Spurs are in serious negotiations with #Suns to acquire Marcin Gortat

[Mouth is Bleeding]

to me gortat is a better rim protecter and finisher around the basket than tiago

Yes I think so too. I mean his HANDS ARE MUCH STRONGER than Splitter's lol.

He can also make cuts to the basket, maybe better or different if you will, than the Manu-Splitter combo that didn't really work against good teams in the playoffs. He was certainly very good with Nash in pick and roll. He can catch the ball on the move and finish at the rim in one motion.

He even has a jump shot AND he is a good rebounder.

I'm not sure he is bad on D either and playing with Duncan should improve things even further. Sure he struggles getting out to shots on the perimiter (Spurs just go small when that becomes a serious issue) but other than that he has good athleticism on D. Defends space well and I remember in the lockout season he was third in the NBA taking charges + he blocks shots.

[bklynspursfan]

From what I saw on twitter this guy who tweeted this is the same who inked Dwight to the Mavs. Which I guess is still a possibility but take it with a grain of salt.

[Mugen]

A S&T for Splitter doesn't make any sense for PHX unless they're completely in love with him. Why give him a multi-year deal at 8-10mil per when they are in rebuilding mode? He's roughly the same age as Gortat, same level of skills, but at more years and more money.

A late first rounder or some other filler doesn't really make sense for PHX to do this deal considering that a) Gortat is an expiring b) they could likely get a lot more from him during the trade deadline.

Hard to imagine PHX being this dumb tbh....

[Chinook]

I think people are reading this wrong. This is a multi-team deal. The Spurs aren't giving up Splitter AND the first. They're giving up Splitter to a third team, who'd give the first to Phoenix. Then the Suns give Gortat to the Spurs.

It's possible that the Spurs and Suns aren't even the main players in this deal. This could all be part of a Aldridge to Chicago deal or something.

EDIT: I guess I was reading it wrong. Damn people using 4 instead of "for." I'd hate the deal as presently constructed. Absolutely hate it.

[DPG21920]

The Spurs are never going to have TD, Splitter and Gortat under contract at the same time.

Why tbh? As of now, Gortat makes the same as Boris/Bonner combined and expires the same time.

[spurspokesman]

For Splitter yes, but not for Diaw... he was huge in the playoffs.

This

[Mugen]

Yeah, there's no way the Spurs basically have four 7 footers on the same team next season. Not in today's NBA. If Gortat is coming then Splitter is gone.

[coyotes_geek]

Important to note that while the decision to trade Diaw for Gortat would be up to the Spurs, trading Splitter for Gortat is up to Splitter.

[BatManu20]

Gives the Spurs flexibility again next off-season.

This. That would be the main benefactor of this deal.

[DPG21920]

The Spurs are never going to have TD, Splitter and Gortat under contract at the same time.

So if they trade for Gortat using Boris/Filler, you think they S&T Tiago for something else or just let him walk?

[LakerHater]

From what I saw on twitter this guy who tweeted this is the same who inked Dwight to the Mavs. Which I guess is still a possibility but take it with a grain of salt.

Yeah its in the 2013 General Free Agent Signings/News and Trades Thread!

Dunno Why we have that thread it everyone makes a new thread evry time news pops up!

[timvp]

Why tbh?

Yeah, there's no way the Spurs basically have four 7 footers on the same team next season. Not in today's NBA. If Gortat is coming then Splitter is gone.

[temujin]

A S&T for Splitter doesn't make any sense for PHX unless they're completely in love with him. Why give him a multi-year deal at 8-10mil per when they are in rebuilding mode? He's roughly the same age as Gortat, same level of skills, but at more years and more money.

A late first rounder or some other filler doesn't really make sense for PHX to do this deal considering that a) Gortat is an expiring b) they could likely get a lot more from him during the trade deadline.

Hard to imagine PHX being this dumb tbh....

Well the Knicks just traded for one of the worst players in the league and his 22 M contract.....

[DPG21920]

Important to note that while the decision to trade Diaw for Gortat would be up to the Spurs, trading Splitter for Gortat is up to Splitter.

Exactly. Also, since Gortat is expiring, you are essentially trading Boris/Bonner for Gortat (assuming Bonner is the filler) and not adding extra money short or long term.

[TD 21]

-Gortat has one year and $7,727,280 left. Considering that Splitter's starting salary would likely be more than that and would extend multiple years, Gortat is the more valuable commodity.

Yeah, but a year from now they'd be in the same position with him that they're in with Splitter now. Granted, if they like him better, then maybe they wouldn't care to give him something in the neighborhood of 3/$25M.

C: Gortat
PF: Duncan
SF: Leonard
SG: Green
PG: Parker

Off the bench, AK47 can backup both forward spots. Ginobili can backup SG and any extra SF minutes. Joseph at PG. Backup center obviously filled by Duncan when Gortat is out.

On the one hand, I don't believe that Gortat and Duncan can play together on a consistent basis, since neither can guard PF's, other than in select match-ups . . . but on the other hand, Gortat is too good to limit to roughly 18 mpg backing up Duncan.

Still, I'd go with Kirilenko at PF, Duncan at C and Gortat and Diaw as the backup bigs. Or, just start either Gortat or Kirilenko depending on the match-up.

-Would it make sense to try to get Gortat AND Splitter? No, I don't think so. With so many small ball teams, that's 14-feet of center that would be watching from the sideline during too many series.

Agreed. Fifteen years ago it might have, but the way the game is played today, not a chance.

[Chinook]

So if they trade for Gortat using Boris/Filler, you think they S&T Tiago for something else or just let him walk?

Probably wait and see how it goes. By moving Diaw, they'd actually get a little cap space by letting Splitter walk. But a trade exception would be really valuable to them both throughout this season and during the draft next season.

[Mark in Austin]

hmmm. How is Gortat injury-wise? Looks like he only played 60 something games last year.

[DPG21920]

So if you trade for Gortat using Boris + Filler (say Bonner), what do you do with Tiago then?

[spursince#99]

So if they trade for Gortat using Boris/Filler, you think they S&T Tiago for something else or just let him walk?

That is actually a solid idea.

[coyotes_geek]

So if they trade for Gortat using Boris/Filler, you think they S&T Tiago for something else or just let him walk?

I'm sure they'd try to S&T him, but realistically Splitter would just go sign an offer sheet somewhere else and the Spurs wouldn't match.

[picnroll]

Trade Diaw for Gortat and S&T Splitter for Kirilenko. Ninny can then S&T Pekovic.

[ChumpDumper]

Was more excited about Ellis tbh.

[dougp]

Important to note that while the decision to trade Diaw for Gortat would be up to the Spurs, trading Splitter for Gortat is up to Splitter.

Splitter is a RFA since the Spurs put in an offer, so technically the Spurs still have his balls in their hands because they can match an offer if they want.

[DPG21920]

I'm sure they'd try to S&T him, but realistically Splitter would just go sign an offer sheet somewhere else and the Spurs wouldn't match.

I get having TD/Gortat/Splitter is a bit odd, but losing an asset for nothing? When you can have the best bench in the NBA?

[mudyez]

just posted something like "get rid of Splitter+Neal+Blair and get Oden, AK47, resign Manu" somwhere else...

switch Oden with Gortat and I'm one happy Spurs fan.