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Good
Now we can play in pre-season, season and two playoff rounds and go fishing again
-De Colo had a rough start to summer league but RC isn't worried about him. They've watched him all year long and they are aware of what he can do.
-Baynes is a big, physical player who the Spurs like because he goes hard after rebounds. He also has value because he matches up with Dwight Howard well.
-On DeShaun Thomas: Pop is going to put demands on him that will force him to play differently than he did at Ohio State. He can score -- and score from a lot of different places on the court.
-More Thomas: "His at ude and his eagerness to learn and grow has been overwhelming over the first week. A lot of things will need to go right for him to maximize his opportunity but there is a hole in our roster behind Kawhi right now. We're looking forward to what DeShaun brings and we like his approach so far."
-(I think it's very notable that RC admits that the team is missing a backup small forward. It'll be interesting to see if the Spurs now view Thomas as the answer to the hole or whether they'll try to bring in a veteran.)
-(The good news for Thomas is that RC is already talking about him as if he's part of the team. Coming into the summer league, the Spurs probably were leaning toward trying to convince him to go to Europe. Now after the AK47 wooing fell through and Thomas's strong start in summer league, it looks like the Spurs may view him as the answer at backup SF.)
-He hopes Belinelli will be a good fit. People who know him in the league think he will be a good fit. His skillset fits very well within the Spurs system. His relationship and familiarity with Manu and TP will help ease his transition to the team.
Good
Now we can play in pre-season, season and two playoff rounds and go fishing again
Yeah, options are running thin at the backup SF so I wouldn't mind Thomas getting the last spot.
I wonder if they are still set on resigning Gary Neal. We only have 1 guaranteed spot left and for some reason, I see the Spurs keeping that spot open when the season starts.
and....game 6 still stings like a ...
I think the Deshaun Thomas situation is good. A young scoring SF with potential to grow and who could be receptive to coaching. What worries me is that the Spurs aren't at a stage where they will depend upon "potential". They need talent to contribute right away and the backup SF/small ball PF position is a key one and a hole as far as the current Spurs are concerned. In that situation it makes sense for the Spurs to keep their search on for an established backup for Kawhi. They are overloaded at the guard position and something has got to give.
Thomas should be allowed to hone his defensive skills in D-League and be a stop-gap over the season just as Cory Joseph was and based on his development could be slowly integrated.
But the Spurs should try their damnest and hardest to trade Bonner along with either of De Colo or Mills for an asset to shore up the backup SF situation. And confidently hand over reins to Joseph as backup PG.
^ yep, they def will try to get a vet sf before the season starts and thats their first option imo
if they cant get one, they'll still try to take adv of opportunities during the season but thomas will have all the opportunity to get some mins in the regular season
This man knows his .
The at ude thing is awesome -- just as important as his scoring. Defensively, he may turn out to be the Gary Neal of forwards, but just like with Gary, it's great to have guys who can come out on the court and score the out of the ball.
I feel like we'll probably be okay starting our season with our current roster plus Thomas, and we should have some options at the trade deadline based on what happens.
I'm still not sure we'd rather have DeColo or Mills on the roster than Gary, but it would be hard to give both Marco and Gary minutes in the rotation as backup shooters anyway, so it wouldn't be awful sticking with what we have.
While I'm not trying to say I disagree, I don't think it's fair to compare CoJo to DeShaun Thomas, who looks a lot more NBA ready than Cory, who should've stayed at least another year.
Maybe. But it's also of note that CoJo has always had an NBA position. Thomas does not.
An obstacle like that can totally break down a career before it starts. So it's hard to call Thomas "NBA-ready". While he might have more NBA-ready skills than CoJo did at the moment, it's still uncertain that he'll be able to see the floor at all. If Thomas can overcome this hurdle then he'll be able to carve out a nice career. If he can't then he'll be off to Europe very quickly - where I have no doubt that he'd carve out a nice career as well. The guy can play - but where? And which league?
The one probably I see with Thomas being added to the roster is you have to open up 2 roster spots for him. You cannot go into the season thinking he will be your primary backup at the 3 so you will probably need to still get a veteran who can play the 3 regularly. I would prefer to see DT in Austin for a season and maybe a player like Linas Klieza (1st FA 3 who came to mind) added for that backup sf spot.
If Thomas can work like on the Spurs team defense concept, he has chance. He's got an NBA body and he's physical enough to play adequate D. He's just painfully slow. Mind over matter. (He's got the O, that's for sure.)
As likeable as he is, I don't see Mills contributing. It's time to consider options to free up that spot. Mills has no trade value, but you have to draw the line at giving anything up (even a 2d round) to move him. No more Scola's.
I just don't see what position he (Thomas) would play because so far he is too slow to play SF and too short to play PF. So where would he play?
For the first time in many years, the Spurs are well below the tax threshhold. They can simply waive Mills if they need to create a roster spot.
Lets be realistic. There are many sf's he could guard with no issues since alot cannot shoot the 3pt shot and DT can be given space to cut off any drives. Then there are many sf's who can only shoot the 3 pt shot but have equal or worse footspeed than DT. Now if you are referring to players like Rudy Gay, LBJ, Durant, Melo's of the NBA, then yes he will have major problems. But, who doesnt with these guys?
Do the Spurs make a habit of waiving players? I don't think so, that is what Dallas does and look how far it's got them.
Tres bien.
They've always had the luxury tax threshold as a significant barrier. Waiving one player to sign a different player in most recent seasons would have had tax consequences. This season is different.
Last edited by Mel_13; 07-16-2013 at 09:47 AM.
Translation? Was he slurring his words?
But what people failing to realize he's not going to be matched up agasint the starters. He's going agasint the other teams 2nd unit and I believe he can hold his own. And I like him as a stretch 4 to kind of like a Mike Miller type.
I am just curious why people say Thomas is too slow to play SF. Yes, he doesn't have Kawhi, Durant, James speed. But we are talking about him being the Backup SF. How many backup SF in the league are super quick, next to none. He has average NBA speed IMO for a SF. Should try to get faster yes. But even at this point, I don't see a problem with defending most of the backup SF in NBA given some tutelage and coaching.
Translation: "NBA GM's shouldn't let Nando's rough start dissuade them from making me a trade offer for the guy."
Or more accurately "Please don't laugh at us when we offer De Colo in a trade"
if deshawn thomas does not make the team, do we lose his rights? he looks
good for a rookie.
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