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

**UNT Eagles 2016** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by DPG21920

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

Yeah. It's not as if he's been a big stiff who can't do if he's not given an open dunk or something. He has a soft touch, grabs boards well, and makes free throws at a decent clip such that hacking isn't an option as it was with ter. Boban has his rookie mistakes as well as some limitations, but I think most of these are solvable with practice and experience considering his relatively good mobility and endurance for his height. Needs to work on sealing his man earlier in the possession on offense and not coming out too far on defense. He's hard to score against when he positions himself well on defense, as even Cousins saw the other day (Cousins had a field day against West and Diaw, though).

The guy Boban has had his greatest struggles against this year is Alex Len, for some reason.

**cjw** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by TrainOfThought5

NOBODY is giving you a 1st for 27 year old jonathan simmons. NOONE.

Right, maybe a sweetener to move up a few spots if needed from 29 (or 30!).

**FromWayDowntown** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by 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.

Like I say, I don't think that's what will happen. I'm just saying I could see a line of reasoning that would lead to that, mostly because there are situations in which Boban might not be playable. He's a useful piece for the long haul of a regular season, but unless you run into a team like Houston with a true center like Howard, I'm not sure that he's anything more than a situational guy in most NBA playoff series.

With that said, I agree that it wouldn't be the best move for the Spurs at this point.

**ironman2886** · 03-07-2016

I'm guessing this will be what Pop might say after cutting Bonner.

**ace3g** · 03-07-2016

I guess Spurs told Kevin Martin to stay in Minnesota and they will pick him up there.

**Leetonidas** · 03-07-2016

Simmons is trash. STers over the years always have a fascination with trash players who have some decent games thinking if only the Spurs played them more...De colo, Blair, daye, or whoever.....in reality Simmons at 26 is already at his athletic peak and is probably close to as good as he is going to be. He's not Manu Ginobili. Yeah he has some nice monkeyball skills and Spurs have never had any flashy dunkers so ST creams over this kinda but he's just not that good and doesnt have much upside nor is he going to be anything more than a streaky bench player.

obviously I want the Spurs to cut Bonner instead of anyone else but cutting Simmons wouldn't matter much in the long run. the best thing is that he's on a cheap contract. but really Simmons is mostly a negative out there and when he does well its not like hes the X factor of anything. not a member of his church tbh

**tbdog** · 03-07-2016

Simmons isn't playing these playoffs, but that is not to say he out of here. He has defensive potentially and has a nba ready body. He has some nice intangibles and how he runs pick n rolls as a sg. What he really needs to do is work with Clip during the off season to create a better shot, whilst working on his handles. With Manu possibly retiring, and Martin won be signed in the off season with us due to dollar reasons, having Simmons next year is very important.

This is between Bonner and Butler. Bonner is the 4th PF, behind LMA, Diaw, and West. He is also our last Center behind all the above mentioned and adding TD and Bobon.
Butler also can be considered the 4th PF, and the 3rd SF, behind Leonard and Anderson (although you can consider Green and Manu also as possible SF.) Butler would be considered the last or second last swingman, tied with Simmons.

Just by Butler performance this year, and his flexibility, you just have to give him the final spot. I just don't see Bonner playing any meaningful minutes behind any of those bigs. Whereas Butler has the chance to take Anderson minutes due to sop re trust issues that Pop sometimes has.

**HarlemHeat37** · 03-07-2016

Bonner is frugal and conscious with money, from everything we have ever heard about him..when he lived in Toronto, he would take the TTC to games

It's not like he needs the money, not sure why he's holding on, he doesn't even play anymore..I guess you can never have enough dough

..maybe his wife is forcing him to stick around, tbh..

**HarlemHeat37** · 03-07-2016

I can buy that she's calling the shots, tbh

**ironman2886** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Bonner is frugal and conscious with money, from everything we have ever heard about him..when he lived in Toronto, he would take the TTC to games

It's not like he needs the money, not sure why he's holding on, he doesn't even play anymore..I guess you can never have enough dough

..maybe his wife is forcing him to stick around, tbh..

Not only that, but he's a great Business mind. High IQ. He made his money and will make plenty more even after he hangs them up.

**Mugen** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown

Like I say, I don't think that's what will happen. I'm just saying I could see a line of reasoning that would lead to that, mostly because there are situations in which Boban might not be playable. He's a useful piece for the long haul of a regular season, but unless you run into a team like Houston with a true center like Howard, I'm not sure that he's anything more than a situational guy in most NBA playoff series.

With that said, I agree that it wouldn't be the best move for the Spurs at this point.

Completely agree about Boban and highly doubt he'll have any impact in the playoffs. It's just that you can basically say the same thing about Bonner.

I just think people are still using logic/reason when it comes to Matty being the likely one cut when that really hasn't applied to him still being on the team for like 3 or 4 years now tbh

**HarlemHeat37** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by ironman2886

Not only that, but he's a great Business mind. High IQ. He made his money and will make plenty more even after he hangs them up.

It's also virtually guaranteed that he's going to have a FO job if he wants one, too IMO..

**Ditty** · 03-07-2016

Yeah I always remember seeing Matt at the PacSun at La Cantera during the 2008 playoffs against Phoenix and he was shopping in the clearance section so I wouldn't doubt he's very conservative with his money and wants a really nice retirement one day.

**TDomination** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Bonner is frugal and conscious with money, from everything we have ever heard about him..when he lived in Toronto, he would take the TTC to games

It's not like he needs the money, not sure why he's holding on, he doesn't even play anymore..I guess you can never have enough dough

..maybe his wife is forcing him to stick around, tbh..

or maybe he loves playing the game of basketball.

**Kawhitstorm** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Bonner is frugal and conscious with money, from everything we have ever heard about him..when he lived in Toronto, he would take the TTC to games

It's not like he needs the money, not sure why he's holding on, he doesn't even play anymore..I guess you can never have enough dough

..maybe his wife is forcing him to stick around, tbh..

It's been confirmed by CoJo:

Cory Joseph recalling Matt Bonner's financial advice:"I had a dollar in my pocket or something,and he said, “Just remember, that dollar is two dollars,it’s just not a dollar because you know when you get paid, you get taxed and you have all these expenses. You spend that dollar, that’s two dollars.” (mysanantonio.com)

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comment...rs_financial/?

**Texas_Ranger** · 03-07-2016

**HarlemHeat37** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by TDomination

or maybe he loves playing the game of basketball.

Of course, but he doesn't even play anymore

**BillMc** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Of course, but he doesn't even play anymore

Maybe he loves getting paid to have great seats to 82 NBA games + playoffs every year. You know any of us would.

**Chinook** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown

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.

I don't think they're THAT negligent of the future. There's clearly life after Duncan now, and it doesn't make a ton of sense to get rid of a guy who could at least be an asset in the off-season for a guy who probably shouldn't even be in the regular rotation. It's the same reason why Simmons shouldn't get cut but stronger, because Boban has significantly higher value.

I agree that the Spurs shouldn't worry too much about Simmons, but I understand why such lack of foresight could be wrong-headed. It reminds me of the rumored Danny Green/Josh Howard trade. The differences are that Green was a younger and semi-established player at the time and Howard was on the way down. But the idea of giving up on a guy who seemed replaceable for a better shot to win a le has been prevalent for years. If they believe Simmons can be another Green (which I don't believe), then it doesn't make a ton of sense to move him, even though both were pretty much d-league call-ups.

**Kawhitstorm** · 03-07-2016

Originally Posted by Chinook

I don't think they're THAT negligent of the future. There's clearly life after Duncan now, and it doesn't make a ton of sense to get rid of a guy who could at least be an asset in the off-season for a guy who probably shouldn't even be in the regular rotation. It's the same reason why Simmons shouldn't get cut but stronger, because Boban has significantly higher value.

I agree that the Spurs shouldn't worry too much about Simmons, but I understand why such lack of foresight could be wrong-headed. It reminds me of the rumored Danny Green/Josh Howard trade. The differences are that Green was a younger and semi-established player at the time and Howard was on the way down. But the idea of giving up on a guy who seemed replaceable for a better shot to win a le has been prevalent for years. If they believe Simmons can be another Green (which I don't believe), then it doesn't make a ton of sense to move him, even though both were pretty much d-league call-ups.

Simmons is probably not valued more than the other Green, Jamychal Green (it's just that Simmons already has a 2 yr contract).