Marc Stein: Spurs want in on Durant hunt, too

[r0drig0lac]

"Because they'd win every game."

[TheGreatYacht]

but..but..but...Splitter's D/screens ...dude in ing street clothes while his team getting torn a new one by the Cavs.. ..

like you said, worry about the fit later when a one time league MVP wants to join...Assuming TIM/Manu retire, every player on the roster bar Kawhi/LMA is dumpbable (Parker won't be because of his contract).

Spurs will eventually endure lean times..it happens to all franchises..we need to make the most of upcoming years when Kawhi hits his peak...San Antonio won't be the same when Pop retires after 2020 Olympics; when our draft day luck runs out; when other teams scouts, who nowadays happen to have passports, are the ones who stumble upon the next TP/Manu ..

^
This guy, he gets it tbh

[timtonymanu]

Marc Stein also said Spurs were the #1 priority for Aldridge even before the offseason began. This seems legit.

[spursistan]

Marc Stein also said Spurs were the #1 priority for Aldridge even before the offseason began. This seems legit.

if this came out from Frank Isola/chris Sheridan types who are constantly throwing stuff on the wall i would have called for these threads to be locked instantly...Clearly something about this story percolating among high league/team executives that Stein/Lowe are starting to hear about from their sources..

[Chinook]

People are making too much of wondering what Kawhi thinks about this. If this were like KG and Duncan, we'd know by now. While I do think Leonard would care about touches, I don't think he'd be upset with being the third option behind two great scorers. And he'd instantly be the best two-guard in the game. Only issue I think that would occur is that his rebounding would go down with him playing more on the perimeter.

I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn to get something like this:

Calderon, Mills, Pick
Leonard, $4-Million guard, Simmons
Durant, Anderson, Bertans
Aldridge, Diaw, LJC
O'Quinn, Boban, Lalanne

[spursistan]

People are making too much of wondering what Kawhi thinks about this. If this were like KG and Duncan, we'd know by now. While I do think Leonard would care about touches, I don't think he'd be upset with being the third option behind two great scorers. And he'd instantly be the best two-guard in the game. Only issue I think that would occur is that his rebounding would go down with him playing more on the perimeter.

I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn to get something like this:

Calderon, Mills, Pick
Leonard, $4-Million guard, Simmons
Durant, Anderson, Bertans
Aldridge, Diaw, LJC
O'Quinn, Boban, Lalanne

I'm still flabbergasted by the anatomy of that Parker contract extension.. RC and co. are too smart to merely hand a "thank you" deal in the afterglow of a championship..i think they couldn't foresee a permanent decline and simply thought he would be rebounding from down year a la Duncan 2011.

[313]

PATFO doing Kawhi dirty

"This is your team now Kawhi"

*proceeds to recruit two alphas to take his touches away

He's going to spend his prime as a third option

Smart move by PATFO tbh

[DAF86]

People are making too much of wondering what Kawhi thinks about this. If this were like KG and Duncan, we'd know by now. While I do think Leonard would care about touches, I don't think he'd be upset with being the third option behind two great scorers. And he'd instantly be the best two-guard in the game. Only issue I think that would occur is that his rebounding would go down with him playing more on the perimeter.

I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn to get something like this:

Calderon, Mills, Pick
Leonard, $4-Million guard, Simmons
Durant, Anderson, Bertans
Aldridge, Diaw, LJC
O'Quinn, Boban, Lalanne

And why do you think he would be that?

[DJR210]

Obviously it's ridiculously early to speculate, but the last time we tried to court a FA at a position we had solidified, Parker got butthurt and voiced his opinion to the media about being "the PG".. Kawhi is really a quiet dude, but I wonder if he would feel threatened assuming the Spurs do in fact pursue Durant..

[Chinook]

And why do you think he would be that?

Durant's the best scorer of the three, and LMA getting his touches is good for keeping the other teams honest. I would think Kawhi and Durant post-ups would become situational, so both of them would hopefully be getting their shots off kick-outs -- especially if Diaw is still a Spur.

[Chinook]

Obviously it's ridiculously early to speculate, but the last time we tried to court a FA at a position we had solidified, Parker got butthurt and voiced his opinion to the media about being "the PG".. Kawhi is really a quiet dude, but I wonder if he would feel threatened assuming the Spurs do in fact pursue Durant..

It's not remotely the same thing. He and Durant can easily play next to each other, whereas Parker and Kidd would have been an awkward fit. It would be like if LMA got upset from the Spurs chasing Horford.

[DAF86]

Durant's the best scorer of the three, and LMA getting his touches is good for keeping the other teams honest. I would think Kawhi and Durant post-ups would become situational, so both of them would hopefully be getting their shots off kick-outs -- especially if Diaw is still a Spur.

Kawhi would probably still get more shots than LA, tbh. Maybe even more than Durant because of a matter of seniority. Either way, I think it would be a 1a, 1b, 1c scenario. Not much separation between the three.

[DJR210]

It's not remotely the same thing. He and Durant can easily play next to each other, whereas Parker and Kidd would have been an awkward fit. It would be like if LMA got upset from the Spurs chasing Horford.

Of course it's possible.. but how can we know how Kawhi will take the news?

[Chinook]

Of course it's possible.. but how can we know how Kawhi will take the news?

Honestly, you'd have to rethink Kawhi as the face of the franchise if he's going to be refusing great players because of his ego. You'd just have to. I can understand refusing a single player you have beef with. But if he develops into something between Rose and Kobe as far as his at ude toward other players goes, it'd wreck the franchise.

This is totally sacrilege, completely hypothetical and absolutely not what I want, but if Kawhi pulled some "I'm the star of the Spurs. There shall not be any before me," crap while KD agreed to sign a full deal, I'd move him for the best PG/Big combo, dump Parker and role with the roster. KD and LMA alone are enough to win the West with a good supporting cast. Give them another star and they would win a lot.

Again, I don't believe Kawhi is like that, hope the Spurs don't have to worry about that and was merely speaking hypothetically. But Kawhi's not above the team. I'm glad he knows that, but it seems some fans don't.

[NameLess Scrub]

How would the Spurs even pay and how would they even make Kawhi/Durant work?

Is any of them willing to come off the bench, or can change position, or can even play off the other?

Not trolling, how would you guys think that would work?

[FvckMavs]

How would the Spurs even pay and how would they even make Kawhi/Durant work?

Is any of them willing to come off the bench, or can change position, or can even play off the other?

Not trolling, how would you guys think that would work?

If he wants to come, you just get it done first. And think about whether it will work later.

[Chinook]

How would the Spurs even pay and how would they even make Kawhi/Durant work?

Is any of them willing to come off the bench, or can change position, or can even play off the other?

Not trolling, how would you guys think that would work?

There have been about a half-dozen threads about the money part. The short version is that they can cut Diaw and move Green or Parker while letting the oldies and probably Boban walk.

On the court, it would be like Wade and Lebron, but with both being excellent outside shooters. The only issue would be if Parker is kept, as he doesn't fit that lineup. Literally a guy like Beverly or Bradley would be ideal. Because of that shooting, Aldridge would be able to still play his game. It would slant whoever replaces Duncan, as you'd hope for someone with a better outside shot.

[BillMc]

Honestly, you'd have to rethink Kawhi as the face of the franchise if he's going to be refusing great players because of his ego. You'd just have to. I can understand refusing a single player you have beef with. But if he develops into something between Rose and Kobe as far as his at ude toward other players goes, it'd wreck the franchise.

This is totally sacrilege, completely hypothetical and absolutely not what I want, but if Kawhi pulled some "I'm the star of the Spurs. There shall not be any before me," crap while KD agreed to sign a full deal, I'd move him for the best PG/Big combo, dump Parker and role with the roster. KD and LMA alone are enough to win the West with a good supporting cast. Give them another star and they would win a lot.

Again, I don't believe Kawhi is like that, hope the Spurs don't have to worry about that and was merely speaking hypothetically. But Kawhi's not above the team. I'm glad he knows that, but it seems some fans don't.

Truthfully, if you believe the rumors out of Portland, LMA would be the one more likely to be threatened by other superstars. That said, I've seen no evidence of such behavior on the Spurs. LMA is 30, he'll be 31 soon. He knows his prime isn't going to last forever. I'm sure he'd welcome anyone that helps him get a ring. He's probably a lock for the HOF if he gets one.

[DAF86]

There have been about a half-dozen threads about the money part. The short version is that they can cut Diaw and move Green or Parker while letting the oldies and probably Boban walk.

On the court, it would be like Wade and Lebron, but with both being excellent outside shooters. The only issue would be if Parker is kept, as he doesn't fit that lineup. Literally a guy like Beverly or Bradley would be ideal. Because of that shooting, Aldridge would be able to still play his game. It would slant whoever replaces Duncan, as you'd hope for someone with a better outside shot.

Yep. If by some miracle Durant joins the Spurs, the most reasonable thing to do would be getting rid of Tony, tbh.

[Chinook]

Truthfully, if you believe the rumors out of Portland, LMA would more likely to be threatened by other superstars. That said, I've seen no evidence of such behavior on the Spurs. LMA is 30, he'll be 31 soon. He knows his prime isn't going to last forever. I'm sure he'd welcome anyone that helps him get a ring. He's probably a lock for the HOF if he gets one.

I don't think anyone would be a problem. Pop might even be able to convince him to save his energy for the playoffs. It's possible it ends up not working out, but I think if it got so far as KD wanting to sign, there wouldn't be any objections.

[NameLess Scrub]

If he wants to come, you just get it done first. And think about whether it will work later.

I get the approach. I just think we can discuss it here anyway.

There have been about a half-dozen threads about the money part. The short version is that they can cut Diaw and move Green or Parker while letting the oldies and probably Boban walk.

On the court, it would be like Wade and Lebron, but with both being excellent outside shooters. The only issue would be if Parker is kept, as he doesn't fit that lineup. Literally a guy like Beverly or Bradley would be ideal. Because of that shooting, Aldridge would be able to still play his game. It would slant whoever replaces Duncan, as you'd hope for someone with a better outside shot.

Except Wade and Lebron, while seeming like repeated talent, at least played different positions.
I don't see any of them playing a different position without giving away speed or strength mismatches.

It'd be good to know how people visualize they would do at the 2 or the 4. I love Durant's offensive power as much as anyone, but I wonder how the team could adjust to such scenario.

With Aldridge that wasn't a problem since Timmy was already old and able to play like a Center or complement Aldridge anyway.

[look_at_g_shred]

So does everyone assume Danny is the odd one out?

[Chinook]

Except Wade and Lebron, while seeming like repeated talent, at least played different positions.

This isn't a big deal. Kawhi and Green are like an inch apart. Kawhi can totally play the two. He just doesn't right now. Kawhi plays the three like a two. He can guard twos. If anything, Lebron and Wade (and Bosh) all played the same position, which was the high post triple-threat position. That's much more awkward than what Durant and Leonard would have to do.

[Chinook]

So does everyone assume Danny is the odd one out?

I would hope he isn't, but he would be the odd one out of the starting lineup in any event.

[DPG21920]

I would hope he isn't, but he would be the odd one out of the starting lineup in any event.

Then he would be in for the Spurs death unit of PG/Green/Kawhi/KD/LMA