Potential for the next big 3 (4?)

[Join'orDie]

Right, Manu did have that awesome resume. How many teams passed up on him still though? Oh yeah, ALL OF THEM.

If I remember correctly most of Manu's Europeon success occurred after the Spurs had picked him. We were also one of like 4 teams that scouted overseas at that point. Manu would have been a lottery pick the way teams scout overseas today.

As for who the future "Big 3" is I agree with most posters in that immediately its KL, LMA, and Tony. But it will be very interesting to see how this team is built in the future. 4 years from now Leonard will be smack in the middle of his prime at 28. LMA will be 34, Danny 32, Parker and Boris 37. Kyle is young and talented enough that he could figure into the mix but there will have to be another rebuild/reload at some point.

[ajh18]

That was kind of my point. Nobody knew who Manu was. The Spurs grabbed him and it turned into gold. Simmons didn't have that time that Manu had to develop. Whose to say that he doesn't just get that while on the team?

Simmons has had as long to develop between when he normally would have been drafted and joining the Spurs as Manu did. Simmons is 26. He was undrafted in 2012. He's had 3 years to develop since, and in that time has become a good d-league player. Manu was drafted in 99. In the three subsequent years before joining the Spurs HE became an international superstar and the best player in Europe.

That's a huge difference in development despite having the same amount of time between their drafts and joining the team. I like Simmons a lot. I just don't like the comparison to Manu as they are completely different scenarios. Simmons' journey reminds me more of Bowen or Green.

[Mr Bones]

I predict the #3 guy after KL & LMA will come via trade or free agency, possibly next summer but if not in 2017 when the salary cap explodes and the Spurs will be able to sign another major FA. It's nice that the "big time free agents don't go to San Antonio" myth is dead.

[wildbill2u]

Father Time is not kind to PGs. I've been pleasantly surprised at how Tony is still showing flashes of speed this year. However, Stockton , Iverson, Kidd, etc. all began to drop off at 34 although they continued to play for a few years. I'm not sure Tony could legitimately be considered as an elite player for many more years although every player is different. So we will need to keep adding pieces although God knows how the FO will be able to do it while Pop is keeping the team high up in the Championship race but low in the draft.

[skulls138]

Simmons over Greene? Thats a little premature. Plus Greene has picked his game up lately

[HarlemHeat37]

Simmons isn't even a rotation player, yet, and he's 26 years old..

[spurraider21]

Kawhi and LMA could easily be a dominant 1-2 punch. I don't think we have that 3rd piece yet.

[HarlemHeat37]

Aldridge could be a nice #3 guy on a le team, tbh..Spurs don't necessarily need a conventional #2, though..

[SAGirl]

Simmons over Greene? Thats a little premature. Plus Greene has picked his game up lately

I don't see Green as a big time player. He's too limited offensively. Simmons has similar size and quickness defensively with a more effective drive and slashing game. However he has not proven himself in the postseason, so it's premature to say he will be better than Green you are right on the present.

In the future, yea it's all speculation, pick your favorite player other than Kawhi, LMA and Tony.

[steeledl]

Simmons over Greene? Thats a little premature. Plus Greene has picked his game up lately

Green will always be limited . If simmons was 23 I'd agree he could be next big 3 but it is unlikely due to his age.... As soon as his NBA IQ gets to the level it needs to be his athleticim will slow down. That being said... I think simmons could be a better player than green in a couple of years without a doubt.

[HarlemHeat37]

Simmons is a poor defensive player, along with being too volatile..he's a nice energy player that can give you 10 MPG, tbh..

[dabom]

Simmons is a poor defensive player, along with being too volatile..he's a nice energy player that can give you 10 MPG, tbh..

I still don't know how people call simmons a defensive player.

[HarlemHeat37]

I still don't know how people call simmons a defensive player.

Athletic players are always labeled as defense players when they're unproven, tbh..

Simmons is a great athlete, but doesn't seem to have defensive instincts/IQ and his lateral quickness isn't great compared to his straight speed/leaping ability..being athletic doesn't mean you'll be a good defensive player, at all, even if you have historic vertical power(see: Gerald Green)..

[skulls138]

I think KA has the potential to be a part of the future big three, provided he finds a three pt shot. After Parkers gone that is

[ElNono]

IMO, championships are over once Tim and Manu retire... Which isn't that far fetched considering they're both HoF talent.

After that, it will take some time to build something special again

[dabom]

ElNono player fan.

[ElNono]

I did say it's my opinion. Would love to be wrong about it, tbh

[ElNono]

And it's "players" fan in my case, tbh

[cutewizard]

could be

Marjanoviccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc cccccccc

[cutewizard]

Boban boban boban

[cutewizard]

boban, simmons and anderson

the starving wastrels'b big three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wa hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

[Horry Hipcheck]

But why is a Big Three seemingly everybody's paradigm?

This. The Big 3 era of the NBA is over. The Spurs are one of the last remaining ans with theirs still intact, but even then the Spurs helped usher in the new three-pointer heavy pass-based offensive era.

[timtonymanu]

IMO, championships are over once Tim and Manu retire... Which isn't that far fetched considering they're both HoF talent.

After that, it will take some time to build something special again

This. As great as Kawhi is, he can't do it by himself since Aldridge and Parker are also aging and over 30. Besides, Duncan and Manu are irreplaceable. The Spurs will never have a duo like them again.

[ceperez]

Parker is soon to run out of gas. That's just the nature of being a PG. I do expect he'll still be top 3 come Duncan and Manu retirement in 2017.

Kawhi has a lot of solid role players that will last a long time. Green, Mills, Anderson and Simmons. Diaw will have a lot of gas in his tank although he's the same age as Parker.

So past 2017, you'll have Kawhi and LMA as the two headed monster and a few good role players.

I don't see Green improving. Mills make become better, but I'm not certain. Anderson and Simmons will improve, but I am not sure if they can become all-star level talent.

[exstatic]

IMO, championships are over once Tim and Manu retire... Which isn't that far fetched considering they're both HoF talent.

After that, it will take some time to build something special again

People also said we couldn't ring when David retired. Tim actually mentioned that as a motivator in the Champions Revealed interview series in 2014.