so now what??

[cd98]

Why would Gasol take a big pay cut to come to the Spurs? He is got two rings already, without ever getting a FMVP or MVP, more rings would not be enhancing his legacy, a big contract is what he is looking for at this point. It is the same situation for Chris Bosh, does 2 more rings behind Wade/LeBron do much for him? No, a max contract is much more desirable.

Having said that, worst case scenario for the Spurs is Gasol on OKC, Bosh on HOU, two incredibly nasty teams. A full health Ibaka may have already beaten the Spurs. Trade Perkins for Gasol is a gigantic upgrade! Same with HOU if they replace Asik and Lin for Bosh's outside shooting. We can laugh at Brooks and McHale's of the world all we want, but at some point they will look at Spurs minute management and make their stars play less than 40 minutes a game during the regular season, use the bench a bit more pick up a few plays (PNR with Westbrook/Durant, Howard/Harden, nothing fancy) other than ISO, and with enough talents they will get over the hump. Remember Pop was a very average coach back in 1999, until you get the respect of the management you can not do things like rest starters and take a loss in the process. A lot of what other coaches are not doing, is simply because they do not have the same leverage as Pop does.

Age and injury, no matter how well Pop manage minutes, is also bound to happen at some point. As a Spurs fan I am 100% satisfied, anything extra from here on is just gravy. But I think next season is heavily dependent on where Bosh/Gasol/even Boozer of the world lands. Boozer is a joke at 16 million but if you pick him up for next to nothing, it is a huge upgrade for any team.

Gasol would come to the best team with the best chance of winning, a hall of fame coach, Euro friendly offense, and the best lockerroom in the NBA. A team with no egos where everyone genuinely likes each other.

[xmas1997]

Gasol would come to the best team with the best chance of winning, a hall of fame coach, Euro friendly offense, and the best lockerroom in the NBA. A team with no egos where everyone genuinely likes each other.

Yes, in a perfect world he would.
Actually, if he is as intelligent as Beli was when he opted to come here last year, and the money isn't that big a factor, then he would choose the Spurs just like Beli did.

[tholdren]

Start identifying Plan B for if/when Gasol passes on the Spurs, and wait on Melo.

If Gasol passes on Spurs, sign McRoberts, keep Baynes, and let Bonner walk. If Gasol joins Spurs, withdraw QO to Byanes (unless they can move/waive Ayres's 1.8M), and sign Bonner to conserve the stretch bigman option.

I think this is a mistake. Why would you cut Baynes? For as much as people talk about SPUR type players, he should be in the forefront. He's young, he does what he is told, is coachable, and has no ego and shows improvement throughout the season. In addition, we need a young player to fill in as capable once TD goes away. He's shown that he's earned a spot. Get rid of Bonner, waive Ayers, doesn't matter, Baynes will eventually be what we need in a "tough" player.

[CGD]

I think this is a mistake. Why would you cut Baynes? For as much as people talk about SPUR type players, he should be in the forefront. He's young, he does what he is told, is coachable, and has no ego and shows improvement throughout the season. In addition, we need a young player to fill in as capable once TD goes away. He's shown that he's earned a spot. Get rid of Bonner, waive Ayers, doesn't matter, Baynes will eventually be what we need in a "tough" player.

I like Baynes, but if the Spurs land Gasol I like the different dimension and options that Bonner brings more. If the team adds Gasol, spacing gets complicated. Diaw's 3 ball, while improved, isn't consistent enough to draw out the other team's bigman, not to mention the Spurs feature him as a creator for the 2nd unit so he's not just camping out on the arc. The stretch 4 doesn't have to be Bonner, but unless the Spurs can do a sign-and-trade for a McRoberts type their options are limits since they'd have used the full MLE on Gasol.

[DrunkTXLabrat]

Get rid of Ayers! Trade him and a 2016 1st that reverts back to the spurs if it's outside of the lottery. Bogdan Bogdanovic, then sign Bertans.

[benstanfield]

Is Gasol going to start over Splitter, the team's best front court defender? So MLE terrible defense guy will start over 9m dollar, younger guy?

Or are people thinking he's going to take a large paycut to come off the bench, because he was so happy when Dantoni didn't play him?

[Baam]

Is Gasol going to start over Splitter, the team's best front court defender? So MLE terrible defense guy will start over 9m dollar, younger guy?

Or are people thinking he's going to take a large paycut to come off the bench, because he was so happy when Dantoni didn't play him?

exactly, btw TP could help with the recruting as he's friend with Pau but it doesn't make much sense as constructed... They'd have to trade Splitter and even then it'd be a bad fit to have him start next to Tim...

[Splits]

Same with HOU if they replace Asik and Lin for Bosh's outside shooting.

He's a career 31% 3pt shooter.

[Vash StampedE]

fify

My thoughts, exactly. If NBA fans think they've seen the best basketball in recent years, wait till Gasol comes to the Spurs.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Parker/Kawhi/Tiago + 2 1st round picks for S&T LeBron/Cole.

[Mr. Body]

If Gasol comes I think something would have to be done with Splitter, unfortunately.

[Kineto]

Gasol for the MLE is not gonna happen. No way that he come here for less than half the money he could get elsewhere...

My dream interseason would be :

sign Bonner for the vet. min
sign Bo McCaled for part of the MLE.
sign-and-trade with the hornets for McRoberts, 18M/3y for Joseph+Ayers+asset (2nd roud pick, eurostash...) and trade exception (maybe with a 3rd team like Phily or Orlando)

Parker, McCalleb, Mills
Green, Ginobilli, Belinelli
Leonard, Anderson, Daye
Duncan, Diaw, Bonner
Splitter, McRoberts, Baynes

Deepest spurs team ever

[TheTruth]

fify

Hey

[Dre_7]

Gasol for the MLE is not gonna happen. No way that he come here for less than half the money he could get elsewhere...

My dream interseason would be :

sign Bonner for the vet. min
sign Bo McCaled for part of the MLE.
sign-and-trade with the hornets for McRoberts, 18M/3y for Joseph+Ayers+asset (2nd roud pick, eurostash...) and trade exception (maybe with a 3rd team like Phily or Orlando)

Parker, McCalleb, Mills
Green, Ginobilli, Belinelli
Leonard, Anderson, Daye
Duncan, Diaw, Bonner
Splitter, McRoberts, Baynes

Deepest spurs team ever

With Mills being out several months I really don't want to see the Spurs trade away Joesph without getting a quilty back-up PG in return.