Spurs Sign G Jonathan Simmons to 2-Year, Vet-Min Deal

[spurraider21]

Parker, Mills, McCallum
Green, Ginobili, Simmons
Leonard, Anderson
Aldridge, Diaw, Bonner
Duncan, West, Marjanovic

That's a tax team with one open spot for an experienced wing.

so if we're in the tax we won't have access to the full MLE next summer, huh

Duncan is so selfish for not taking the minimum

[bluebellmaniac]

so if we're in the tax we won't have access to the full MLE next summer, huh

Duncan is so selfish for not taking the minimum

The tax level will be about $20M higher next year.

[R. Canterbury Buford]

I've scouted this kid a lot he will be the next Wes Matthews but more athletic

[ceperez]

Interesting CIA Pop... they have him in the toros roster but don't sign him to play in a summer league team. Only to pull him out of an hat once the entire roster was signed.

Crazy!

Now some highlights:

[ceperez]

Was wondering why he wasn't on the SL Team... glad they signed him up finally... homeboy will be even better than Devin BROWN, I hope

This off-season is making me want to move to SA just to watch TD's last season or 2.... hmmm

CIA Pop at his bests.... probably Toros watcher were wondering the same thing!

[milkyway21]

Don't have a clue about this one..

Well, at least there's a rookie who can distribute the doughnuts around during practice..

[Brian Windhorst]

Here is an old article about him:

http://airalamo.com/2014/02/23/austi...ysical-growth/

Damn, this dude went to a Toros open tryout now he's signed to the Spurs.

[RLT]

Personal Theory: I think he's just a roster filler until Ray Allen joins un before the playoffs, tbh.

Definitely a strong possibility.

[ceperez]

Definitely a strong possibility.

One year guarantee contract. He's got a 38" vertical and if watch the video, he's effect on both ends of the floor.

Good backup.

[RLT]

He has a pretty sweet jumper and athleticism could be very useful coming off the bench...especially when we rest players

[palangi]

Active 12 Man Roster:

Duncan/LMA/Kawhi/Danny/Parker
West/Boris/Manu/Mills/Boban/McCallum

Last spot between: Anderson, Simmons, ?, ? with Anderson likely getting the nod at this point?

I thought you could have 13 active?

[exstatic]

Cotton signed in the spring for 2 years and was waived in October. Same will happen to this guy unless he plays insane. He is just a placeholder.

Cotton signed for 50K guaranteed in year one. THat's pretty much a magnesium flare that the player in question WILL be cut so they become Austin property. Simmons entire 1st season is guaranteed.

[palangi]

I still think they add one more wing and go into the season with just the 5 bigs they now have on the roster (Duncan, Aldridge, West, Diaw, Serbian Monster). The 15th spot will be kept open and another big can be added (looking at you Bonner) off the street if the need arises. Also a good idea to keep a spot for the buyout market after the deadline.

The 14th spot should be used on a wing. Heres why:

If the Spurs don't add a wing I'm very leary about their prospects going forward. Consider who they currently have.

Leonard - Stud. Big minutes. Occasionally gets banged up.
Green - Stud. Big minutes.
Ginobili - Solid. Needs his minutes controlled (20 MPG?). Will be rested a lot throughout the season also
Simmons - Good street prospect. A lot of ??? around him.
Anderson - Austin-bound. Cannot be counted on to play minutes that matter
Mills - Will play some 2. Will always be undersized when not the lead guard.
McCallum - May play some 2. Also will be undersized if not the point

Considering this, a multi-week injury to any of Leonard, Green or Ginobili could be pretty devastating. This is only compounded by the fact that Simmons is basically an unknown and Anderson has very little real-game usefulness right now. Mills and McCallum can be subbed in to play some 2 at times. But going small always requires other factors to make it a successful strategy. And considering that Parker is also likely to miss some time with rest and controlled minutes distribution it might be "robbing Peter to pay Paul" if we lean on the PG's to supply 2-guard minutes regularly.

A good balance of a young, developmental wing (AKA, Simmons) as one of the wing signings and then a veteran (AKA, Rasual Butler) as the other is probably a decent strategy. That being said, if the team really likes Simmons and is committed to him already, then having an open compe ion in training camp. We've brought in vets like Corey Maggette before. Sign a couple of them up along with a Dairis Bertans and a Jerrell Eddie. Give the winner the roster spot.

Points: Parker, Mills, McCallum

Wings: Leonard, Green, Ginobili, Simmons, FA Training Camp Standout, Anderson

Bigs: Duncan, Aldridge, West, Diaw

VERY Bigs: Marjanovic

I understand Anderson has not looked great in the summer league. But come on man. Don't blow it up to be like he is useless. The guy has had NBA reps and has produced. He is a solid backup for Leonard. But I agree I would like to see another win added as I think Manu will be saved a lot through the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl0xwsFkDtY

[Dex]

Interesting CIA Pop... they have him in the toros roster but don't sign him to play in a summer league team. Only to pull him out of an hat once the entire roster was signed.

Crazy!

Now some highlights:

Damn. Crazy athletic.

If Chip can give this guy a jump shot...look out.

[Solid D]

Some of his floor skills and athleticism reminds me of Michael Finley when he was a 25-year old.

[ceperez]

Damn. Crazy athletic.

If Chip can give this guy a jump shot...look out.

Sad thing though, I think Jamychal Green was the first choice over Simmons. Just too bad Green wasn't ready to accept a cheap contract with the Spurs.

Simmons has a better handle and more athletic, but Green is definitely much bigger!

[spursparker9]

So that mean no more chance for Cady or Bertans already?

Jonathan Simmons look like he will be the best athletic on the team, even better than Kawhi

[ceperez]

So that mean no more chance for Cady or Bertans already?

Jonathan Simmons look like he will be the best athletic on the team, even better than Kawhi

He's about the same size as Green.

I don't think Kawhi is on the top of the list in athleticism.

[Obstructed_View]

I thought you could have 13 active?

You can have a max of 13 active, a max of 2 inactive, and can change it up to 30 minutes before tipoff of each game. If a team carries only 13 players, then the max is 12 with 1 inactive. Nobody will do that because teams get fined for having less than 14 players.

The Spurs will carry 15

[slick'81]

Very nice ups why not take a flyer

[SAGirl]

He's not had a very good SL thus far, numbers-wise:

Summer league is a small sample in a new system playing with guys you don't know, the spurs know him from a couple of d'league seasons. Apparently he's gotten better from one season to the next. Not saying the guy will be a revelation or anything like that, who knows? but certainly summer league by itself can be misleading. Ballhandling was an issue for him in the d'league and I just noticed the same problem in summer league. I think he will be ok for an end of the bench guy.

[Kawhitstorm]

Alonzo Gee 2.0

[littlecoyotecoin]

Cotton signed in the spring for 2 years and was waived in October. Same will happen to this guy unless he plays insane. He is just a placeholder.

Cotton was guaranteed 40-50k dollars, or something like that. Simmons has been guaranteed 500k, I believe. I don't believe they're the same situation. But, maybe you're right.

[Kawhitstorm]

Summer league is a small sample in a new system playing with guys you don't know, the spurs know him from a couple of d'league seasons. Apparently he's gotten better from one season to the next. Not saying the guy will be a revelation or anything like that, who knows? but certainly summer league by itself can be misleading. Ballhandling was an issue for him in the d'league and I just noticed the same problem in summer league. I think he will be ok for an end of the bench guy.

Pop is only interested in his defensive skillsets: He was All-Defensive 3rd team in the D-League (2014-15)

[littlecoyotecoin]

I still think they add one more wing and go into the season with just the 5 bigs they now have on the roster (Duncan, Aldridge, West, Diaw, Serbian Monster). The 15th spot will be kept open and another big can be added (looking at you Bonner) off the street if the need arises. Also a good idea to keep a spot for the buyout market after the deadline.

The 14th spot should be used on a wing. Heres why:

If the Spurs don't add a wing I'm very leary about their prospects going forward. Consider who they currently have.

Leonard - Stud. Big minutes. Occasionally gets banged up.
Green - Stud. Big minutes.
Ginobili - Solid. Needs his minutes controlled (20 MPG?). Will be rested a lot throughout the season also
Simmons - Good street prospect. A lot of ??? around him.
Anderson - Austin-bound. Cannot be counted on to play minutes that matter
Mills - Will play some 2. Will always be undersized when not the lead guard.
McCallum - May play some 2. Also will be undersized if not the point

Considering this, a multi-week injury to any of Leonard, Green or Ginobili could be pretty devastating. This is only compounded by the fact that Simmons is basically an unknown and Anderson has very little real-game usefulness right now. Mills and McCallum can be subbed in to play some 2 at times. But going small always requires other factors to make it a successful strategy. And considering that Parker is also likely to miss some time with rest and controlled minutes distribution it might be "robbing Peter to pay Paul" if we lean on the PG's to supply 2-guard minutes regularly.

A good balance of a young, developmental wing (AKA, Simmons) as one of the wing signings and then a veteran (AKA, Rasual Butler) as the other is probably a decent strategy. That being said, if the team really likes Simmons and is committed to him already, then having an open compe ion in training camp. We've brought in vets like Corey Maggette before. Sign a couple of them up along with a Dairis Bertans and a Jerrell Eddie. Give the winner the roster spot.

Points: Parker, Mills, McCallum

Wings: Leonard, Green, Ginobili, Simmons, FA Training Camp Standout, Anderson

Bigs: Duncan, Aldridge, West, Diaw

VERY Bigs: Marjanovic

KA played in 31 games last year as a rookie. He may spend time in Austin, but I wouldn't be surprised to see his minutes increase this year. He was good enough to eat some minutes last year.