Gobert anyone?????

[hater]

Gobert and Adams. Western Conference Allstar Team starting bigman lineup for the next 7 years

[TD 21]

Gobert slipping was at least a mild surprise. They had already promised LJC, so their hands were tied. It would have been nice to get two young defenders out of that draft, though.

Teams make promises a break them all the time. Besides, a promise is really only contingent on the draft more or less going according to plan, which it pretty much never does. If someone unexpectedly falls (which always happens), all bets are off.

They'd have been fools to not go with Gobert over Jean-Charles, considering the upside of the former and the lack of depth at his position post Duncan. It's not even Splitter's age or mileage so much as it is his lack of stamina that's most concerning.

[exstatic]

Teams make promises a break them all the time. Besides, a promise is really only contingent on the draft more or less going according to plan, which it pretty much never does. If someone unexpectedly falls (which always happens), all bets are off.

They'd have been fools to not go with Gobert over Jean-Charles, considering the upside of the former and the lack of depth at his position post Duncan. It's not even Splitter's age or mileage so much as it is his lack of stamina that's most concerning.

Spurs arent other teams. If they make a promise, they keep it. Pop's ripped agents for backing out of verbal commitments (Arn Tellem, are you listening?) to not want to be a hypocrite by doing the same.

[TD 21]

Spurs arent other teams. If they make a promise, they keep it. Pop's ripped agents for backing out of verbal commitments (Arn Tellem, are you listening?) to not want to be a hypocrite by doing the same.

Just like they promised Splitter and Blair, because I'm sure they knew they were going to be available at those spots.

[exstatic]

Just like they promised Splitter and Blair, because I'm sure they knew they were going to be available at those spots.

???? Neither of them had a promise.

[TD 21]

???? Neither of them had a promise.

Exactly. Chances are, two others did though.

[Chinook]

Exactly. Chances are, two others did though.

Yeah, like Capela did this year. It's one thing for a promised player to get picked higher. But going back on a promise destroys credibility. The Spurs not only like having that trust with overseas players. They need it. It's one of their few advantages.

[TD 21]

Yeah, like Capela did this year. It's one thing for a promised player to get picked higher. But going back on a promise destroys credibility. The Spurs not only like having that trust with overseas players. They need it. It's one of their few advantages.

Not when you've built up as much credibility as the Spurs have. Like I said, it's not a big deal anyway, since it happens regularly.

I don't buy for a second that, if the right player fell, they'd pass on them just because they promised someone else, as they very well might have in the two examples I cited. Remember, this is the same organization that leaked false medical information about Batum, to attempt to scare teams out of drafting him.

Teams will do what they have to do to get good players.

You think they make a promise every year? That's a well you don't want to go to very often, or you WILL get trapped into taking a lesser player at some point. I would guess that somewhere maybe every 3-4 years they make one promise to keep a player in the draft. LJC was one. Mahinmi was another. I really can't think of another confirmed case, other than Capela, like Chinook said.

Not necessarily. That's just it though; we don't know when they do/don't. They very well might have in the two examples I cited. There's been years where we've seen reports, but there's tons of false information around the draft every year and they're known as the most difficult organization to get information out of.

[exstatic]

Exactly. Chances are, two others did though.

You think they make a promise every year? That's a well you don't want to go to very often, or you WILL get trapped into taking a lesser player at some point. I would guess that somewhere maybe every 3-4 years they make one promise to keep a player in the draft. LJC was one. Mahinmi was another. I really can't think of another confirmed case, other than Capela, like Chinook said.

[exstatic]

Not when you've built up as much credibility as the Spurs have. Like I said, it's not a big deal anyway, since it happens regularly.

I don't buy for a second that, if the right player fell, they'd pass on them just because they promised someone else, as they probably did in the two examples I cited. Remember, this is the same organization that leaked false medical information about Batum, to attempt to scare teams out of drafting him.

Teams will do what they have to do to get good players.

So? That s over other teams, NOT a player or agent. The Spurs would NEVER do that without completely buy in from the agent and player in question.

You really fail to understand the credibility that the Spurs have in Europe, and how badly that would be damaged by lying to just one player/agent combo one time.

[TD 21]

So? That s over other teams, NOT a player or agent.

You really fail to understand the credibility that the Spurs have in Europe, and how badly that would be damaged by lying to just one player/agent combo one time.

The point is, they're not incapable of supposed unethical behavior themselves, so cut the holier than thou .

I don't buy for a second that, for the right player, they wouldn't go back on a promise.

[exstatic]

The point is, they're not incapable of supposed unethical behavior themselves, so cut the holier than thou .

I don't buy for a second that, for the right player, they wouldn't go back on a promise.

You can believe whatever you want.

Oh, and it was Batum's agent that floated that story, not the Spurs. I went and checked.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=3454367

[TD 21]

You can believe whatever you want.

Oh, and it was Batum's agent that floated that story, not the Spurs. I went and checked.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=3454367

Don't patronize me.

That doesn't say or suggest his agent floated the story. In fact, his agent attempted to downplay the severity of it.

http://www.clubspurs.com/spurs-trade...ise-t6795.html

[Chinook]

The whole point is that the Spurs value their credibility with international players. When you break a promise, it can have major effects on a player's livelihood. Who knows where LJC would have fallen to had the Spurs not picked him? It's very probable that he would not have gotten pick in the first round. So by breaking their promise, the Spurs would have cost him $2 Million guaranteed. It's a big deal. Agents do not take kindly to teams costing their clients money, especially since those players had the chance to back out of the draft and get picked by another team the next year.

That doesn't mean that the Spurs would NEVER take a player over someone they made a promise to. But it would have to be a prospect like Noel, and not Gobert. And even if it did happen, I would be the Spurs would do their best to get another pick to honor their promise.

[exstatic]

Don't patronize me.

That doesn't say or suggest his agent floated the story. In fact, his agent attempted to downplay the severity of it.

http://www.clubspurs.com/spurs-trade...ise-t6795.html

ESPN >>>> Club Spurs. That place is worse than here for reliable stories.

Did you REALLY just come at me with an internet forum quoting Hoops Hype?

[TD 21]

The whole point is that the Spurs value their credibility with international players. When you break a promise, it can have major effects on a player's livelihood. Who knows where LJC would have fallen to had the Spurs not picked him? It's very probable that he would not have gotten pick in the first round. So by breaking their promise, the Spurs would have cost him $2 Million guaranteed. It's a big deal. Agents do not take kindly to teams costing their clients money, especially since those players had the chance to back out of the draft and get picked by another team the next year.

That doesn't mean that the Spurs would NEVER take a player over someone they made a promise to. But it would have to be a prospect like Noel, and not Gobert. And even if it did happen, I would be the Spurs would do their best to get another pick to honor their promise.

I mostly agree with everything you just said. I never suggested they'd do it for a Gobert level prospect (which seems to be what you two are hung up on). Clearly, it would have to be someone closer to a Noel level prospect, but Splitter was, in the sense that both projected as defense first starting centers.

ESPN >>>> Club Spurs. That place is worse than here for reliable stories.

Did you REALLY just come at me with an internet forum quoting Hoops Hype?

So what? It was via HoopsHype and it's not as if there's an abundance of information on this readily available to choose from.

I can't verify it, but I'm 99% sure Ford himself reported this.

[exstatic]

I mostly agree with everything you just said. I never suggested they'd do it for a Gobert level prospect (which seems to be what you two are hung up on). Clearly, it would have to be someone closer to a Noel level prospect, but Splitter was, in the sense that both projected as defense first starting centers.

A Noel level prospect is NEVER going to drop to the end of the first round. Splitter dropped because he was in an iron-clad contract that he couldn't get out of for at least two years. He was also 22, and couldn't pull out of the draft any more times. No promise would be necessary or given to such a player.

[Chinook]

Teams make promises a break them all the time. Besides, a promise is really only contingent on the draft more or less going according to plan, which it pretty much never does. If someone unexpectedly falls (which always happens), all bets are off.

They'd have been fools to not go with Gobert over Jean-Charles, considering the upside of the former and the lack of depth at his position post Duncan. It's not even Splitter's age or mileage so much as it is his lack of stamina that's most concerning.

I mostly agree with everything you just said. I never suggested they'd do it for a Gobert level prospect (which seems to be what you two are hung up on). Clearly, it would have to be someone closer to a Noel level prospect, but Splitter was, in the sense that both projected as defense first starting centers.

You can see why we're hung up on Gobert.

[exstatic]

You can see why we're hung up on Gobert.

Because...thread?

[Kidd K]

Tiago Splitter, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, ...

Modern centers aren't about shooting and post moves anymore. They're expected to defend, rebound, screen, and finish/pass on P&Rs. Gobert showed some real skills at all of those things. He's still work in progress (his decision making needs to get better; then again he is very inexperienced being in a crappy team with no play time) but he could become very good.

Tyson Chandler was trash for a long time before he actually became worth having on your team. He barely improved for like 4-5 years before finally figuring it out. I don't think Noah can be dumped into the "no IQ" category though.

[DrunkTXLabrat]

De Colo or possible post-Duncan era 2nd plus cash might have got the deal done. i couldn't believe the spurs passed on a Frenchy with such potential because of that freakish body. the Spurs missed out on Tavares this year and he was an even easier trade target. I think Tavares even has an LJC connection. RC and Pop were drunk on Bonner/Ayers love and Baynes hate. most people in here wouldn't want either of them to come over and play anyway. players have to get banged up overseas first.

[exstatic]

De Colo or possible post-Duncan era 2nd plus cash might have got the deal done. i couldn't believe the spurs passed on a Frenchy with such potential because of that freakish body. the Spurs missed out on Tavares this year and he was an even easier trade target. I think Tavares even has an LJC connection. RC and Pop were drunk on Bonner/Ayers love and Baynes hate. most people in here wouldn't want either of them to come over and play anyway. players have to get banged up overseas first.

Spurs wouldn't have had to trade for Tavares. He was a second rounder.

[Venti Quattro]

He plays in the NBA? I didn't know

[DrunkTXLabrat]

Spurs wouldn't have had to trade for Tavares. He was a second rounder.

the spurs pick was used on kyle anderson, and i'm not proposing they shoulda drafted tavares instead. i'm saying they shoulda made a better trade with those late 2nds.

[DrunkTXLabrat]

He plays in the NBA? I didn't know

i bet there's plenty you don't know.