Summer League Thoughts: Spurs vs. Bobcats - July 12, 2013

[TXstbobcat]

That would be huge for the spurs if Joseph can take the back up point guard spot behind Parker full time. We wouldn't need to rotate De Colo, Neal, and Manu at that spot like a lot of last year.

[toki9]

Well, De Colo said that Spurs told him to shut up but nothing too bad:
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...=1#post6646850

Now, I don't he is playing SL as some sort of punishment. He is playing because Spurs want to see him at the SG spot and there might have some hidden motives like showcasing him for a trade.

Thank you, Bruno. That second interview was much more encouraging than the first. I really hope he figures it out because he does seem to have a lot of potential and can be really fun to watch.

[timvp]

After the game, Udoka side the Spurs view Thomas as a small ball four

I just don't see that being an option. Thomas at his absolute ceiling on defense as a PF is Bonner. And he's years away from even that level.

You gotta make him a small forward. Hopefully we see that in upcoming summer league games.

[toki9]

After the game, Udoka side the Spurs view Thomas as a small ball four

That's insane and positively Nellie-esque...

[Chinook]

I hope Udoka's comments don't mean that the Spurs believe he can't make the transition to the three. Because he doesn't have much more of an NBA future than Denmon does if he can't play against small-forwards.

[playblair]

smh thomas just dominated a top 5 pick ................ @ pf............... stop hating..............

[Chinook]

^If the Spurs sign Thomas, I'm sure timvp or Kori will let you change your screen name.

[K-State Spur]

After the game, Udoka side the Spurs view Thomas as a small ball four

I just don't see that being an option. Thomas at his absolute ceiling on defense as a PF is Bonner. And he's years away from even that level.

You gotta make him a small forward. Hopefully we see that in upcoming summer league games.

I don't think there's any hope for him as a SF, doesn't move well enough.

He's not a legit 6'7, but his standing reach is a legit 8'8 (about the same as Blake Griffin) and he's thick. At tOSU, he was pretty non-existent on the offensive glass (possibly because he spent so much time hanging beyond the arc), but his defensive rebound rate was solid. When he did play exclusively in the post as a frosh, albeit in lesser minutes, his rebound rates were excellent.

I think his ceiling could be a more skilled version of Blair - and there's value in that off the bench in the right matchups.

[playblair]

I don't think there's any hope for him as a SF, doesn't move well enough.

He's not a legit 6'7, but his standing reach is a legit 8'8 (about the same as Blake Griffin) and he's thick. At tOSU, he was pretty non-existent on the offensive glass (possibly because he spent so much time hanging beyond the arc), but his defensive rebound rate was solid. When he did play exclusively in the post as a frosh, albeit in lesser minutes, his rebound rates were excellent.

I think his ceiling could be a more skilled version of Blair - and there's value in that off the bench in the right matchups.

thomas = blair with 3 point range .................... thomas = steal......................

[Chinook]

Wrong thread.

[dbestpro]

If we can play Blair at PF after he stopped focusing on rebounding then we can play Thomas at PF. What I really want to know is or will CoJo run any pick and rolls? To me this is the biggest empty space in his game and what the Spurs do.

[timvp]

his defensive rebound rate was solid.

Of the power forward prospects in the draft, Thomas had the lowest defensive rebounding rate.

When he did play exclusively in the post as a frosh, albeit in lesser minutes, his rebound rates were excellent.

He was slightly better as a freshman but still bad.

I think his ceiling could be a more skilled version of Blair - and there's value in that off the bench in the right matchups.

A smaller, worse rebounding version of Blair at power forward? I just can't be on board with that.

At least let him try and fail at small forward in the summer league before relegating him to a bigman spot, IMO.

[K-State Spur]

damn, i pretty much got owned there - misread/misapplied stats.

still think 3 is a non-starter for him. little more than a situational matchup guy at 4 - but can live with that from 50+ pick.

[Jwash_1986]

smh thomas just dominated a top 5 pick ................ @ pf............... stop hating..............

Real talk he just did that. 80% of there roster I wouldn't be suprised was top 10 picks. I know of like 2 or 3 on there Sumer league squad that is. Thomas just needs to play his game. He's a ballet and I hope spurs don't go around trying to do stupid like stick him in the corner for 3's and that it, that!!

[skulls138]

Apples and Oranges.. Bonner gets destroyed if he's out in the perimeter.. Thomas playing the 4 was just to get him out there and play and shoot.

True but Bonner did well against Dwight Howard and Zach Randolph. If Bonner is the apple, its a lot bigger and shinier than Thomas's orange and I think Bonner's coming back even better.

[rjv]

After the game, Udoka side the Spurs view Thomas as a small ball four

I just don't see that being an option. Thomas at his absolute ceiling on defense as a PF is Bonner. And he's years away from even that level.

You gotta make him a small forward. Hopefully we see that in upcoming summer league games.

that only works against GS, miami in some spots, denver maybe from time to time. why would we get a player for situations only ? this isn't a bullpen.

[SilverSpur]

Shouldn't have a 6'7 guy 225 guarding C's and PF's..

Maybe they're doing this to toughen him up. So when he guards small forwards it will be easier

[coyotes_geek]

Maybe they're doing this to toughen him up. So when he guards small forwards it will be easier

No matter how tough he gets he's still going to be way too slow to guard small forwards.

Frankly, I don't think Thomas is an NBA caliber player.

[wildbill2u]

Ja

Thanks timvp, Chinook, TheyCallMePro and Texas_Ranger for their thoughts.

If Thomas keep producing, Spurs should consider signing him with the rest of their MLE to a long term contract and spend the first year to transition his game and his body from PF to SF.

If Thomas is just a bulkier version of James Anderson, you might give him a shot to make the team for a year of off and on D-league stints. You don't give a project like him a long term contract. You look for something better down the line.

[Marcus Bryant]

I think Thomas' potential upside is a bench 3, spot up shooter. It was one Summerleague game but he did seem to have a clue when it came to playing within the offense and making an effort to find the open man and not just letting it fly every time. There's plenty of NBA vets who haven't figured that out.

That being said, he'll have to prove that he can defend the 3. If he can stay with his man and contest shots, he may have a chance. I did like that his game seems to be about playing team ball.

Again, one game. We'll see more tomorrow night.

[Marcus Bryant]

Also his shot release is interesting. He lets it go at a high point but it's kind of a line drive trajectory. There's been some good shooters like that in the league. All depends on the elevation. Michael Redd comes to mind with respect to this quality.

[Marcus Bryant]

To toughen him up on the defensive end you put him on the opposing 2, not the 4. The question mark for him will be his ability to step out on the perimeter and defend. I've heard his footspeed is slow, but as long as his lateral quickness and ability to elevate to contest shots is there he could be alright at the 3.

Interesting that Spurs may be looking at him as a small ball 4...further proof that Bonner's days are numbered if I am reading the tea leaves correctly. Of course, he has one year left on his contract so they may just be prospectively planning ahead.