Jimmer Fredette to the Spurs (Update: Mostly Non-Guaranteed Training Camp Deal)

[Chinook]

I thought the Spurs signed him to spread the floor. To see if he could do that or not in a preseason game would require him to play with starters.

I don't get that logic. If Jimmer needs other guys to make him look good, he doesn't deserve a rotation spot. There are numerous guys in the d-league or worse who can hit WIDE OPEN shots. So what makes Jimmer better than them? Well, the answer seems to be nothing. It completely boggles my mind as to how Pop could sign off on guaranteeing Jimmer so much money.

[Dex]

I don't get that logic. If Jimmer needs other guys to make him look good, he doesn't deserve a rotation spot. There are numerous guys in the d-league or worse who can hit WIDE OPEN shots. So what makes Jimmer better than them? Well, the answer seems to be nothing. It completely boggles my mind as to how Pop could sign off on guaranteeing Jimmer so much money.

PATFO has a great track record, but they are obviously not infallible (lest we forget the Nick Van Exels, Richard Jeffersons, and Keith Bogans of our times).

The only logical explanation I can think of is that Jimmer was on the radar of a number of teams, but the Spurs still thought there was some potential there. In order to secure him for camp and give him a tryout, they had to outpay the other bidders. As the saying goes, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet...and sometimes you just end up with scrambled eggs.

In the case of Fredette, it looks like we ended up getting some burnt scrambled eggs that fell on the floor...then got on by the dog.

[Chinook]

Yeah, but seriously, they should have taken care of their hope for him after the first workout. Dude has fatal flaws in his game. If those aren't fixed, he's not an NBA player. One workout. "You still shoot like that? Well, thanks anyway." I don't even think he has upside. Just an awful read all around.

[cd98]

I don't get that logic. If Jimmer needs other guys to make him look good, he doesn't deserve a rotation spot. There are numerous guys in the d-league or worse who can hit WIDE OPEN shots. So what makes Jimmer better than them? Well, the answer seems to be nothing. It completely boggles my mind as to how Pop could sign off on guaranteeing Jimmer so much money.

The logic is that a floor spreader is one that punishes a team for double teaming a player. Basically, it keeps a defense honest. But when you are playing a bunch of players that don’t demand a double team, a shooter like Jimmer doesn’t really help. Then, it becomes more of a one on one. If he played with LMA or Duncan or Kawhi, those are players that get double teamed. When they do, the idea is to kick it out to Jimmer for an open three. If Jimmer shoots at a high percentage, then teams are forced to play those guys straight up or risk giving up a three.

But when Jimmer plays with the same guys that aren’t going to make the roster, those guys get played straight up. When Jimmer was playing against Atlanta, none of his teammates demanded a double team. So his shooting wasn’t a factor in spreading the court or keeping a defense honest. Jimmer wasn’t brought in to be a one-on-one scorer, but effectively, that’s what he was asked to do in garbage time.

[ChumpDumper]

It looks like Jimmer has never played an organized game of basketball in his life.

[cd98]

I don't get that logic. If Jimmer needs other guys to make him look good, he doesn't deserve a rotation spot. There are numerous guys in the d-league or worse who can hit WIDE OPEN shots. So what makes Jimmer better than them? Well, the answer seems to be nothing. It completely boggles my mind as to how Pop could sign off on guaranteeing Jimmer so much money.

I also disagree with your assessment regarding D-Leaguers that can hit wide open threes. Those guys tend to shoot poor percentages when they get to the NBA. There aren’t a lot of reliable three point shooters. Jimmer is a guy that shot over 50% for a time from three. You can’t pick that up in the D-league otherwise that’s what the Spurs would have already done. Shooters are a rare asset in a league that is dominated with superior, but less skill athletes.

[Chinook]

The logic is that a floor spreader is one that punishes a team for double teaming a player. Basically, it keeps a defense honest. But when you are playing a bunch of players that don’t demand a double team, a shooter like Jimmer doesn’t really help. Then, it becomes more of a one on one. If he played with LMA or Duncan or Kawhi, those are players that get double teamed. When they do, the idea is to kick it out to Jimmer for an open three. If Jimmer shoots at a high percentage, then teams are forced to play those guys straight up or risk giving up a three.

But when Jimmer plays with the same guys that aren’t going to make the roster, those guys get played straight up. When Jimmer was playing against Atlanta, none of his teammates demanded a double team. So his shooting wasn’t a factor in spreading the court or keeping a defense honest. Jimmer wasn’t brought in to be a one-on-one scorer, but effectively, that’s what he was asked to do in garbage time.

WHAT is going on with your formatting?

Anyway, the goal of a floor-spacer is to prevent double-teams, not just to take advantage of them. Danny's job with the Spurs is to be covered, not to be open. Jimmer can only make shots if he's WIDE OPEN. But so many many scrubs. For the first three years, Jimmer has been living off a reputation of being a credible spot-up threat. But last year, it seems teams figured out he can't shoot from normal sets and are leaving him alone.

From a defenses perspective, spacing can be thought of like this: How far toward the basket can I sink without giving this guy a good look. For Green, it's not more than a step or two. For Novak, it's like an arm's length. For Jimmer, it's damned near 20 feet. Seriously. That's how bad his spacing is.

I also disagree with your assessment regarding D-Leaguers that can hit wide open threes. Those guys tend to shoot poor percentages when they get to the NBA. There aren’t a lot of reliable three point shooters. Jimmer is a guy that shot over 50% for a time from three. You can’t pick that up in the D-league otherwise that’s what the Spurs would have already done. Shooters are a rare asset in a league that is dominated with superior, but less skill athletes.

D-leaguers struggle to hit threes in the NBA because they get less spacing. Do you seriously think that a corner-three in the d-league is just naturally easier than a corner-three in the big league? Jimmer's problem is the same as those guys: He needs more space to shoot than is usually available. A partial difference between him and those scrubs is that he can shoot threes off the dribble. But that's not really a good thing for the team.

Teams pick up knock-down shooters from the d-league every year. Look at Novak or Troy Daniels. It'll probably be Eddie in a year or two. All of those guys are superior to Jimmer, which is why at least two of them are in the NBA, and Fredette's on his way out.

[ceperez]

In fairness to Jimmer's situation, the Spurs will need additional 3 point shooters to counter the likes of the Warriors.

If the Warriors start hitting their 3's, the Spurs will need to do the same to keep up or alternatively have a ton of easy baskets in the paint.

Other than Patty Mills, I don't see any additional exceptional 3 point shooters on the bench.

[monkeypunk]

[Mel_13]

It completely boggles my mind as to how Pop could sign off on guaranteeing Jimmer so much money.

He shares an agent with West. Consider the 500k a finder's fee.

[SAGirl]

Would have liked to see Jimmer show what he can do. However, Spurs seem to want to give Butler and Reggie Williams a lot more burn. That's definitely not a good sign.

I would be surprised that Bonner would get cut, but he also can't get himself into the court.

I have a theory that he doesn't need to prove anything at this point. He's declined and unlikely to play and if he does it will be short minutes. Will be suited u most of the time. Will only be waived later in the season if they really need his spot bc of an injury or an interesting guy became available. I hope he's making his 3s in practice, thus they don't need to see anything else from him.

[SAGirl]

Especially since he's on the verge of being cut because he wouldn't fix his game.

He really should have reworked that shot a long time ago.

[SAGirl]

Pre-season hasn't been kind to Jimmer. Pop seems to have forgotten that he's even in the team. Pop is playing Butler, Williams and Sykes all ahead of Jimmer. Jimmer has played probably as much minutes as Deshaun Thomas.

With Parker injured, you would think that there would be time freed up for Jimmer to play.

He's been awful, but I think the worst is that they were intrigued by his potential to get hot and ability to hit the 3 and he hasn't done that. I mean Ray has shot the 3 better.

He reminds me of Daye. If they are not getting hot from 3, they don't help you win games and look like garbage everywhere else.

[Dex]

In fairness to Jimmer's situation, the Spurs will need additional 3 point shooters to counter the likes of the Warriors.

If the Warriors start hitting their 3's, the Spurs will need to do the same to keep up or alternatively have a ton of easy baskets in the paint.

Other than Patty Mills, I don't see any additional exceptional 3 point shooters on the bench.

Having a "shooter" like Fredette does absolutely no good if he can't make a goddamn shot. Then you've just got a guy out there wasting possessions and acting like a traffic cone on defense.

If this was a case of Jimmer making baskets but being awful at everything else, I may be able to see a case for him. But frankly, he hasn't even shown the ability to do the main thing he was brought in to do.

[Chinook]

He really should have reworked that shot a long time ago.

Seriously. That's why I made that Tebow comment earlier in the thread. He gets all these points for being a character guy, but like Tebow he seems resistant to coaching. His shot is bad, bad and ineffective in catch-and-shoot situations. And his fans just ignore that and chalk it up to fit. There's no good team that can fit Jimmer in. He's the problem, not everyone else.

[Birn]

The Spurs are not evaluating his shot. They know he can make shots. They want to see if he's able to do other things. He's a decent passer and runs the PNR pretty well. They know what they want to see from him. It's not shooting like most of you morons believe.

[cd98]

Right. People here are assuming he can't shoot in the NBA. They don't really know why Pop hasn't been playing him. I would say his shot is the least of his worries.

[benfti]

I had a conversation with a guy last night and I think a viable comparison came up when it came to athletic ability. Matthew Dellavedova from the Cavs. Jimmer came out of school with more fan fare but where both excellent collage players. Both restricted athletically. Delly a little taller

Jimmer is the better shooter. But Dellys effort defensively is why he is a rotation player on a contending team, and Jimmer will be out on his a$$

[AFBlue]

Did I miss the press release where he got cut?

[Dex]

The Spurs are not evaluating his shot. They know he can make shots. They want to see if he's able to do other things. He's a decent passer and runs the PNR pretty well. They know what they want to see from him. It's not shooting like most of you morons believe.

Well, if they are hoping to see other things from him, then he has gotten a big fat F.

Send him packing.

[Nathan89]

Seriously. That's why I made that Tebow comment earlier in the thread. He gets all these points for being a character guy, but like Tebow he seems resistant to coaching. His shot is bad, bad and ineffective in catch-and-shoot situations. And his fans just ignore that and chalk it up to fit. There's no good team that can fit Jimmer in. He's the problem, not everyone else.

How do you know what Jimmer and Tebow tried to do to their game? There is a good chance both of them have tried to make any change their coaches have suggested. It's hard to alter a motion in a drastic way.

[cd98]

Well, if they are hoping to see other things from him, then he has gotten a big fat F.

Send him packing.

Except you don't really know. He's hardly played and has not had enough minutes to evaluate him based on games. Maybe his playing time is reflective of what is happening in practice. But we aren't privy to that.

[ChumpDumper]

Ever think Jimmer might just be getting some up front money to play in Austin to start the season? I guess it may be more likely he wold be picked up by another team, but there are four allocation slots for the Toros....

[playbonner15]

Ever think Jimmer might just be getting some up front money to play in Austin to start the season? I guess it may be more likely he wold be picked up by another team, but there are four allocation slots for the Toros....

Yeah Jimmer might prove himself in the Toros. But I think he'll play overseas instead

[Chinook]

How do you know what Jimmer and Tebow tried to do to their game? There is a good chance both of them have tried to make any change their coaches have suggested. It's hard to alter a motion in a drastic way.

Well, there were reports about Tebow working on his game for many off-seasons and looking decent until the games started. Then he'd just revert back to his old motion. I can't say the same thing for Jimmer. But I've seen no evidence that he ever changed his shot.