we somehow make it, marching out the same starting 5 is not going to be good enough. Splitter is just not the man against the Heat.

UNLESS we can sign a big free agent like Jarrett Jack. Also I like how everyone is taking Tim Duncan for granted and just automatically assuming that he's going to give us the same production next year. For God's sake I hope that you guys are right.

Honestly if Pop played Diaw much more, this wouldn't be a problem. The Spurs not only need to play against the Heat. They need to play against the Dwight Howards, the Gasols, the Randolphs. (players that Tiago matches up well with). Duncan is going to need help against these guys and Splitter is the best option.

This. Pop and his fuc*ing regular season rotations in the middle of the NBA Finals.

I actually like our chances if we go back to the finals against the heat. Fluke victory for the heat in game 6 and a fluke win in game 7 with James and battier nearly going perfect from 3. Kawhi will b a much better player (scary) as would Tiago

Again people taking Tim Duncan for granted. Tiago has peaked.

I've been here all season, and didn't make one emotional post during the whole Finals run. I bleed silver and black and have never jumped off their wagon. Didn't know that being a Splitter lover was synonymous with being a Spurs fan. I like the dude, but 9 million is too much.

Just ignore benefactor. The guy is probably another Popsucker and Manu fan boy that trolls everyone that disagrees with him.

Splitter played an important role in us getting to the finals. I want him back; I like the guy and its looking more and more like he's better than any FA option out there.

My problem with Tiago is that he was a huge disappointment in the finals. Like I said earlier, he should have dominated the Miami bigs. Or at least, played at a similar level as he did in previous series. He's gotta improve his interior game if he wants to prove that he's worthy of the big money he's asking for.

Agree. I'm surprised to hear you criticizing a Spurs player. I'm proud of you.

If Splitter gets more than 6 mil/yr and Manu gets more than 4 mil/yr...our front office has done an epic fail.

Bingo. Best comment that I've read so far.

And sign who, exactly? This isn't exactly the greatest FA selection in NBA history.

Cough... have Tim Duncan recruit Al Jefferson or David West. They both idolized Tim Duncan growing up and who knows, they might be willing to take a minor pay cut.

What do the Spurs need more: an $8m big and bring back essentially the same team, or grab someone like Blatche for $1m a year and use the cap space to go after an FA like Jarret Jack who can create his own and run backup point? Manu's on the decline and we were exposed in the Finals by not having anybody besides Parker on the perimeter who can run the offense. Obviously, Splitter to Blatche is a downgrade, but is it that much of a drop off when we also have Diaw to plug in at the 4 if we add a playmaker?

Not a bad idea. I don't think Blatche plays any defense though. Maybe we can keep Splitter and get Blatche for cheap. Now that would be great.

Yeah, but the Heat can say DG's three point binge was a fluke after exposing his flaws in Games 6 and 7. Look, we simply can't stand pat and hope TD and Manu find the fountain of youth for another year but Splitter isn't the problem. He's important in key matchups against certain elite teams out West, so keeping him is a priority. 3/25 is a fair deal and he would've gone for more had he shown up in the Finals so we should consider it a kind of discount. Plus, we should still have money left over to get another solid contributor.

This. If we can keep Splitter but sign another big contributor like Jarrett Jack or Jose Calderon then I think most of our problems would be solved. We just got to hope that TD can play well for another year.

8-10 mil for a center in his prime only averaging 10 and 6. LMAO!!!!! I'll pass.

Co-signed.

I wouldn't want Blatche on this team if he paid us $1M per year.

Then you don't know shi* about basketball my friend.

Ugh, this is one of those catch 22 deals, He's hit his ceiling and will not get any better but will the Spurs go out and find someone to fill in the spot because San Antonio is not an attractive team? Probably not. So we can buy this guy for 3 years and expect crappy numbers, inflated because he gets to start games next to Duncan. The only reasoning would be that he's going to develop a post game by a miracle during the off season, learn not to shoot that ty hook, learn to rebound when it matters and put up offense when he's not in there with Duncan.

Everyone is looking at him like he's great in the pick n roll and to a certain point he is, if he catches the ball 3 feet from the basket and Manu is in the game wit him because Parker will not pass the ball to him regularly, nope his pick man is Duncan. Unless Tim decides to play for 3 more years and is just as productive this is a horrible signing because we're obligated to pay him and once Tim starts to decline his crappy presence will be apparent and nobody will want to touch him.. Sure, people were clamoring for him in years before because we didn't know what he could do, and now we do. We know exactly that he's when he gets stopped short of the rim, has no offense whatsoever unless he's 3 feet from the basket and is slow and can't rebound consistently.

That's what I've been thinking all along. Right now that Splitter is in his prime and at his highest value on the market, why not S&T him for Ömer Aşık, Lamarcus Albridge, or a quality big man.

PER of 21 last year. He's not a starter on this team but how much of a dropoff is Diaw starting with Blatche coming in as 3rd big instead of Splitter starting and Diaw as 3rd big? He's an UFA and made under $1m last year, so he could be gotten on the cheap and give us room to improve elsewhere.

I agree. We can probably convince him to play for cheap in SA, I mean I'm pretty sure that he's tired of losing.

Some people are sold on Tiago's intangibles but for that kind of money his glaring offensive weaknesses will be put on display. We're saying that he's worth about just as much as Duncan, Parker and Manu. I mean if we're paying him 8 or 9 million how much are they going to have to pay Kawhi when his deal comes around?

I know this scares me. Tiago making as much as Manu, Timmy, and Parker? Popsuckers and Manu worshippers are out of their fuc*ing mind.

Hickson is available, as is Blatche, both much less expensive than Splitter. You could also go with a combination of scrub vet mins like KMart, Birdman, Ivan Johnson, Haddadi, etc and figure out what works for spot defensive work while rolling with Diaw as the starter.

There's plenty of guys available who can play defense and/or rebound who won't command anywhere near $8m a year.

Well said. I wouldn't mind Kmart if the Spurs can get him for very cheap. He can still play defense and adds toughness to the team.

He had a negative plus minus in the Lakers series and was the worst player on the team, Bonner and Baynes did much better.

LMAO. True.

Not dissing his value or suggesting Bonner, just think there are cheaper options to do the defensive work. The fact is we will play against teams where we need the "rugged center", and he is probably a primary reason we swept both LA and MEM. Without him, we probably don't sweep both those series, but we don't lose them either.

It is fair to assume the road goes through OKC and MIA next year, both of which go small and minimize Tiago's strenghts to the point he isn't even on the court when it matters most. And we need another playmaker more than we need an all-around polished big. Cheaper guys, the 6 or so I listed before, can do the dirty defensive work when it's needed. I'd love to have both, and perhaps the FO can make that work by getting Manu to take $5m or less and amnestying Bonner, but if it comes down to a choice of bringing back Splitter vs. getting a defensive replacement + a perimeter playmaker, I go with the latter.

Nice comeback once again.

2 years left in the Duncan era. Tiago may not be posting the numbers people want to have, but he is valuable for the Spurs. System or locker room wise, he's better than most of the bigs in the market.

But if the Spurs has a chance to go after West, might as well let Tiago walk and grab West for 2-3 year deal. Once Tim hangs the jersey, the Spurs can really go in to rebuilding mode.

I agree. David West would be the ideal Tiago replacement because he can play defense and also score over Norris Cole and Shane Battier.

[Captivus]

Baynes could be just as good as Tiago. I mean, is not like he is scoring and getting 100 rebounds a game.
If im the spurs I rather spend my money on a scoring big.
No more than $6.5 for Tiago,, 4 years, last year Team Option.

[I. Hustle]

I heard the Spurs already had clones of David Robinson and Hakeem ready to go and they only have to pay them in crayons because all they know is basketball and coloring.
I don't like to give up my sources so when it happens just know that you heard it here first.

[K-State Spur]

Nope, I expect the Spurs to use that money elsewhere and get a big that can potentially punish teams for going small. Millsap is the man for that kind of money.

The same Millsap who had 70% of his attempts be jumpshots, and has seen his rebounding percentage fall by almost 25% the past 5 years? That Paul Millsap?

For the record, I actually like him as a player, but it's laughable to suggest that 6'7 (on a good day) PF is going to "PUNISH" teams for going small.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Pass. $8.5 million per is too much for a guy who kills you against elite teams imo. You know the Spurs are matching any offer though. For better or worse.

So what's your take on the Grizz. Are they an elite team. Because the last time I checked Splitter was a main contributor in the Spurs winning that Series.

My take is the Spurs just need another playmaker and shotmaker on their roster period. That should be the main focus. Ellis (not my first choice), Jack, Mayo, and Evans all can provide the Spurs just that. Manu showed he can't be relied on night in and night out any more the carry the load off the bench.

[Keepin' it real]

Baynes is going to play much more minutes which will provide toughness