Diaw reaches deal with spurs - 3 years/$22mil

[024]

A year ago people were saying that the Spurs couldn't stay the same and expect to get back to the Finals. They were wrong.

And in 2008, Spurs stayed the same only to be whooped in the WCF.

Using the full MLE presents no risk next year. Either the player helps or he stays at the end of the bench and the Spurs carry the same roster in the playoffs. You rather have Holt put that money in his pocket? This is Duncan's money.

[Ice009]

I can't believe so many people think that he was overpaid.

Look at what other players are getting, doesn't make sense to me that a lot of you think he was overpaid. If he had better stats, he's probably the finals co-MVP or MVP. He had a huge impact in the finals. Splitter was huge in the earlier rounds, so I definitely agree with the people that said he was also just as important, and that's why I thought that Diaw should get close to what Splitter gets.

I thought the minimum to get him back would be 8M, but I feel like he did the Spurs a favor with this contract. I just don't see how you guys think he was overpaid.

[Ice009]

Yeah, they replaced Neal and Blair with Belinelli and Ayres.

Belinelli was huge in helping the Spurs get the first seed, so I disagree with you there. Ayres, I have no idea why the signed him. If the Spurs need another roster spot or two, they should look at cutting Ayres outright if they can't find someone to trade him to.

And in 2008, Spurs stayed the same only to be whooped in the WCF.

Using the full MLE presents no risk next year. Either the player helps or he stays at the end of the bench and the Spurs carry the same roster in the playoffs. You rather have Holt put that money in his pocket? This is Duncan's money.

I did not want the Spurs to stand pat in the 2007 off-season. I wanted them to try and reload, but I will say that that team didn't have anywhere near as much depth as they have now.

There was also huge moves by other teams that they didn't account for when they stood pat. The Lakers pulled the bull trade for Gasol and with Boston trading for Garnett and Allen, it put them down a little bit, so if you take away those two moves, Spurs might have still been the best team in the NBA (even with an injured Manu). Having said that, the Spurs have a lot more depth this year than they did back then, but I think they should still try to improve the team as much as possible, even if it is a couple of smaller moves.

[Mel_13]

And in 2008, Spurs stayed the same only to be whooped in the WCF.

Using the full MLE presents no risk next year. Either the player helps or he stays at the end of the bench and the Spurs carry the same roster in the playoffs. You rather have Holt put that money in his pocket? This is Duncan's money.

So it can go either way? I thought so.

As to the MLE. Use it if there's a player available that improves the team. No reason to use just because you have it. Plus using it does present risks for next as it will eat into available cap to get a potentially much better player.

[Mel_13]

Belinelli was huge in helping the Spurs get the first seed, so I disagree with you there. Ayres, I have no idea why the signed him. If the Spurs need another roster spot or two, they should look at cutting Ayres outright if they can't find someone to trade him to.

I'm not going to get into the Neal/Beli thing, especially since I agree with you. If we're talking about last summer, however, the vast majority of folks would have characterized Beli/Ayres for Neal/Blair as a lateral move at best.

[MaNu4Tres]

Yeah, they replaced Neal and Blair with Belinelli, Ayres, and playing time for Patty Mills.

FIFY. Spurs made out like bandits. 13/14 Ayres vs. 12/13 Blair was a wash. Beli + Patty >> Neal

[Ice009]

I'm not going to get into the Neal/Beli thing, especially since I agree with you. If we're talking about last summer, however, the vast majority of folks would have characterized Beli/Ayres for Neal/Blair as a lateral move at best.

Yeah, fair enough on that point. Before the season started, I would agree with what you've said.

Some people did also say that Belinelli isn't the Neal replacement, as we had Mills on the roster that could possibly do that job with Belinelli being another roster addition rather than a replacement.

[Knoxxx]

Maybe we can trade Ayres to the Lakers for a draft pick. :-)

[Splits]

Maybe we can trade Ayres to the Lakers for a draft pick. :-)

no, they traded em all for Nashy

[Mel_13]

FIFY. Spurs made out like bandits. 13/14 Ayres vs. 12/13 Blair was a wash. Beli + Patty >> Neal

Yeah, fair enough on that point. Before the season started, I would agree with what you've said.

Some people did also say that Belinelli isn't the Neal replacement, as we had Mills on the roster that could possibly do that job with Belinelli being another roster addition rather than a replacement.

Mills was behind Joseph in the 2013 playoff rotation. There wasn't a single person that had the slightest clue that Patty was going dramatically improve his fitness and earn those minutes behind Parker.

Neal was functioning as the 4th wing as Jackson's minutes were gradually reduced and he was finally cut. Beli took those minutes as the 4th wing.

Mills took the minutes that were up for grabs behind Parker. Minutes that were shuffled between DeColo, Cojo, Mills, and Neal last season.

[MaNu4Tres]

Mills was behind Joseph in the 2013 playoff rotation. There wasn't a single person that had the slightest clue that Patty was going dramatically improve his fitness and earn those minutes behind Parker.

Neal was functioning as the 4th wing as Jackson's minutes were gradually reduced and he was finally cut. Beli took those minutes as the 4th wing.

Mills took the minutes that were up for grabs behind Parker. Minutes that were shuffled between DeColo, Cojo, Mills, and Neal last season.

Mills replaced Neal.

Belinelli replaced Jackson's regular season minutes + was an extra insurance piece added.

Ayres replaced Blair. IMO

Most of Neal's playing time as a Spur was at the back up point guard slot playing with Manu. Mills replaced that.

Most of Joseph's minutes from 11/12-12/13' came from Pop pulling Neal from the game due to this defensive bone-head mishaps.

[Mel_13]

Mills replaced Neal.

Belinelli replaced Jackson's regular season minutes + was an extra insurance piece added.

Ayres replaced Blair.

Most of Neal's playing time as a Spur was at the back up point guard slot playing with Manu. Mills replaced that. Most of Joseph's minutes came from Pop pulling Neal from the game due to this defensive bone-head mishaps.

We disagree on Neal/Mills. No big deal.

[exstatic]

wow that is damn cheap compared to other FA deals so far. he was finals co-MVP as far as I'm concerned.

It's for the same reason Anderson fell all the way to us in the draft. Other teams can't figure out how to use players like Bobo and SlowMo.

[MaNu4Tres]

We disagree on Neal/Mills. No big deal.

No big deal. But do you honestly think Mills didn't replace Neal's role?

Maybe at the beginning of the year, you couldn't tell if Spurs improved or not on paper.

Truth is they did improve, eternally. Thanks to hard work from Boris, Leonard, Splitter, Danny, Manu and Patty ( all of these players improved).

I just honestly think Patty was the only one out of that cluster that was essentially an added piece because he wasn't part of the rotation the previous year. Neal used to own his role and spot.

[lefty]

Great news



Our best French player

[FireMicoHalili]

Damn he got paid

[Mel_13]

No big deal. But do you honestly think Mills didn't replace Neal's role?

Yes. I believe that Beli took the role that Neal occupied by the end of 2012-13 season as the 4th wing and that Mills took the minutes behind Parker that were occupied by four different players over the course of 2012-13.

It definitely doesn't matter enough to go through game logs to try and prove it, but that's how I recall the way those players were used in 2012-13.

[MaNu4Tres]

Yes. I believe that Beli took the role that Neal occupied by the end of 2012-13 season as the 4th wing and that Mills took the minutes behind Parker that were occupied by four different players over the course of 2012-13.

It definitely doesn't matter enough to go through game logs to try and prove it, but that's how I recall the way those players were used in 2012-13.

No biggie. Just happy Spurs brought back the band for another run.

[Mel_13]

No biggie. Just happy Spurs brought back the band for another run.

Same here. Looking forward to Opening Night.

[Old School 44]

It's for the same reason Anderson fell all the way to us in the draft. Other teams can't figure out how to use players like Bobo and SlowMo.

So true, but outside of the Spurs great system, we have an ace in the whole with Bobo. Something no other team has...and that's having his best bud in his ear. Great signing!

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

A bit of an overpay for a 32yo, but we HAD to keep him and the money is irrelevant given that we couldn't have done anything better with it. Very glad to have him back!

He deserve the same as Manu IMO. He is critical when the Spurs matchup with OKC and Miami.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

He deserve the same as Manu IMO. He is critical when the Spurs matchup with OKC and Miami.

Yeah, I retract my "slight over-payment" comment, even though I was clear that I only thought it was slight and the money didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

When I read 22/3 with 3rd year only partially guaranteed for 3mil, my mind went to "so he's getting 9.5mil/yr for first two season", which does seem like a small overpay for an old guy, but my stupid brain was wrong. Of course he's basically getting ~7mil/yr, which is what I figured he'd get (I said 15/2 in other threads). My bad.

[024]

I'm not going to get into the Neal/Beli thing, especially since I agree with you. If we're talking about last summer, however, the vast majority of folks would have characterized Beli/Ayres for Neal/Blair as a lateral move at best.

I don't think a "vast majority of folks" thought Belinelli replacing Neal was a lateral move. Most everyone welcomed Belinelli replacing Neal. Spurs made changes to the bench in 2014 and it worked out. Letting Neal and Blair go opened up more time for Mills and Diaw. Belinelli contributed well in the regular season.

Spurs won't have the same intense motivation next season to reach the finals again. They played out of their minds this season. The NBA landscape is always changing. A Gasol type trade can happen at any time. Standing still is a huge risk.

[024]

So it can go either way? I thought so.

Spurs haven't managed to repeat yet, so no, it doesn't go both ways.

[Mel_13]

Spurs haven't managed to repeat yet, so no, it doesn't go both ways.

Moving goalposts. Not gonna play.