Spurs to sign Malcolm Thomas

[TheGoldStandard]

I bet he outperforms Ayres big time in limited minutes

[jesterbobman]

This thread is pretty great after discussion in the D league thread about signing him.

Agree that it seems like a now or never thing. While the level of play is significantly below the NBA, people putting up those numbers are hard to look away from. Thomas was an option as a limited, though useful player before he could shoot(Faried light PF) but being able to shoot means he can play a defined role. You don't have a choice to wait if other teams are looking into him, and at 33 and 15, there were probably a few teams looking.

[crc21209]

Good pickup, especially since he was beasting in the D-League. Better to pick him up now than to watch someone else come and snatch him up. Lets see what he can do now...

[DrunkTXLabrat]

this is super exciting news to me. i'll admit, i was beginning to lighten up about the spurs not picking up a 3/4 this offseason. but i have a lot of faith in thomas. he put up some impressive summer league numbers, this offseason, as well. and maybe this will give kawhi a little energy boost.

[will_spurs]

Even if he is assigned to the Toros, he has to sign some kind of contract with the Spurs first, right?

We don't need Baynes or De Colo right now because of the depth at their positions (they are respectively the 6th big and 7th guard...) so I wish he could get some playing time as SF to start lighting a fire under Green's ass.

[Bruno]

I really don't see Pop playing Thomas at the SF spot. AFAIK, he has never played that spot in his whole career.

While Spurs lack of depth at SF has been widely talked, Spurs situation at PF might be even more problematic. Spurs have Diaw but he can't play the whole game and he is now injured.
Aside of Diaw:
- Pairing Duncan with Splitter hasn't worked that well this year and Pop went away from it in some games when the matchup wasn't favorable (Knicks or Rockets).
- Ayres has been quite invisible with Spurs. He isn't a disaster but he just do so little on the court.
- Bonner is Bonner and Pop is playing him less and less.

If Spurs get a good PF, he could easily play 20 mpg. I'm not saying Thomas is that guy but there is clearly a roster opportunity for him.

[szkorhetz]

I really don't see Pop playing Thomas at the SF spot. AFAIK, he has never played that spot in his whole career.

While Spurs lack of depth at SF has been widely talked, Spurs situation at PF might be even more problematic. Spurs have Diaw but he can't play the whole game and he is now injured.
Aside of Diaw:
- Pairing Duncan with Splitter hasn't worked that well this year and Pop went away from it in some games when the matchup wasn't favorable (Knicks or Rockets).
- Ayres has been quite invisible with Spurs. He isn't a disaster but he just do so little on the court.
- Bonner is Bonner and Pop is playing him less and less.

If Spurs get a good PF, he could easily play 20 mpg. I'm not saying Thomas is that guy but there is clearly a roster opportunity for him.

Agreed. I think we should really try to get a deal done with the Kings. I truly think that Thompson is a real target for us, although I would jump out of my skin if we could get Anthony Randolph from Denver, while I still think Taj Gibson would be an outstanding fit.

[T Park]

Ayers is invisible when out there? One, it helps to actually play the guy first off.
Second, I'd say his improvement lately has been significant lately IE the Orlando game. Give the guy some damn minutes

[will_spurs]

I also wouldn't say Ayres has been invisible. He's starting to deliver/fit more and more, and not much is asked of him.

I thought Thomas was undersized to play the 4, and that's definitely not what the Spurs need.

[racm]

I also wouldn't say Ayres has been invisible. He's starting to deliver/fit more and more, and not much is asked of him.

I thought Thomas was undersized to play the 4, and that's definitely not what the Spurs need.

Yeah, Ayres is the second unit's garbage man of sorts. Someone has to rebound and protect the paint, because even if they're an offensive dynamo (with Mills/Belinelli/Ginobili/Diaw when healthy) that's a somewhat undersized lineup.

[mountainballer]

considering the weak rebounding, he could at least help a bit in this department.
I do like the signing. if he in fact improved his jump shot significantely, he could definitely find his niche in the NBA.
and it's not that there were so many options out there at this point of the season.

[exstatic]

I love the signing. He could be our version of Ibaka: a faceup big man who is a fierce weak side shot blocker.

Oh, and LOL, JHo.

[TheCerebral1]

The need for more athletism in the four and five should help. The possibility of Thomas making an impact seem slim to none, but there is a slim chance that something different may occur. One can only hope.

[Chinook]

I think they'll at least try him at the three. If he can stay with big SFs, he should be able to stick. The small-forward in the Spurs system really only needs to be able to space the floor on offense, which Thomas can do.

Really, how much different is he from Kawhi? Long, skinny combo-forwards who excel at rebounding. Kawhi is good as stealing, and Malcolm is good at blocking. Kawhi is probably a more diverse person from midrange while Thomas is looking better from distance. Not saying Thomas is as good as Leonard at all, but he is a three in the same mold.

[palangi]

I think they'll at least try him at the three. If he can stay with big SFs, he should be able to stick. The small-forward in the Spurs system really only needs to be able to space the floor on offense, which Thomas can do.

Really, how much different is he from Kawhi? Long, skinny combo-forwards who excel at rebounding. Kawhi is good as stealing, and Malcolm is good at blocking. Kawhi is probably a more diverse person from midrange while Thomas is looking better from distance. Not saying Thomas is as good as Leonard at all, but he is a three in the same mold.

I'm just happy to see us grab a 3 that has some height and length. at 6'9" we haven't had this in a while. we seem to play a lot of 6'6" kids here. this will help with the chandler parson types and kevin durrants. the length and height can hopefully be somewhat disruptive. especially against a parsons on his shot.

[Bruno]

Diaw won't miss games because of his injury, so it confirms that Thomas hasn't just been signed as a stop gap for an injury but that there is a legit interest in him from Spurs.

[SsKSpurs21]

I am beginning to wonder if thomas is being brought in to light a fire under jeff ayres or replace him all together. they are both 6'9''. ayres does have about 25 lbs on thomas but from those dleague clips thomas looks like an allstar.

[DPG21920]

Next Toros game is Thursday.

Malcom's 3pt stroke looks decent though his release is pretty slow. Should be pretty effective when playing small ball PF.

I agree. He's pretty athletic and fluid, but his release is very slow. Even most of his post moves come from the waist area and up, which might be an issue too. Slow release, but looks pretty solid. Seemingly likes to operate in the post and can elevate, but doesn't really have an arc to his shot. Nice prospect and looks improved from the last time we saw him.

[Chinook]

I am beginning to wonder if thomas is being brought in to light a fire under jeff ayres or replace him all together. they are both 6'9''. ayres does have about 25 lbs on thomas but from those dleague clips thomas looks like an allstar.

I doubt the team is anywhere near as disappointed in Ayres as many on this site are. However, I think Thomas could pass him if he proves himself. On paper, he and Jeff do pretty much the same things. One of them may end up starting by the end of the year.

[DPG21920]

Why do you say that? The Tiago & Tim pairing worked beautifully last year and Tiago is still playing damn well this year. Tim is looking better, the Spurs are winning so why would Tiago lose his starting job?

[Chinook]

Why do you say that? The Tiago & Tim pairing worked beautifully last year and Tiago is still playing damn well this year. Tim is looking better, the Spurs are winning so why would Tiago lose his starting job?

The Spurs were winning with Blair. I like Splitter, but he and Duncan haven't been as good this season. I don't think the team feels comfortable dictating matchups. So Pop will start Diaw or another four for Splitter in many series. Thomas and Ayres as possible to preserve the second unit.

[will_spurs]

Just check Baynes and De Colo's numbers with the Toros on Sunday before getting too excited about Thomas potential production in the NBA

[Darkwaters]

Just check Baynes and De Colo's numbers with the Toros on Sunday before getting too excited about Thomas potential production in the NBA

Never heard of them. But those are some amazing stats. Sign them now!

[benefactor]

They will stay with/go away from the Splitter/Duncan duo depending on match ups. That's what the interest in AK-47 was about and what the Spurs are looking for in Thomas. Lets not forget the real reason why Splitter was re-signed...to help fill the void in the paint when Duncan leaves not necessarily to play with Duncan(though I expect they will still play a lot together).

[DPG21920]

The Spurs were winning with Blair. I like Splitter, but he and Duncan haven't been as good this season. I don't think the team feels comfortable dictating matchups. So Pop will start Diaw or another four for Splitter in many series. Thomas and Ayres as possible to preserve the second unit.

They were regular season winning, not WCF/Finals winning. To me that is a big difference. While that pairing has not been as good this year, it's still been incredible at defending the paint and with Duncan seemingly rounding into form, it appears as if the pairing is quite sound.