I am thinking Pop decided to hold on to them bc replacing them in this FA period is madness. I mean right now they have Manus agent going to the press making noise like DWade. The other aspect is all the rookies Pop will be bringing. He's going to want his vets to break them in
In fact now that I think about it, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the reason the Spurs sent KA to summer league was to help introduce all these rookies to the Spurs system etc. There's always the coaching staff but it's better if there are players in the floor that know the system in case guys get stuck. That is not JSimms cup of tea.
If Spurs opt to trade Pattys w/ Diaw to like the Hawks for a 1st to create more space to sign a better back up PF ( I.E Thomas vs. T Jones or T-Rob), there should be some decent options for back up PG for the minimum. Point guard position is the most saturated in the league, and I could see most of Vasquez, Sloan, Blake, Price, Brooks all being desperate for a job.
I think it's just to give him a chance to show what he's worked on. Some of it might just be things like shooting or driving. He might play the four or five exclusively if they are looking at him replacing Diaw. I don't expect to see Anderson on the Vegas roster.
EDIT: No idea why you're quoted, sasaint. I guess just enjoy the ride.
I don't really see anyway around what SA has to do if Pau doesn't shock everyone and take a way below market deal. I believe he may leave "some" money, but not a ton. I think Boris has to be moved (regardless if Tim comes back or not). I think SA is choosing Pau over Boris/West/Boban - especially if Tim retires. Because that would make Pau the starter.
I see Pau at 14-16M for 2 years (player option in year 2).
Perhaps SA is going to be fine replacing West/Boban/Diaw with youth where they can and roll the dice on Pau the starter or if Tim is back, Pau the 6th man over Boris/Boban/West.
All things considered, we get Pau and Durant goes back to OKC, does that still leave the West like this with all the changes:
1. GS
2. OKC
3. SA
Don't see how we move past OKC with the youth and size issue. But tbh there is no other alternative (other than Pau) for the Spurs this offseason.
I thought about that just now when considering all the rookies bc a lot of them are big men, at least the ones in Vegas (or the ones I hope will be in Vegas). I suppose all this is in flux. We shall see Cady at least, and Lorbek and the guards are shooters and should be interesting but it didn't seem when they interviewed him that the Spurs told him to work on anything specific. They may just want to see where he's at in general and go from there. It seems a bit haphazard.
I'm fine with Boris leaving if we get Pau. Both are offensive threats and defensive liabilities. At least Pau has some length.
The Spurs with Gasol, Duncan and LMA are WAY bigger than OKC and should be fine inside if Diaw is retained, he can keep OKC from playing Durant at the four. The youth issue os overstated, as OKC is arguably too young at this point.
I would say yes, but a lineup of (let's assume Tim retires - if he doesn't, that is a nice bonus):
Pau
LMA
Kawhi
DG
TP
That team, anchored by Kawhi/DG/LMA is still a good defensive team. People keep lamenting the lack of big man perimeter defense, but Tim even when healthy last year was horrible there too. Nothing changes there and despite haven LMA/Tim, SA's defense was unreal good with that flaw.
As long as Pau can protect the rim (which I think he can do good enough) - I think the defense remains very solid. Even if it regresses some due to the gap in Tim's low block defense and Pau's SA could still have the leagues best defense or top 3.
But having Pau in there instead of Tim on offense would obviously help. Pau can still shoot effectively, is just as good of a passer as Tim and is a better low post player at this stage too. The offense should improve well IMO. Not GS level, but very solid.
Then a bench of:
Mills/Manu/Kyle/Simmons/LJC/Murray is not great, but we have to see if Bertans gets fit in along with another big signing on (maybe even West comes back, but who knows). Bench is in a tough spot regardless at the moment.
I think with the question marks on the bench, you have to have OKC/GS ahead of SA, but it will remain to be seen if OKC/GS improved any (they could, but it's not guaranteed).
Well whatever happens it'll be good just to see how the landscape changes after the rest of the signings are done. I mean everything could go straight ridiculous and KD goes to GS and we lose Pau for whatever reason.
Might as well pick up Jarnell Stokes from the D-League for the minimum rather than paying Thomas Robinson 2yrs/8mill.
T-Jones has Tiago-itius but he's a good buy low candidate, Reed is really an unproven commodity that won't get much time on a contender outside of garbage time but he would be a rich man's Ayres.
Lance Thomas is really a wing who's being hyped up because he shot 40% from 3 on 44 makes & played small ball 4 on a ty team (his advanced stats are TERRIBLE:). The Knicks already offered him 6 mill so he's probably going to get something like 4yrs/32 mill, might as well bring back Rasual.
yeah that bench lineup look ugly. I love Manu (lets be honest he's a facilitator) but one of those other players has to step up and score. Pop will need to play LMA/KL more minutes. Don't want to put too much on Murray, but it'll be interesting to see how quick he can develop (1-2 years? more?)
Pau won't play for the Spurs if he doesn't secure his starting spot. He would accept 6th man role? That doesn't sound like Pau Gasol.
If he has to sacrifice money to join the Spurs, he'll want to start in SA.
I see what you are saying.
Basically the bench is Tim/Anderson/Bertans or Simmons/Manu/Mills. Anderson already saw 35% of his playing time as a 4 give or take, including the closing game 6 with TD. Bertans and Simmons battle it out for SF minutes. You could still also start TD and send Pau to the bench. That basically has him in a role I had foreseen for Boban. Are we sure he's better than Boban in that role? I like Boban bc he plays close to the basket TBH.
But I keep getting back to Tim retiring. Maybe mentally I have made up my mind that is what's going to happen and I am stuck in that. I think the Spurs are really this set on Paul bc Tim is retiring. Otherwise they'd be happy to roll with Boban and Diaw in the bench and start Tim one last season.
If Timmy is retiring I can see him really interested in the Spurs.
I agree - it makes more sense if Tim is retiring because you need a starter and Pau is that. I also think, regardless of Tim SA wants to improve if they can and Pau they believe to be the most achievable way.
Murray at least one season, I can't say what it will take for his shot but it's a shock for all rookies this young and he doesn't know our system and doesn't have good habits from college. It might be closer to 2 years realistically.
The issue is losing Boban/West/Boris/Tim and only gettin Pau. It Tim comes back, that's so big right now, but I don't think he will.
Spurs will have to get 2 more bigs and I don't see a path. If SA can get to 19M in cap space (which now means losing Mills maybe in addition to Boris) and Pau takes 16M, that means they really need Manu back now. So how does SA get bigs in the fold?
I'm sure SA knows this and has some plans, but I can't even begin to guess how this will work out if they are dead set on Pau and we assume Pau is not taking a "discount'.
He generates a lot of unwarranted hate so I will spew my fandom for the guys as I please kapische?
Thanks Chinook!
At the end of the day the Spurs are going to win a lot of games again in the regular season, with the roster you created especially with how top heavy the league is now. Have to look at the bigger picture of how we could matchup with GS/OKC/CLE in the postseason. With Gasol imo, Spurs matchup a lot better against OKC big's and could force the Warriors to go big. It could even help Duncan who I hope will come back at this point, because he's still above average defensive presence off the bench he is better suited against the Ezeli's, McGary's and whoever will be the backup center in Cleveland will be next season.
My second main concern is that we need another guard that can score, so I understood you pushing for the Spurs to sign Gordon originally. Anderson has shown he can score with the ball in his hands, but it sounds like Spurs want him to be a 3 in this league, and not a point guard which imo better suits his talents. Murray obviously has the potential to be a good scorer, and great creator but I seriously doubt Pop plays him late in the postseason. I'm not a huge fan, but at this point I wouldn't mind getting Michael Carter Williams. I'm not sure how high the Bucks are about him, but they reportedly tried to trade him at the deadline. Mills could give them some shooting which they need for a swap.
My roster prediction for opening night:
Gasol/Duncan/Boban
Aldridge/Boris/LJC
Leonard/Anderson/Bertans
Green/Manu/Simmons
Parker/Mills/Murray
Maybe David West waits it out, and joins the team later in the season if Diaw and Mills aren't very impressive. I could see Spurs trading them both going after George Hill at the trade deadline, if George doesn't want to be in Utah or they're struggling.
Gasol/Duncan/Boban
Aldridge/West/LJC
Leonard/Anderson/Bertans
Green/Manu/Simmons
Parker/Hill/Murray
Could be a nice all around team to close the season with.
Last edited by Ditty; 07-04-2016 at 02:25 AM.
I wish we could do Pau/LMA/Boban/Diaw, assuming Tim retires. I have to go back to Chinook's post to figure out how that's possible. I find if they wanted to do something about Diaw they would have already like Chinook said way back. They can fit Boban to an exception if I am recalling that right. They can always stretch the Tim contract. Manu is the one who doesn't look like he will get what he wants $
So basically if the Spurs can't sign KD but get Pau and Tim retires
-Zero decent defenders/rebounding bigs in the second unit
-Aging backcourt with Parker (34/5)-Manu (39) in the clutch time against younger/elite guards
-Zero reliable three point shooters, just our loved icy-hot Danny
-No pure slasher
Still don't get how the Spurs improve depth, athleticism with these moves.
It seems the only plan B they have is just save money for next season.
Manu doesn't even sound like a certainty. He wants to get paid.
I know. We might get a lot younger the unconventional way. Meaning we simply can't afford the guys we had last season.
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