Stein: Free agent guard Kevin Martin has agreed to join the San Antonio Spurs

[timtonymanu]

Looks like we'll be hearing something fairly soon...

Here we go

[Chinook]

You just don't get it. Instead of mocking me try to listen to what I'm saying.

Let's do this.

There's nothing wrong being a rotation wing.

Not at all. They're just not so hard to find that you lose sleep cutting some who MIGHT become one, especially when you have multiple prospects in the pipeline.

Spurs have the player development coaching to improve his mechanics and I would expect it to happen this summer.

Have they taught anyone to dribble. Because Green was a workout warrior when he was a fringe player, and he sure didn't learn.

But the kid may not love the game and may not enjoy the hard work to become a better player. Not everybody does..

While it's a possibility, I don't think it's fair to attribute that to Simmons. The dude wouldn't have made it this far if he didn't have determination. Look at a guy like Ryan Richards. Richards is easily more talented than Simmons, and he'll never sniff the NBA (though he's also younger than Jonathon).

Simmons has the physical tools. It's what the Spurs has seen and it's what everybody's seen since he's been here.

He has athleticism, with for the love of god is not rare in the NBA. If you're going to pull a Mid and consider talent and athleticism a one-to-one be my guest. But Simmons would have an awful 2K rating in most stats.

He just needs more time and the experience he's got this year will be huge for him. Spurs just can't afford to have him learning on the fly anymore right now..

They could totally let him keep playing without fear of compromising their playoff positioning. Issue is he's widely been a dumpster fire when he's on the court. He went from being Summer League Manu to Malik Hairston in like a two-week span. Anderson has clearly surpassed him, because unlike Simmons, Kyle still has a ton of upside left.

But at the same time it doesn't mean you cut him and lose his rights.

I don't think they should cut him, but I'm also not concerned about keeping his rights. The way Simmons is playing make you wonder if signing Eddie or Orlando Johnson would have been a better move if you wanted an older prospect. I'm all in favor of giving him a summer to get better. But he's not really part of my vision of the team's future right now.

I'm intrigued to see what Chad and Chip can do over the summer with Simmons but like I said earlier..the guy may not have the drive in him.

It almost seems like you're trying to build a safety net at this point. Simmons may try as hard as he can and still not be good enough. It's not simply about ganas with him. He's not a potential Eddie Curry or Anthony Randolph here. He's much closer to a JaMychal Green.

[coachmac87]

Let's do this.



Not at all. They're just not so hard to find that you lose sleep cutting some who MIGHT become one, especially when you have multiple prospects in the pipeline.



Have they taught anyone to dribble. Because Green was a workout warrior when he was a fringe player, and he sure didn't learn.



While it's a possibility, I don't think it's fair to attribute that to Simmons. The dude wouldn't have made it this far if he didn't have determination. Look at a guy like Ryan Richards. Richards is easily more talented than Simmons, and he'll never sniff the NBA (though he's also younger than Jonathon).



He has athleticism, with for the love of god is not rare in the NBA. If you're going to pull a Mid and consider talent and athleticism a one-to-one be my guest. But Simmons would have an awful 2K rating in most stats.



They could totally let him keep playing without fear of compromising their playoff positioning. Issue is he's widely been a dumpster fire when he's on the court. He went from being Summer League Manu to Malik Hairston in like a two-week span. Anderson has clearly surpassed him, because unlike Simmons, Kyle still has a ton of upside left.



I don't think they should cut him, but I'm also not concerned about keeping his rights. The way Simmons is playing make you wonder if signing Eddie or Orlando Johnson would have been a better move if you wanted an older prospect. I'm all in favor of giving him a summer to get better. But he's not really part of my vision of the team's future right now.



It almost seems like you're trying to build a safety net at this point. Simmons may try as hard as he can and still not be good enough. It's not simply about ganas with him. He's not a potential Eddie Curry or Anthony Randolph here. He's much closer to a JaMychal Green.

Bottom line Simmons was a "prospect" and still is a "prospect" 60 games with inconsistent playing time isn't enough to determine what he's capable of.

[Chinook]

Bottom line Simmons was a "prospect" and still is a "prospect" 60 games with inconsistent playing time isn't enough to determine what he's capable of.

I know. But that doesn't mean that you don't get a sense of what his ceiling is. Can you be wrong? Yes. But there are too many guys who can jump out of the gym while being sub-par at a ton of other things that it's not worth freaking out over what if. And yes, Simmons isn't "just" athleticism, so he's not as bad of a prospect as a guy who has no NBA skill. But his age knocks him down almost as many point as he gained.

[K...]

This could all be moot if the announcement is imminent but can someone tell me what Simmons brings that an average late first round pick can't do? Simmons is nice, but he's not essential our unique. KA is pretty unique. You can't cut him. But an athletic wing who can drive seems pretty common. The key is getting a guy who drives, pays defense, passes, and shoots the three. Simmons does only two of those. Id rather we start over on developing parkers replacement and accept KA as a Manu replacement.


But any discussion of next year is way less important than this year.

[coachmac87]

I

I know. But that doesn't mean that you don't get a sense of what his ceiling is. Can you be wrong? Yes. But there are too many guys who can jump out of the gym while being sub-par at a ton of other things that it's not worth freaking out over what if. And yes, Simmons isn't "just" athleticism, so he's not as bad of a prospect as a guy who has no NBA skill. But his age knocks him down almost as many point as he gained.

Yeah but the problem is Bonner or Butler isn't that player..they're almost out of the league and can't grow as a player.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I'm guessing we aren't going to see him in a uni tonight either?

[Chinook]

Yeah but the problem is Bonner or Butler isn't that player..they're almost out of the league and can't grow as a player.

But they're both better than Simmons. And it's possible that Simmons won't ever be better than them.

[loveforthegame]

I'm guessing he'll join the team tomorrow. No need to waive anyone until after the game in case they're needed.

[look_at_g_shred]

But they're both better than Simmons. And it's possible that Simmons won't ever be better than them.

What's the point if neither rarely play in the first place?

[BillMc]

I'm guessing he'll join the team tomorrow. No need to waive anyone until after the game in case they're needed.

Waiving someone on the road seems cold. What do they do fly home commercial? Sit in the hotel during the second game and have an awkward flight on the team plane?

[TXstbobcat]

Waiving someone on the road seems cold. What do they do fly home commercial? Sit in the hotel during the second game and have an awkward flight on the team plane?

Nah, they will buy Bonner a greyhound bus ticket back to San Antonio.

[Chinook]

What's the point if neither rarely play in the first place?

Because there's no reason to worry about Simmons' potential right now. Honestly, the team didn't NEED a Martin in the first place. But since they've committed to him, they have to figure out who to cut. And Simmons is in play, even if it's not likely.

[Old School 44]

Waiving someone on the road seems cold. What do they do fly home commercial? Sit in the hotel during the second game and have an awkward flight on the team plane?

He won't get waived. He will announce his retirement immediately, and they'll announce simultaneously that he will be joining the Spurs coaching staff or front office. Nice contrast from the Black Mamba's retirement to the Red Mamba's retirement.

[urunobili]

Hope it's Bonner out though Simmons video celebrating Ray Allen's shot and the money he'll command in free agency wouldn't make me cry if he gets cut...

[$pursDynasty]

Does Messina play the heck out of the player to be cut tonight since we have a back to back and won't have to worry about that player being tired tomorrow or for the rest of the season?

[loveforthegame]

Waiving someone on the road seems cold. What do they do fly home commercial? Sit in the hotel during the second game and have an awkward flight on the team plane?

I really don't know. Is there a right time to waive someone? I think it would suck either way.

I'm just going by that report he's deal is near completion and he could join the team as soon as tomorrow.

[BillMc]

Does Messina play the heck out of the player to be cut tonight since we have a back to back and won't have to worry about that player being tired tomorrow or for the rest of the season?

Bonner's 48 minutes of glory.

[BillMc]

He won't get waived. He will announce his retirement immediately, and they'll announce simultaneously that he will be joining the Spurs coaching staff or front office. Nice contrast from the Black Mamba's retirement to the Red Mamba's retirement.

That would be a good way to do it.

[coachmac87]

But they're both better than Simmons. And it's possible that Simmons won't ever be better than them.

Won't ever as in this year? Maybe

Next year? Either one or both could be retired or out of the league.

I just don't see either be so meaningful this season (especially Bonner) that's you just quit on Simmons. Whatever the Spurs saw in him they were right..some can even say Simmons has out played his expectations as s D/League scrub.

[FromWayDowntown]

Because there's no reason to worry about Simmons' potential right now. Honestly, the team didn't NEED a Martin in the first place. But since they've committed to him, they have to figure out who to cut. And Simmons is in play, even if it's not likely.

I've said it before, but there isn't a long game for these Spurs right now. The issue is winning in the next 3 months and figuring things out again after you've come to the end of that run, at whatever point it ends. I hope Jonathan Simmons stays -- because he's a wing, because he's youthful and athletic, and I think he makes more sense than either Butler or Bonner. But if he leaves, it will be because the Spurs have decided that their best play to get through June 2016 is with Martin and without Simmons.

Potential is great and all, but Simmons isn't likely to be transformative for the Spurs (or even, really, much more than a guy with basically average replacement value). He's exciting compared to most of the roster, but in the end, his greatest likelihood as an NBA player is that he's just a guy.

In the early stages of the Duncan Spurs, the choice between winning now, on one hand, and development, on the other hand, was much more of a reasonable debate. Now, there's no question that everything has to be in win-now mode and personnel choices have to be made in light of that.

As one of the old hands of SpursTalk (GhostWriter) would say: Win Now, Worry Later.

I'd add that while I think Boban is intriguing, I could see a line of reasoning by which the Spurs kept Simmons, Butler, and Bonner, and released Boban, since their path through the playoffs -- for now, PRT, OKC, GST -- seems unlikely to create much of a need for a player with Boban's size and skills. I don't think they will release Boban and I'm not advocating for it; I'm just saying that it wouldn't completely shock me if that's where the Spurs went.

[DPG21920]

Losing Boban, with how productive he's been (especially with Bonner injured most of the year) would be absolutely shocking to me.

[SAGirl]

Not for me. No sleep till Brooklyn.

Easy to guard, will quickly turn the ball over or predictably force the action.
Will be easy for our guys to draw fouls on him too TBH.

[Mugen]

Losing an asset like Boban (with value around the league) for essentially a washed up Kevin Martin would be one of the dumbest things the front office has done in recent memory tbh.

[SAGirl]

What Chinook said is true, Simmons is nice to keep bc his contract us low, yes he can become serviceable but it's about having a body to back up Manu again if he returns next season. In that light, even without getting into discussions about potential and what not, he has value to be kept, but he's not irreplaceable or indispensable and he doesn't move the needle this season. Whereas the other two are veterans with a niche and will not come in making costly mistakes.