Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA): Spurs Eye Starting DeWayne Dedmon; Gasol Off Bench

[TD 21]

It's true. 6-10 barefoot, but to be honest, he looks smaller than that. After watching him in some highlights I would have guessed, oh, 6-10 in shoes. Looks smaller than Ayres.

Barefoot is irrelevant, since they play in shoes, so he's more like 6'11''. Throw in his 7'4'' wingspan and bounce and his size isn't an issue. His strength or lack thereof might be in certain match-ups though.

There's very few 7 footers, even in shoes. Gasol is the rare barefoot one.

?

I'm actually glad about it. I'd rather go with the young blood on the team instead of giving key minutes to scrub vets. That's why I was happy about Bass joining the Clippers instead of the Spurs.

They still need depth. The vast majority focus on the rotation, as if only 9 or 10 players play throughout a season, especially on this team.

Even if they're not necessarily in the rotation full time, they desperately need a power forward that's good enough to be, for a myriad of reasons. 1) If Aldridge/Gasol are injured or give a game off. 2) If the match-ups don't allow for Anderson to get by playing power forward. 3) If Simmons/Bertans aren't good enough to be in the rotation.


For all the obvious reasons, I'll believe this report when I see it.

[024]

It makes sense since Aldridge and Gasol basically play the same position. Although I'm surprised Gasol would be okay with that.

The Spurs will probably just run isos through LMA and Leonard in the starting unit. Then Gasol can takeover the Diaw playmaking role off the bench along with Manu. At least this way the Spurs don't need to find a true back up PG and can risk it with Murray for a few minutes. Gasol also bolsters a weak Spurs bench that will be made up of a bunch of rookies.

Anderson looked great in SL but that was against scrubs. Hope he proves me wrong and becomes a legitimate rotation player.

[elemento]

Barefoot is irrelevant, since they play in shoes, so he's more like 6'11''. Throw in his 7'4'' wingspan and bounce and his size isn't an issue. His strength or lack thereof might be in certain match-ups though.

There's very few 7 footers, even in shoes. Gasol is the rare barefoot one.




They still need depth. The vast majority focus on the rotation, as if only 9 or 10 players play throughout a season, especially on this team.

Even if they're not necessarily in the rotation full time, they desperately need a power forward that's good enough to be, for a myriad of reasons. 1) If Aldridge/Gasol are injured or give a game off. 2) If the match-ups don't allow for Anderson to get by playing power forward. 3) If Simmons/Bertans aren't good enough to be in the rotation.


For all the obvious reasons, I'll believe this report when I see it.

Yeah they do need depth and I wouldn't rule out the Spurs going after some vets in bad situations after they get waived, like Landry for example.

[SAGirl]

They still need depth. The vast majority focus on the rotation, as if only 9 or 10 players play throughout a season, especially on this team.

Even if they're not necessarily in the rotation full time, they desperately need a power forward that's good enough to be, for a myriad of reasons. 1) If Aldridge/Gasol are injured or give a game off. 2) If the match-ups don't allow for Anderson to get by playing power forward. 3) If Simmons/Bertans aren't good enough to be in the rotation.


For all the obvious reasons, I'll believe this report when I see it.

I think the issue is finding a vet min player that is willing to accept that role. Last season for example Rasual played early but as Anderson and Simmons started to get chances and Pop build some trust, Rasual was pushed way back in the rotation even though he could still play, and actually did play better than Simmons after the RR. Spurs have to find a vet in this mold, someone who can still play and yet whose ego won't get in the way if Anderson/Simmons/Bertans come swinging out of the gate and end up eating a lot of minutes for Pop... or be ready to come in and play in case they don't. I think Boris was important for Pop in that role, not only as a vet who could still play at a high level, but one who didn't mind mentoring and had no ego issues with Anderson getting minutes.

There were comments in another thread though that there are likely to be guys waived after team's training camps and such, so it's not out of the possibility that they leave a spot open to pick up someone off the waiver wire for this role.

[TD 21]

I think the issue is finding a vet min player that is willing to accept that role. Last season for example Rasual played early but as Anderson and Simmons started to get chances and Pop build some trust, Rasual was pushed way back in the rotation even though he could still play, and actually did play better than Simmons after the RR. Spurs have to find a vet in this mold, someone who can still play and yet whose ego won't get in the way if Anderson/Simmons/Bertans come swinging out of the gate and end up eating a lot of minutes for Pop... or be ready to come in and play in case they don't. I think Boris was important for Pop in that role, not only as a vet who could still play at a high level, but one who didn't mind mentoring and had no ego issues with Anderson getting minutes.

There were comments in another thread though that there are likely to be guys waived after team's training camps and such, so it's not out of the possibility that they leave a spot open to pick up someone off the waiver wire for this role.

Yeah, I suspect this is precisely the type of power forward they're after; someone good enough to still be a rotation player, but willing to accept not necessarily being one. This is why it's probably highly unlikely they'd sign one of the former big names (Stoudemire, Boozer, Lee, Smith).

[MaNu4Tres]

Yeah, I suspect this is precisely the type of power forward they're after; someone good enough to still be a rotation player, but willing to accept not necessarily being one. This is why it's probably highly unlikely they'd sign one of the former big names (Stoudemire, Boozer, Lee, Smith).

I really was disappointed the Spurs couldn't get Acy or Bass -- I preferred Acy. I'm hoping they stay away from an older veteran. Best hope now is Thomas Robinson.. sigh.

[TD 21]

I really was disappointed the Spurs couldn't get Acy or Bass -- I preferred Acy. I'm hoping they stay away from an older veteran. Best hope now is Thomas Robinson.. sigh.

The whole front court bench can't be littered with moderately - unproven NBA players. This isn't a re-building team or the D-League.

Robinson only made sense before Dedmon. After Dedmon, Acy or Bennett made more sense.

[MaNu4Tres]

The whole front court bench can't be littered with moderately - unproven NBA players. This isn't a re-building team or the D-League.

Robinson only made sense before Dedmon. After Dedmon, Acy or Bennett made more sense.

No I agree. Spurs have to get better depth in the front-court for the bench. Can't go into the season with Anderson and LJC as the only PFs after Alridge. Who do you prefer they go after now at PF? Lee? Jason Thompson? JJ Hickson? Ryan Kelly? Boozer? Stoudamire? Bonner?

[DJR210]

One member of the Big 3 has been a bench player for most of his NBA career

c'mon guy we all knew Manu only came off the bench to better the team

[Proxy]

With gasol off the bench Lma and him would not be in each other way
Duncan and Lma were a few times per game

regardless, I'm sure Pau and LMA will be the regular closing unit

[TD 21]

No I agree. Spurs have to get better depth in the front-court for the bench. Can't go into the season with Anderson and LJC as the only PFs after Alridge. Who do you prefer they go after now at PF? Lee? Jason Thompson? JJ Hickson? Ryan Kelly? Boozer? Stoudamire? Bonner?

I'd probably wait out the Hawks, 76ers and Timberwolves situations first, to see who shakes loose.

Hickson is an older Robinson: A center (offensively), in a power forwards body.

I really don't want to have to resort to one of the former big names, for all the obvious reasons. If worse comes to worst, I might go with Thompson. Doesn't stand out in any area, but isn't a complete and total non shooter like Robinson/Hickson and was never a credible enough name to think he's above being a fringe - non rotation player.

[MaNu4Tres]

I'd probably wait out the Hawks, 76ers and Timberwolves situations first, to see who shakes loose.

Hickson is an older Robinson: A center (offensively), in a power forwards body.

I really don't want to have to resort to one of the former big names, for all the obvious reasons. If worse comes to worst, I might go with Thompson. Doesn't stand out in any area, but isn't a complete and total non shooter like Robinson/Hickson and was never a credible enough name to think he's above being a fringe - non rotation player.

I think they have to sign someone though, I agree about Thompson. I'd try to cut ties w/ LJC and leave a roster spot open until after the Hawks, 76ers, T-wolves situation pans out.

[ceperez]

I think they have to sign someone though, I agree about Thompson. I'd try to cut ties w/ LJC and leave a roster spot open until after the Hawks, 76ers, T-wolves situation pans out.

Spurs aren't going to get any player that's in the prime of his career. Nobody is going to take a vet. min. salary knowing he's going to play behind 3 other bigs.

Spurs are in a real bind here.

[YGWHI]

I can't see Pau accepting it. Anyway, I wonder when the Spurs will learn from their mistakes.

Killing spacing in the starting lineup, again?

Also, despite who will start, the Spurs will play a guy out of position to defend and rebound in the paint, again.

Last year, D-West, now Kyle.

[SAGirl]

[YGWHI]

With Ginobili? Oh...Manu will start too

[FkLA]

How is this 4 pages? MVPau isn't coming off the bench. There's other ways to get him minutes with the bench unit. Kawhi and LMA play the majority of 1st/3rd Qtrs. Sub MVPau after the first 6 mins or so then bring him back in when Kawhi and LMA are on the bench. Seems so much simpler than risking damaging MVPau's psyche. I think Pop is smart enough to realize that tbh.

[Mnky]

He was played as a 4 in SL. I tend to think, based on players interviews that I cited above and observations, that a lot of the stuff seen in SL is a practice, players working on deficiencies and some really experimental stuff that may or may not materialize and in some cases would take years to materialize as players would need to earn roles in the team and are subservient to what the team needs or others ahead of them in a rotation. What that means for Bertans is that Pop will play him where they need him and not where he's best at. It sucks sometimes. He does play like a wing. Pop playing him as a 4 might have been experimental but it's at least something they are considering if they had him play that spot.

Well if Durant's skinny butt can do it, I guess it's worth giving Bertan's a try. Today's small ball might not makeit much of a deal though.

[Sean Cagney]

He signed to start, no doubt he will start (Pau). Tim retiring opened up that slot.

[slick'81]

He signed to start, no doubt he will start (Pau). Tim retiring opened up that slot.

bb but dedmon is the next tiago dont you know?lol

[Sean Cagney]

bb but dedmon is the next tiago dont you know?lol

He is the next Elson in all probability . I can see our fans hyping him up though some already, I expect little out of him tbh.

[ElNono]

He signed to start, no doubt he will start (Pau). Tim retiring opened up that slot.

I think so too, tbh... I just hope neither him or LMA start pouting about touches, tbh... especially now that Tim isn't there to set the tone.

[GSH]

Barefoot is irrelevant, since they play in shoes

Barefoot is anything but irrelevant. It's the only way to compare apples to apples. Guys who were worried about being too short have shown up for measurements in ridiculously high shoes that nobody could actually play in. Barefoot is the ONLY true measurement of how tall a player is. Yeah, they all pay in shoes. But putting on 6-inch soled shoes won't turn a 6'6" guy into a 7-footer (who can actually run the court). If that worked, the 7-foot guys would wear them, and become 7'6" monsters.

Measure 'em barefoot, for comparison, and then they can wear whatever shoe they think lets them be most compe ive.

[TD 21]

Barefoot is anything but irrelevant. It's the only way to compare apples to apples. Guys who were worried about being too short have shown up for measurements in ridiculously high shoes that nobody could actually play in. Barefoot is the ONLY true measurement of how tall a player is. Yeah, they all pay in shoes. But putting on 6-inch soled shoes won't turn a 6'6" guy into a 7-footer (who can actually run the court). If that worked, the 7-foot guys would wear them, and become 7'6" monsters.

Measure 'em barefoot, for comparison, and then they can wear whatever shoe they think lets them be most compe ive.

The point remains: If he's 6'10'' barefoot, then he plays at roughly 6'11'' - 6'11'' and 1/2 depending on the shoe.

[GSH]

He is the next Elson in all probability . I can see our fans hyping him up though some already, I expect little out of him tbh.

Elson always seemed under-motivated to me. If the article is real, and the Spurs are considering this, they must think Dedmon could be up to it, and that Pau would be okay with it. If Dedmon isn't up to it, or Pau won't stand for coming off the bench, then the original source for the article is full of , and it's not worth discussing.

I don't have any way of knowing which is which. I'm pretty sure Pau could/would kick some serious ass as part of a second unit. Dedmon is the big question mark.

I will say this - Dedmon started 20 games last year. In those 20 starts, he had 3 BLK's on four occasions, and 2 BLK's once. That's not too shabby on the rim-protection front. He also picked up at least one steal 18 times, which is also not too bad for a guy playing only 58 games, and averaging just over 12 minutes. So, yeah, he has shown some good defensive skills.

His offensive numbers aren't impressive, but surprisingly his per-36 points and rebounds were higher than Tim's last year. He even got to the FT line more often (per 36 minutes) than Tim did last year. (I know it sounds crazy, but you can look it up.) What we don't know from that, is whether Dedmon could stand up to a big increase in minutes, and if his production would hold.

One big thing about Dedmon that I haven't see mentioned, is that he hasn't been very good at passing out of the post. He seldom has even one AST in a game, and he only had more than one AST twice. (Both times 2 assists.) He averaged .7 AST/36 last year, compared to Duncan's 3.8 AST/36. Even though Tim's performance was off in a lot of areas last season, his passing ability (and AST numbers) were undiminished. That's a difference that is going to be felt, while Dedmon is on the floor. That's part of the reason I said that he's going to come out and set good screens to help other guys get space to operate - because he's probably not going to do much to help them get open shots with his passing.